The only comprehensive field guide to the Chesapeakes fishes, this book is an indispensable resource for both anglers and students of the Bay. Vivid illustrations by Val Kells complement the expertise of researchers Edward O. Murdy and John A. Musick. They describe fishes that inhabit waters ranging from low-salinity estuaries to the point where the Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Key features of this field guide include full-color illustrations of more than 200 species text that is presented adjacent to illustrations for easy reference detailed descriptions of physical characteristics, range, occurrence in the Bay, reproduction, diet, and statistics from fisheries research spot illustrations that highlight critical features of certain fish illustrations of juveniles when they look different from adults appendices that include identification keys Formatted as a compact field guide for students, scientists, researchers, and fishers, Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay should be a standard passenger on any boat that plies the Chesapeakes waters.
Acknowledgments Introduction Watershed, History, and Hydrology of the Chesapeake Bay General Characteristics of Chesapeake Bay Fish Fauna Seasonal Fish Faunal Changes Conservation and Environmental Management of Chesapeake Bay Fishes The Scope of This Field Guide Organization How to Identify Fishes in the Bay How to Use the Keys Morphology Basic Counts and Measurements Species Accounts Lampreys - Family Petromyzontidae Dogfish sharks - Family Squalidae Requiem sharks - Family Carcharhinidae Hammerhead sharks - Family Sphyrnidae Hound sharks - Family Triakidae Basking shark - Family Cetorhinidae Sand tigers - Family Odontaspididae Angel sharks - Family Squatinidae Sawfishes - Family Pristidae Whiptail stingrays - Family Dasyatidae Butterfly rays - Family Gymnuridae Eagle rays - Family Myliobatidae Cownose rays - Family Rhinopteridae Skates - Family Rajidae Sturgeons - Family Acipenseridae Gars - Family Lepisosteidae Bowfins - Family Amiidae Tenpounders - Family Elopidae Tarpons - Family Megalopidae Freshwater eels - Family Anguillidae Conger eels - Family Congridae Herrings - Family Clupeidae Anchovies - Family Engraulidae Suckers - Family Catostomidae Carps and minnows - Family Cyprinidae Sea catfishes - Family Ariidae North American catfishes - Family Ictaluridae Pikes - Family Esocidae Mudminnows - Family Umbridae Lizardfishes - Family Synodontidae Cusk-eels - Family Ophidiidae Cods - Family Gadidae Merlucciid hakes - Family Merlucciidae Phycid hakes - Family Phycidae Toadfishes - Family Batrachoididae Goosefishes - Family Lophiidae Mullets - Family Mugilidae New World silversides - Family Atherinopsidae Needlefishes - Family Belonidae Halfbeaks - Family Hemiramphidae Pupfishes - Family Cyprinodontidae Topminnows - Family Fundulidae Livebearers - Family Poeciliidae Sticklebacks - Family Gasterosteidae Pipefishes - Family Syngnathidae Sculpins - Family Cottidae and Lumpfishes - Family Cyclopteridae Searobins - Family Triglidae Butterfishes - Family Stromateidae Cutlassfishes - Family Trichiuridae Sand lances - Family Ammodytidae Jacks - Family Carangidae Cobia - Family Rachycentridae Remoras - Family Echeneidae Mackerels - Family Scombridae Barracudas - Family Sphyraenidae Stargazers - Family Uranoscopidae Drums and croakers - Family Sciaenidae Spadefishes - Family Ephippidae Bluefish - Family Pomatomidae Clingfishes - Family Gobiesocidae Gobies - Family Gobiidae Temperate basses - Family Moronidae Perches - Family Percidae Combtooth blennies - Family Blenniidae Snakeheads - Family Channidae Butterflyfishes - Family Chaetodontidae Mojarras - Family Gerreidae Porgies - Family Sparidae Snappers - Family Lutjanidae Grunts - Family Haemulidae Sunfishes - Family Centrarchidae Wrasses - Family Labridae Medusafishes - Family Centrolophidae Sea basses and groupers - Family Serranidae Triggerfishes - Family Balistidae Porcupinefishes - Family Diodontidae Filefishes - Family Monacanthidae Boxfishes - Family Ostraciidae Puffers - Family Tetraodontidae American soles - Family Achiridae Tonguefishes - Family Cynoglossidae Sand flounders - Family Paralichthyidae Righteye flounders - Family Pleuronectidae Turbots - Family Scophthalmidae Appendices 1. Key to the Orders and Families of Chesapeake Bay Fishes 2. Key to the Families of Perciformes Fishes in the Chesapeake Bay 3. Keys to Species within Families 4. Fish Species Rarely Recorded from the Chesapeake Bay Glossary of Selected Technical Terms Index to Scientific Names Index to Common Names
""The authors accomplished what they set out to do and did it well. Those with an interest in fishes of the Chesapeake region should buy the book: they won't be sorry.""
