Coral Reefs

Grouper Fish


My report is on the grouper fish. The groupers' scientific family name is "Serranidae". If this fish is not handled carefully, wounds may be the result. This happens because of the notches or small spines on its body. The mouth is large, and the upper jawbone can be clearly seen on the cheek when the mouth is closed. There are many rows of sharp teeth in the jaw. It also has big teeth in the front of the jaws, and its scales are small. The name grouper stands for heavy-bodied, large-jawed fish.

 Many small species feed only on zooplankton, but most of the groupers feed on other fishes and crustacean. They intend to ambush their prey by sneaking up on all sides and surrounding the fish.

 The best time to go fishing for groupers is at dusk, because that is when they usually feed. Groupers can change colors to blend in with their environment, and can do so very quickly. Some groupers such as the Nassau grouper are known to form large groups at certain places at spying time.

 In Australia these fish are known as rock cod. These fish are all females when they are born and will later change into males. These fish are highly prized as food, the most valuable grouper in the Bahamas is the Nassau grouper.

 There are many different kinds of groupers for example the Queensland grouper and the Panther grouper, as well as the Potato grouper. This is my report on the grouper fish.

Shrimp

Shrimp are delicate shellfish that are relateed to crabs and lobsters. Shrimp are a popular food and make up the most valuable catch of United States fishing crews. Shrimp are found in fresh and salt water in nearly all parts of the world. A shrimp generally swims forward. It can swim backward by flipping its fan-shaped tail. Most shrimp have gray, brown, white or pink bodies. But some are red, yellow, green, or blue, and some - such as the Peppermint shrimp have stripes. Some can change color to match their surroundings. Many species are luminescent. The smallest shrimp are less than one inch long. Larger shrimp are sometimes called prawns. Many small shrimp eat plankton. Large shrimp feed on material on the sea floor. Shrimp serve as an important food for fish and other water animals.

Clownfish

Anemone live around the coral reefs. In the anemone, lives the Clownfish. The Clownfish cleans the anemone by eating the small pieces of food that get stuck between the the anemone's tentacles. The Clownfish can live in any kind of anemone.

 Clownfish is orange, with three white slanted lines . Half of its body, plus the stripes, are outlined by black. The Clownfish is about a foot long. Only the Clownfish is protected by the poisonous strings of the anemone. The slime (mucus) on the Clownfish's body protects it from being stung from the poisonous strings of anemone.

 If the Clown Fish is being chased by an enemy or bigger fish, it will swim into the anemone for protection. If the fish or enemy still continues to catch the Clownfish, it will be stung by the anemone. Then the Clownfish and the anemone will share the meal they have caught.

Lobster

Do you like lobsters well I do? I am doing a report on them and want to tell you a few things. First, lobsters live in coral reefs and also in shallow water, because they have more of their diet there. Their diet is small fish and leftover crab meat that maybe a seagull left for them.

 One amazing thing about lobsters is that they have about two to three inch pinchers. That is for there protection.

 People take thousands of lobsters every year by commercial crabbing. That is where they catch them in a cage with a piece of bait. It makes them an expensive food, and their numbers are declining rapidly. Whales also feed on lobsters, probably more than humans do. I think we need to start saving them or there will be no more lobsters.

 Male and female mate in deep water when summer is over. An exciting fact is that when you pull a lobster out of water, it is green. But after you cook one, it turns red. Another interesting fact is lobsters have gray camoflauge to protect them in the shallow water where they live.

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Date Updated:  January 18, 2001