H

Marine Wildlife on Tobago's Shores - Listed in alphabetical order started with "H"

Haemulon flavolineatum

Haemulidae (Grunts)

Common name: French grunt

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

ORDER: Perciformes

Maximum size: 30cm long (male/unsexed)

Environment: reef-associated; marine; depth range 0-60m

Climate: subtropical; 34°N - 33°S

Importance: fisheries: commercial; aquarium: show aquarium; bait: usually

Distribution: Western Atlantic: from Bermuda, South Carolina (USA), and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil; throughout Tobago and the West Indies and the coasts of Central America.

Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal softrays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft-rays: 8-8. Mostly yellow, paler below. Scales below lateral line in oblique rows and much larger than those above lateral line. No other grunt has enlarged scales below the lateral line.

Biology: Occurs in large schools on rocky and coral reefs, often under ledges or close to elkhorn coral. Juveniles abundant in nearshore seagrass beds. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans. Marketed fresh.

Threatened: Not in IUCN Red List

Dangerous: reports of ciguatera poisoning
Hippocampus reidi

Syngnathidae

Family: Syngnathidae (Pipefishes & seahorses

Common name: Longsnout seahorse

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

ORDER: Syngnathiformes

SubFamily: Hippocampinae

Maximum size: 15cm long (male/unsexed

Environment: reef-associated; marine; depth range 0-55m

Climate: subtropical

Importance: fisheries: minor commercial

Distribution: Western Atlantic: North Carolina in USA, Bermuda, down through Bahamas and Tobago to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal softrays (total): 16-19. Description: (based on 39 specimens): Adult height: 9.5-17.5cm. Rings: 11+35 (31-39). Snout length: 2.2 (2.0-2.5) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17 (16-19) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 16 (15-17). Coronet: low-medium, rounded, may be quite large and convoluted (like a crumpled piece of paper). Spines: none to low rounded tubercles. Other distinctive characters: broad, almost double cheek and eye spines; long, thick snout; narrow body; usually no skin appendages. Colour/Pattern: often profusely spotted with brown, with numerous tiny white dots (especially on tail); may have paler ‘saddles’ across dorso-lateral surfaces.

Biology: Uncommon in most areas, but may be locally common in certain places. Usually attached to gorgonians or seagrasses but may occur in floating Sargassum or swimming freely in midwater. Has been reared in captivity.

Threatened: YES Vulnerable (A2cd), Vincent, A.

Dangerous: harmless
Holacanthus ciliaris

Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)

Common name: Queen angelfish

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

ORDER: Perciformes

Maximum size: 45cm long (male/unsexed); maximum weight: 1.6kg

Environment: reef-associated; marine; depth range 1-70m

Climate: subtropical; 30°N-13°S

Importance: fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial Distribution: Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Also Caribbean, including Tobago, Antilles and south American coast. Eastern Central Atlantic: St. Paul's Rocks.

Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 14-14; Dorsal softrays (total): 19-21; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft-rays: 20-21. Tail and pectoral fins entirely yellow. Black spot on forehead has electric blue spots and is surrounded by narrow, electric blue ring. Large blue spot at base of pectoral fin. Adults develop short spines on the margin. The colour of large adults is purplish blue with yellow-orange rims to the scales; head above eye dark blue, below greenish yellow; mouth, chin, throat, chest and abdomen purplish blue.

Biology: Found on coral reefs. Generally occurs solitarily or in pairs. Moves gracefully between seafans, seawhips, and corals. Stomach contents of 26 specimens indicate that the species feeds almost exclusively on sponges supplemented by small amounts of algae, tunicates, hydroids and bryozoans. Young pick ectoparasites from other fishes. Marketed fresh.

Threatened: Not in IUCN Red List

Dangerous: reports of ciguatera poisoning
Holocentrus ascensionis

Holocentridae

Family: Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes)

Common name: Squirrelfish

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

ORDER: Beryciformes

Maximum size: 61cm long (male/unsexed)

Environment: reef-associated; marine; depth range 0-180m

Climate: subtropical; 30°N-25°S

Importance: fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: show aquarium

Distribution: Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the West Indies and Caribbean shores including Tobago. Eastern Atlantic: Gabon, Angola, St. Paul's Rocks, St. Helena and Ascension Island.

Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal softrays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft-rays: 9-10. Tip of membranes of spinous dorsal fin reddish or translucent, not whitish; posterior margin of upper jaw reaching posterior margin of pupil. Spiny and soft parts of dorsal fin nearly separate, but connected by low membrane. Dull red or pinkish, sometimes blotched.

Biology: Occurs in shallow coral reefs, as well as deeper offshore waters. A nocturnal species, hiding in deep crevices or under coral ledges during the day; at night it usually moves over sand and grass beds, taking mainly crabs and other small crustaceans. Capable of producing sounds. Marketed fresh.

Threatened: Not in IUCN Red List

Dangerous: reports of ciguatera poisoning
Holocentrus rufus

Holocentridae

Family: Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes)

Common name: Longspine squirrelfish

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

ORDER: Beryciformes

Maximum size: 35cm long (male/unsexed)

Environment: reef-associated; marine; depth range 0-32m

Climate: tropical; 33°N-25°S

Importance: fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

Distribution: Western Atlantic: Bermuda and southern Florida, USA to northern South America and Brazil; throughout the West Indies. Tobago, Antilles, northwestern Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan to Colombia.

Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal softrays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft-rays: 9-11. Conspicuous white spot behind tip of each dorsal spine. Body slender. Upper jaw extending posteriorly to middle of pupil. Body bright red or red striped, sometimes blotched. Similar in colour to H. ascensionis, but each interspinous membrane of dorsal fin with a white spot near margin.

Biology: Nocturnal, inhabits clear reefs. Found near mouths of caves and holes; at night they usually move to sandy areas and grass beds to feed on crabs, shrimps, gastropods and brittle stars. Marketed fresh but not popular as a food fish.

Threatened: Not in IUCN Red List

Dangerous: reports of ciguatera poisoning