• Purple, yellow, gold and orange sponges and soft corals wave against a turquioise sea.

    Biscayne

    National Park Florida

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Fish

Nature and Science

Grunts are named for the noises they make underwater and when caught on a line.

The fish in Biscayne National Park range in size from less than an inch to over 10 feet in length. The fish fauna are predominately temperate and continental in the winter and tropical to subtropical in the summer. Some of the species may be euryhaline (able to withstand a wide range of salinities).

The following fish have been documented in Biscayne National Park. They are sorted alphabetically by common name. The list is not exhaustive, and documented sightings of species not on this list are welcome. Submit your sightings to the webmaster.

The non-native Indo-Pacific lionfish can also occur in Biscayne National Park, and this species poses a threat to native species and ecosystems, as well as to park visitors. Click here to learn more about the lionfish.

African Pompano, Alectis ciliaris

American Eel, Anguilla rostrata

Anchovy, Anchoa, var. spp.

Arrow Stargazer, Gillellus greyae

Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias undulatus

Atlantic Guitarfish, Rhinobatos lentiginosus

Atlantic Manta/Manta, Manta birostris

Atlantic Needlefish, Strongylura marina

Atlantic Pearlfish, Carapus bermudensis

Atlantic Sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Atlantic spadefish, Chaetodiperus faber

Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis sabina

Atlantic Thread Herring, Opisthonema oglinum

Atlantic Torpedo Ray, Torpedo nobiliana

Atlantic trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus

Balao, Hemiramphus balao

Balloonfish, Diodon holocanthus

Ballyhoo, Hemiramphus brasiliensis

Banded blenny, Paraclinus fasciatus

Banded butterflyfish, Chaetodon striatus

Banded hamlet, Hypoplectrus puella

Banded jawfish, Opistognathus macrognathus

Banded Rudderfish, Seriola zonata

Bandtail puffer, Sphoeroides spengleri

Bandtooth Conger, Ariosoma impressa

Bar jack, Caranx ruber

Barred blenny, Hypleurochilus bermudensis

Barred cardinalfish, Apogon binotatus

Barred hamlet, Hypoplectrus puella

Batfish, Ogcocephalus spp.

Bearded Goby, Barbulifer ceuthoecus

Beaugregory, Pomacentrus leucostictus

Belted cardinalfish, Apogon townsendi

Bermuda chub, Kyphosus sectatrix

Bicolor damselfish, Pomacentrus partitus

Bigeye anchovy, Anchoa lamprotaenia

Bigeye Scad, Selar crumenophthalmus

Bigeye, Priacanthus arenatus

Black grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci

Black hamlet, Hypoplectrus nigricans

Black Margate, Anisotremus surinamensis

Blackbar Soldierfish, Myripristis jacobus

Blackbar soldierfish, Myripristis jacobus

Blackcheek Tonguefish, Symphurus plagiusa

Blackear wrasse, Halichoeres poeyi

Blackedge Cusk-eel, Lepophidium brevibarbe

Blackedge moray, Gymnothorax nigromarginatus

Blackfin cardinalfish, Astrapogon puncticulatus

Black-nose Shark, Carcharhinus acronotus

Black-tip Shark, Carcharhinus limbatus

Blue angelfish, Holacanthus bermudensis

Blue Chromis, Chromis cyanea

Blue chromis, Chromis cyaneus

Blue Croaker, Bairdiella batabana

Blue goby, Ptereleotris calliura

Blue hamlet, Hypoplectrus gemma

Blue parrotfish, Scarus coeruleus

Blue runner, Caranx crysos

Blue Tang, Acanthurus coeruleus

Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix

Bluehead, Thalassoma bifasciatum

Bluelip Parrotfish, Cryptotomus roseus

Bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia tabacaria

Bluestriped grunt, Haemulon sciurus

Bluestriped lizardfish, Synodus saurus

Bluethroat Pikeblenny, Chaenopsis ocellata

Bluntnose Flyingfish, Prognichthys gibbifrons

Bluntnose Jack, Hemicaranx amblyrhynchus

Bluntnose Stingray, Dasyatis say

Bonefish, Albula vulpes

Bonito, Sarda sarda

Bonnethead, Sphyrna tiburo

Bonnetmouth, Emmelichthyops atlanticus

Bridled goby, Coryphopterus glaucofraenum

Brown Chromis, Chromis multilineata

Bucktooth parrotfish, Sparisoma radians

Bull Shark, Carcharhinus leucas

Bulleye/Glasseye Snapper, Priacanthus cruentatus

Burrfish, Chilomycterus, var. spp.

Burro Grunt, Pomadasys crocro

Butter hamlet, Hypoplectrus unicolor

Butterflyfish, Chaetodon, var. spp.

Caesar grunt, Haemulon carbonarium

Cardinalfish, Apogon, var. spp.

Caribbean Reef Shark, Carcharhinus perezii

Cero, Scomberomorus regalis

Chain Moray, Echidna catenata

Chalk bass, Serranus tortugarum

Checkerd Blenny, Starksia ocellata

Checkered puffer, Sphoeroides testudineus

Clown wrasse, Halichoeres maculipinna

Cobia, Rachycentron canadum

Cocoa damselfish, Pomacentrus variabilis

Code goby, Gobiosoma robustum

Colon goby, Coryphopterus dicrus

Common Snook, Centropomus undecimalis

Conchfish, Astrapogon stellatus

Coney Grouper, Cephalopholis fulva

Conger Eel, Conger oceanicus

Cottonwick, Haemulon melanurum

Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera bonasus

Creole Fish, Paranthias furcifer

Creole Wrasse, Clepticus parrae

Crested Goby, Lophogobius cyprinoides

Crevalle Jack, Caranx hippos

Cubbyu, Equetus umbrosus

Cusk Eel, Ophidion spp.

Darkheaded blenny, Emblemariopsis sp.

Deepreef Scorpionfish, Scorpaenodes tredecimspinosus

Diamond blenny, Malacoctenus boehlkei

Doctorfish, Acanthurus chirurgus

Dog snapper, Lutjanus jocu

Dolphin, Coryphaena hippurus

Dusky Cusk Eel, Parophidion schmiditi

Dusky damselfish, Stegastes adustus

Dusky jawfish, Opistognathus whitehursti

Dusky Shark, Carcharhinus obscurus

Dusky squirrelfish, Sargocentron vexillarium

Dwarf Herring, Jenkinsia lamprotaenia

Dwarf Wrasse, Doratonotus megalepis

Emerald Parrotfish, Nicholsina usta

Emerald Sleeper, Erotelis smaragdus

Eyed Flounder, Bothus ocellatus

False Albacore/Little Tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus

False Moray, Kaupichthys hyoproroides

False pilchard, Harengula clupeola

Fat Sleeper, Dormitator maculatus

Feather Blenny, Hypsoblennius hentz

Filefish, Monacanthus spp.

Finless Snake Eel/Surf Eel, Ichthyapus ophioneus

Flagfin mojarra, Eucinostomus melanopterus

Flamefish, Apogon maculatus

Flat needlefish, Ablennes hians

Florida Blenny, Chasmodes saburrae

Florida Pompano, Trachinotus carolinus

Flying Gurnard, Dactylopterus volitans

Flyingfish, Cypselurus, var. spp.

Foureye butterflyfish, Chaetodon capistratus

Fourwing Flyingfish, Hirundichthys affinis

Freckled Driftfish, Psenes cyanophrys

Freckled soapfish, Rypticus bistrispinus

Freckled Stargazer, Gnathagnus egregius

French angelfish, Pomacanthus paru

French grunt, Haemulon flavolineatum

Frillfin goby, Bathygobius soporator

Fringed filefish, Monacanthus ciliatus

Fringed Pipefish, Anarchopterus criniger

Frogfish, Antennarius, var. spp.

Gafftopsail Catfish, Bagre marinus

Gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis

Glasseye snapper, Priacanthus cruentatus

Glassy Sweeper, Pempheris schomburgki

Goldentail moray eel, Gymnothorax miliaris

Goldspot Goby, Gnatholepis thompsoni

Goldspotted eel, Myrichthys ocellatus

Goldspotted Killifish, Floridichthys carpio

Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara

Gray Angelfish, Pomacanthus arcuatus

Gray angelfish, Pomacanthus arcuatus

Gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus

Gray Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus

Graysby, Cephalopholis cruentata

Great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda

Great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran

Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumerili

Greater soapfish, Rypticus saponaceus

Green moray, Gymnothorax funebris

Green razorfish, Xyrichtys splendens

Greenblotch parrotfish, Sparisoma atomarium

Gulf Flounder, Paralichthys albigutta

Gulf pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli

Gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta

Hairy blenny, Labrisomus nuchipinnis

Halfbeak/Silverstripe Halfbeak, Hyporhamphus unifasciatus

Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna spp.

Hardhead Catfish, Arius felis

Hardhead Halfbeak, Chriodorus atherinoides

Hardhead silverside, Atherinomorus stipes

Harlequin bass, Serranus tigrinus

High-hat, Equetus acuminatus

Hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus

Honeycomb cowfish, Acanthostracion polygonius

Horse-eye Jack, Caranx latus

Houndfish, Tylosurus crocodilus

Hovering goby, Ioglossus helenae

Indigo hamlet, Hypoplectrus indigo

Inshore lizardfish, Synodus foetens

Irish Pompano, Diapterus auratus

Jackknife Fish, Equetus lanceolatus

Jolthead porgy, Calamus bajonado

Keeltail Needlefish, Platybelone argalus

Key Brotula, Ogilbia cayorum

Key Worm Eel, Ahlia egmontis

Killifish species, var., Adinia

Killifish species, var., Fundulus

Ladyfish, Elops saurus

Lancer Dragonet, Paradiplogrammus bairdi

Lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris

Lantern bass, Serranus baldwini

Leatherjack/Leatherjacket, Oligoplites saurus

Lemon Shark, Negaprion brevirostris

Leopard searobin, Prionotus scitulus

Lesser Electric Ray, Narcine brasiliensis

Lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus

Lined Sole, Achirus lineatus

Lionfish, Pterois volitans

Littlehead porgy, Calamus proridens

Lofty Triplefin, Enneanectes altivelis

Longfin damselfish, Stegastes diencaeus

Longjaw squirrelfish, Holocentrus marianus

Longlure frogfish, Antennarius multiocellatus

Longspine squirrelfish, Holocentrus rufus

Lookdown, Selene vomer

Lyre Goby, Evorthodus lyricus

Mackerel scad, Decapterus macarellus

Mahogany snapper, Lutjanus mahogoni

Mangrove Gambusia, Gambusia rhizophorae

Mangrove Rivulus, Rivulus marmoratus

Mangrove Snapper, Lutjanus griseus

Man-of-War Fish, Nomeus grovovii

Manta Ray, Manta birostris

Manytooth Conger, Conger triporiceps

Marbled blenny, Paraclinus marmoratus

Marbled Grouper, Dermatolepis inermis

Margate, Haemulon album

Margintail Conger, Paraconger caudilimbatus

Masked goby, Coryphopterus personatus

Midnight Blenny, Emblemaria bottomei

Midnight parrotfish, Scarus coelestinus

Mojarra, Eucinostomus spp.

Molly Miller, Scartella cristata

Moray Eel, Gymnothorax, var. spp.

Mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki

Mottled jawfish, Opistognathus maxillosus

Mullet, Mugil spp.

Mutton Hamlet, Alphestes afer

Mutton snapper, Lutjanus analis

Nassau Grouper, Epinephelus striatus

Needlefish, Strongylura spp.

Neon goby, Elacatinus oceanops

Night Sergeant, Abudefduf taurus

Night Shark, Carcharhinus signatus

Nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum

Ocean Surgeon, Acanthurus bahianus

Ocean Triggerfish, Canthidermis sufflamen

Oceanic Two-wing, Exocoetus obtusirostris

Opossum Pipefish/Shorttailed Pipefish, Microphis brachyurus

Orange filefish, Aluterus schoepfi

Orangespotted filefish, Cantherhines pullus

Orangespotted Goby, Nes longus

Oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau

Pallid goby, Coryphopterus eidolon

Palometa, Trachinotus goodei

Papillose Blenny, Acanthemblemaria chaplini

Peacock flounder, Bothus lunatus

Pearl Blenny, Entomacrodus nigricans

Pearly razorfish, Hemipteronotus novacula

Peppermint bass, Liopropoma rubre

Peppermint goby, Coryphopterus lipernes

Permit, Trachinotus falcatus

Pigfish, Orthopristis chrysoptera

Pilotfish, Naucrates ductor

Pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides

Pink Wormfish, Microdesmus longipinnis

Pompano Dolphin, Coryphaena equiselis

Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix

Porgy, Calamus spp.

Porkfish, Anisotremus virginiscus

Princess parrotfish, Scarus taeniopterus

Puddingwife, Halichoeres radiatus

Puffer, Sphoeroides spp.

Pugjaw Wormfish, Cerdale floridana

Pugnose Pipefish, Bryx dunckeri

Purple Reeffish, Chromis scotti

Purplemouth moray, Gymnothorax vicinus

Pygmy filefish, Stephanolepis setifer

Pygmy moray, Anarchias similis

Queen Angelfish, Holacanthus ciliarisd

Queen parrotfish, Scarus vetula

Queen Triggerfish, Balistes vetula

Rainbow parrotfish, Scarus guacamaia

Rainbow Runner, Elagatis bipinnulata

Rainbow wrasse, Halichoeres pictus

Rainwater killifish, Lucania parva

Razorfish, Hemipteronotus spp.

Red Grouper, Epinephelus morio

Red Hind, Epinephelus guttatus

Red Lizardfish, Synodus synodus

Redband parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum

Redear sardine, Harengula humeralis

Redeye triplefin, Enneanectes pectoralis

Redfin Brotula, Petrotyx sanguineus

Redfin needlefish, Strongylura notata

Redfin/yellowtail parrotfish, Sparisoma rubripinne

Redlip Blenny, Ophioblennius atlanticus

Red-spotted Hawkfish, Amblycirrhitus pinos

Redtail parrotfish, Sparisoma chrysopterum

Reef Bass, Pseudogramma gregoryi

Reef butterflyfish, Chaetodon sedentarius

Reef Croaker, Odontoscion dentex

Reef Silverside, Hypoatherina harringtonensis

Remora, Remora remora

Rock beauty, Holacanthus tricolor

Rock Hind, Epinephelus guttatus

Rosy blenny, Malacoctenus macrops

Rosy razorfish, Xyrichtys martinicensis

Roughhead Blenny, Acanthemblemaria aspera

Round Sardinella, Sardinella aurita

Round scad, Decapterus punctatus

Roundel Skate, Raja texana

Rusty Goby, Priolepis hipoliti

Saddle Stargazer, Platygillellus rubrocinctus

Saddled blenny, Malacoctenus triangulatus

Sailfin blenny, Emblemaria pandionis

Sailfin Eel, Letharchus velifer

Sailfin Flyingfish, Parexocoetus brachypterus

Sailfin Molly, Poecilia latipinna

Sailors choice, Haemulon parra

Sand diver, Synodus intermedius

Sand perch, Diplectrum formosum

Sand Tilefish, Malacanthus plumieri

Sargassumfish, Histrio histrio

Saucereye porgy, Calamus calamus

Scad, Decapterus spp.

Scamp, Mycteroperca phenax

Schoolmaster, Lutjanus apodus

Scorpionfish, Scorpaena spp.

Scrawled Cowfish, Lactophrys quadricornis

Scrawled filefish, Aluterus scriptus

Sea Bream, Archosargus rhomboidalis

Seahorse, Hippocampus, 2 spp.

Searobin, Prionotus, 4 spp.

Seatrout, Cynoscion, var. spp.

Seaweed Blenny, Parablennius marmoreus

Seminole goby, Microgobius carri

Sennet, Sphyraena spp.

Sergeant Major, Abudefduf saxatilis

Sharksucker, Echeneis naucrates

Sharpnose goby, Gobiosoma evelynae

Sharpnose Puffer, Canthigaster rostrata

Sheepshead Minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus

Sheepshead porgy, Calamus penna

Sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus

Short Bigeye, Pristigenys alta

Shy hamlet, Hypoplectrus guttavarius

Silver Perch, Bairdiella chrysoura

Skilletfish, Gobiesox strumosus

Slender filefish, Monacanthus tuckeri

Slender mojarra, Eucinostomus jonesii

Slippery Dick, Halichoeres bivittatus

Smallmouth grunt, Haemulon chrysargyreum

Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis pectinata

Smooth Butterfly Ray, Gymnura micrura

Smooth Dogfish, Mustelus canis

Smooth trunkfish, Lactophrys triqueter

Snakefish, Trachinocephalus myops

Snook, Centropomus undecimalis

Snook, Centropomus. spp.

Snowy Grouper, Epinephelus niveatus

Soapfish, Rypticus spp.

Sooty Eel, Bascanichthys teres

Southern Kingfish, Menticirrhus americanus

Southern sennet, Sphyraena picudilla

Southern Stargazer, Astroscopus y-graecum

Southern Stingray, Dasyatis americana

Spaghetti Eel, Moringua edwardsi

Spanish grunt, Haemulon macrostomum

Spanish Hogfish, Bodianus rufus

Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus

Speckled Hind, Epinephelus drummondhayi

Speckled Worm Eel, Myrophis punctatus

Spinycheek sleeper, Eleotris pisonis

Spinyhead blenny, Acanthemblemaria spinosa

Sponge cardinalfish, Phaeoptyx xenus

Spotfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon ocellatus

Spotfin Hogfish, Bodianus pulchellus

Spotfin mojarra, Eucinostomus argenteus

Spottail Goby, Gobionellus stigmaturus

Spottail pinfish, Diplodus holbrookii

Spotted burrfish, Chilomycterus atringa

Spotted Dragonet, Diplogrammus pauciradiatus

Spotted Driftfish, Ariomma regulus

Spotted Drum, Equetus punctatus

Spotted Eagle Ray, Aetobatus narinari

Spotted Goatfish, Pseudupeneus maculatus

Spotted moray, Gymnothorax moringa

Spotted scorpionfish, Scorpaena plumieri

Spotted soapfish, Rypticus subbifrenatus

Spotted trunkfish, Lactophrys bicaudalis

Squirrelfish, Holocentrus adscensionis

Stargazer, Dactyloscopus. spp.

Stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride

Streamer searobin, Bellator egretta

Striped anchovy, Anchoviella guianensis

Striped burrfish, Chilomycterus schoepfii

Striped Mojarra, Diapterus plumieri

Striped mullet, Mugil cephalus

Striped parrotfish, Scarus iseri

Sunshinefish, Chromis insolata

Tan hamlet, Hypoplectrus sp.

Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus

Threadfin, Plydactylus spp.

Threespot damselfish, Stegastes planifrons

Tiger grouper, Mycteroperca tigris

Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier

Toadfish, Opsanus spp.

Tobacco fish, Serranus tabacarius

Tomtate, Haemulon aurolineatum

Townsend angelfish, Holacantus bermudensis x cilaris

Triplefin, Enneanectes spp.

Tripletail, Lobotes surinamensis

Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus

Trunkfish, Lactophrys trigonius

Twospot cardinalfish, Apogon pseudomaculatus

Vermillion Snapper, Rhomboplites aurorubens

Viper Moray, Enchelycore nigricans

Weakfish, Cynoscion regalis

Whiff, Citharichthys, var. spp.

White grunt, Haemulon plumierii

Whitefin Sharksucker, Echeneis neucratoides

Whitenose pipefish, Cosmocampus albirostris

Whitespotted filefish, Cantherhines macrocerus

Whitespotted Soapfish, Rypticus maculatus

Wrasse Blenny, Hemiemblemaria simulus

Yellow Goatfish, Mulloidichthys martinicus

Yellow jack, Caranx bartholomaei

Yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis

yellowbelly hamlet, Hypoplectrus aberrans

Yellowcheek wrasse, Halichoeres cyanocephalus

Yellowface pikeblenny, Chaenopsis limbaughi

Yellowfin grouper, Mycteroperca venenosa

Yellowfin Mojarra, Gerres cinereus

Yellowhead jawfish, Opistognathus aurifrons

Yellowhead wrasse, Halichoeres garnoti

Yellowmouth grouper, Mycteroperca interstitialis

Yellowtail Damselfish, Microspathodon chrysurus

Yellowtail parrotfish, Sparisoma rubripinne

Yellowtail reeffish, Chromis enchrysurus

Yellowtail Snapper, Ocyurus chrysurus



 
This lionfish was removed from Biscayne National Park waters

A non-native Indo-Pacific lionfish that was removed from park waters

NPS

The lionfish, native to the Indian and Pacific oceans, has now become established in the Atlantic Ocean, including waters in Biscayne National Park. This fish poses both environmental and safety threats. Park managers are hoping to keep the lionfish population under control by responding quickly to reported sightings and removing any lionfish seen in the park. Visit our lionfish page (here) for more information about this species and what you can do if you observe a lionfish within Biscayne National Park

Did You Know?

Windsurfer on Biscayne Bay

Convoy Point (home of Biscayne National Park's Dante Fascell Visitor Center) is considered one of South Florida's best windsurfing locations.