Marine Fishes

From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

Quick Guides to Marine Fishes

• Best Marine Fish Species
• Worst Marine Fish Species

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Featured Marine Species

1. Tailspot Blenny
2. Bluechin Triggerfish
3. Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
4. Springer's Dottyback
5. Zebra Dartfish
6. Goldbelly Damsel
7. Ocellaris Clownfish
8. Golden Wrasse
9. Filamented Flasher Wrasse
10. Auriga Butterflyfish

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The Fishes: A Snapshot

Of all living vertebrates, the fishes make up more than half of the approximately 55,000 known animal species. Marine fishes account for 47% of all recognized fish species.

• Number of Fish Families: 515
• Number of Fish Genera: 4,494
• Species of Fishes (including subspecies): 30,121
• Primarily Marine: 14,021 (47%)
• Primarily Freshwater: 13,228 (44%)
• Brackish or diadromous: 2,871 (10%)

Source: Fishbase and Nelson (2006): Fishes of the World.

Marine: A Definition

Marine is defined "of or pertaining to the ocean or sea," while saltwater is more narrowly defined by aquarists.

The classification of different waters by their salt content, as measured by Specific Gravity (relative density) is:

• Marine or Saltwater 1.022 – 1.035
• Brackishwater 1.05 – 1.010
• Freshwater 1.0

Specific Gravity of Different Marine Regions

• Tropical Indo-Pacific 1.022 – 1.025
• Caribbean 1.023 – 1.026
• Red Sea 1.028 – 1.035

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The Marine Fish Families

Marine BioGroups Fishes families:

 Marine Fishes