Topic: Tom Byrnes
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The mangrove crab, Goniopsis cruentata, lives on – and around – the mangrove swamp.
These creatures' high tolerance of a variety of environmental conditions enables...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The compound encrusting ascidian (tunicate), Trididemnum solidum, is very common on our coral reefs.
A blue-green, leathery mat – some 5 milimetres thick and upwards...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The silky shark, Carcharhinus falciformis, of the family Charcharhinidae, is a true open-water pelagic species, found all around the world in tropical waters.
These dark-coloured,...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Lepidocybium flavobrunneum of the snake-mackerel family, Gempylidae, goes by many names, including escolar, walu, waloo, butterfish, oilfish, white tuna, and even cod.
Its most interesting...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The royal gramma or fairy basslet, Gamma loreto, is a member of the family Grammidae.
Although only three inches when fully grown, the vibrant purple...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The cod-like cusk, Brosome brosome, is a member of the family Lotidae.
Found on both sides of the North Atlantic in deep cold waters, these...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus, is found in tremendous and sustainable numbers in the temperate waters of the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and the northern...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Cod, Gadus morhua, is the most important fish in the history of the world.
As outlined in Mark Kurlansky’s book simply entitled 'Cod', he points...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The fluke or summer flounder, Platichthys dentatus, of the family Plueronectidae (toothed flounders), resides in coastal waters from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas.
Like all...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The black sea bass, Centropristis striata, is a member of the Serranidae family.
Ranging from Maine to Florida, these fish migrate to coastal waters towards...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The garden eel, Heteroconger halis, from the family Congridae, is a relatively shallow dweller and diminutive member of the conger eel group.
Growing to just...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The spotted drum, Equetus punctatus, is a member of the family Sciaenidae.
This fish is a nocturnal plankton feeder, sparingly found in about 50-foot depths...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The flame scallop, Lima scabra, is a brightly-coloured bivalve, and although it can 'swim' like a scallop, it is more closely related to a...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus, is a fast-growing and agile predator that can reach eight feet and 400 pounds.
Due to its high-fat content, it is...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The spotlight parrotfish is aptly named because this species, Sparisoma viride, has a red and green color phase
In fact, it was thought to be...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The largest of all groupers, the goliath, Epinephelus itajara, can reach eight feet in length and 1,000 pounds, placing it at the top of...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Gorgonians, or soft corals, are prevalent in certain high-energy zones of Cayman’s reefs.
Although they exist in many shapes, sizes, and colours, they have a...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Porcupinefish belong to the family Diodontidae and are often lumped together with pufferfish from a different family - the Tetraodontidae.
Both families are toxic. Porcupinefish...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri, is a spectacular, silver-blue, missile-like fish capable of 60 mph speeds.
It can be found all around the world in tropical...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Lionfish, Pterois volitans, although native to other side of the world, are very popular in North American aquariums.
Twenty-five or so years ago, someone released...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Most people in our region have never seen or even heard of a pomfret.
These fish are midwater denizens of the deep, preferring 1,500 feet...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The tiger grouper, Mycteroperca tigris, is the most common grouper on Cayman's reefs.
These fish can be found in a wide area of the ocean,...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The French angelfish, Pomacanthus paru, grows to about one foot in length and can be found in waters from the Bahamas to Brazil.
Its striking...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The Bermuda chub, Kyphosus sectatrix, can be found in waters from Cape Cod to Brazil.
These foot-long fish are often seen swimming in large schools...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Also known as the West Indian spider crab, Mithrax spinosissimus, the channel crab is a more delicious relative of the Alaskan king crab, covering...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus, has an elongated body and snout with an upturned predatory mouth.
These fish can grow to about three feet in length...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochely imbricate - so named because of its narrow, hawk-like beak - is the most common turtle found in Cayman waters.
It...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The mutton snapper, Lutjanus analis, is associated with reefs from Bermuda to Brazil, although it is most commonly found in the Bahamas, southern Florida,...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari, is found worldwide in tropical waters.
It can live up to 25 years and grow to 10 feet across...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Several species from the family Antherinidae are found in Cayman waters, although the hardhead silverside, Antherinomorus stipes dominates.
Four inches in length when fully mature,...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
There are three species of flamingo tongue snails found in Cayman waters, with Cyphoma gibbosum the most common.
Like other cowrie gastropods, their shells are...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
Spirobranchus giganteus giganteus, or Christmas Tree Worm, is one of the most conspicuous and beautiful tube worms on the reef.
A person would indeed find...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
The long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus reidi (greek: horse/sea monster), which shares the family Syngnathidae with pipefish, is found from Brazil to North Carolina.
It can be...
Natural Marine World Tidbits
One of our most common large fish, Caranx latus, is in the jack family. It is a powerful silver fish with a large dark...
Natural marine world tidbits
One of my favourite marine creatures, the Scrawled Filefish (Aluterus scriptus), beams with bright blue iridescent patterns.
Usually found in pairs, these fish are not...
