The Pacific angelshark (Squatina californica) is a species of
angelshark, family Squatinidae, found in the eastern
Pacific Ocean from
Alaska to the
Gulf of California, and from
Ecuador to
Chile, although those in the Gulf of California and southeastern Pacific may in fact be separate species. The Pacific angelshark inhabits shallow, coastal waters on sandy flats, usually near rocky
reefs,
kelp forests, or other underwater features. This species resembles other angel sharks in appearance, with a flattened body and greatly enlarged
pectoral and
pelvic fins. Characteristic features of this shark include a pair of cone-shaped
barbels on its snout, angular pectoral fins, and a brown or gray dorsal coloration with many small dark markings. It attains a maximum length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft).
An
ambush predator, the Pacific angelshark conceals itself on the sea floor and waits for approaching prey, primarily
bony fishes and
squid. Prey are targeted visually and, with a quick upward thrust of the head, snatched in protrusible jaws. Individual sharks actively choose ideal ambush sites, where they stay for several days before moving on to a new one. This species is more active at night than during the day, when it stays buried in sediment and seldom moves. Reproduction is
ovoviviparous, with the
embryos hatching inside the mother's
uterus and being sustained by a
yolk sac until birth. Females give birth to an average of six young every spring. (Full article...)
Image 2
Specimen from Quilon, India
The quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga) is a
species of
catshark, belonging to the
family Scyliorhinidae. A small, slim-bodied shark reaching 37 cm (15 in) in length, it has a distinctive color pattern of narrow, dark brown vertical bars, which resemble those of the
quagga. Its head is short and flattened, with a pointed snout tip that is not upturned.
Little is known of the quagga catshark's natural history, as it is known only from nine specimens caught off southwestern India and eastern Somalia. Inhabiting the offshore waters of
continental shelf at depths of 59–220 m (194–722 ft) or more, it is a
bottom-dwellingpredator of
shrimps. It exhibits an
oviparous mode of reproduction, with a record of a female containing eight eggs that were enclosed in brown
capsules bearing long tendrils at the corners. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presently lacks sufficient data to assess the conservation status of this species. It is not economically valued but is taken as
bycatch. (Full article...)
Image 3
Echinorhinus brucus, illustration of the zoology of South Africa (1838)
The bramble shark (Echinorhinus brucus) is one of the two
species of
sharks in the
familyEchinorhinidae. Aside from the eastern
Pacific Ocean, it is found in
tropical and
temperate waters worldwide. This rarely encountered shark swims close to the bottom of the seafloor, typically at depths of 400–900 m (1,300–3,000 ft), though it may enter much shallower water. The bramble shark has a stout body with two small
dorsal fins positioned far back and no
anal fin. It can be readily identified by the large, thorn-like
dermal denticles scattered over its body, some of which may be fused together. It is purplish brown or black in color and grows up to 3.1 m (10 ft) long.
The diet of the bramble shark includes smaller sharks,
bony fishes, and
crabs, which this slow-moving species may capture via suction. It is
aplacental viviparous, with females producing litters of 15–52 pups. Harmless to humans, it is an occasional
bycatch of
commercial and
recreational fishers, and may be used for
fishmeal and
liver oil. Its population has declined substantially in the northeastern Atlantic since the 18th and 19th centuries, likely because of
overfishing. (Full article...)
Image 4
The onefin electric ray or Cape numbfish (Narke capensis) is a common but little-known
species of
electric ray in the
familyNarkidae, native to South Africa and Namibia. It is a
benthic fish found in shallow coastal
bays over sandy or muddy bottoms. This small species reaches 38 cm (15 in) in length, and has a nearly circular
pectoral fin disc and a short, muscular tail that supports a large
caudal fin. It can be identified by its single
dorsal fin, which is located over the large
pelvic fins. Its dorsal coloration is yellowish to dusky brown.
Named for its pale coloration, it is closely related to the relatively common
shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus), but is much larger, averaging between 30 and 60 inches (76 and 152 cm) in length and 85 pounds (39 kg) in weight at maturity. This species takes 15 years to mature and spawns infrequently, but can live up to a century. A member of the sturgeon family,
Acipenseridae, which originated during the
Cretaceous period 70 million years ago, the pallid sturgeon has changed little since then. (Full article...)
Image 6
Squatina squatina, the angelshark or monkfish, is a species of
shark in the
familySquatinidae (known generally also as
angel sharks), that were once widespread in the coastal waters of the northeastern
Atlantic Ocean. Well-adapted for
camouflaging itself on the sea floor, the angelshark has a flattened form with enlarged
pectoral and
pelvic fins, giving it a superficial resemblance to a
ray. This species can be identified by its broad and stout body, conical
barbels, thornless back (in larger individuals), and grayish or brownish dorsal coloration with a pattern of numerous small light and dark markings (that is more vivid in juveniles). It measures up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long.
Like other members of its family, the angelshark is a
nocturnalambush predator that buries itself in sediment and waits for passing prey, mostly
benthicbony fishes, but also
skates and
invertebrates. An
aplacental viviparous species, females bear litters of seven to 25 pups every other year. The angelshark normally poses little danger to humans, though if provoked, it is quick to bite. Since the mid-20th century, intense
commercial fishing across the angelshark's range has decimated its population via
bycatch – it is now locally extinct or nearly so across most of its northern range, and the prospects of the remaining fragmented subpopulations are made more precarious by its slow rate of reproduction. As a result, the
International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as
Critically Endangered. (Full article...)
Image 7
Adult
The queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris), also known as the blue angelfish, golden angelfish, or yellow angelfish, is a
species of
marine angelfish found in the western
Atlantic Ocean. It is a
benthic (ocean floor) warm-water species that lives in
coral reefs. It is recognized by its blue and yellow coloration and a distinctive spot or "crown" on its forehead. This crown distinguishes it from the closely related and similar-looking Bermuda blue angelfish (Holacanthus bermudensis), with which it overlaps in range and can interbreed.
Adult queen angelfish are selective feeders and primarily eat
sponges. Their social structure consists of
harems which include one male and up to four females. They live within a
territory where the females forage separately and are tended to by the male.
Breeding in the species occurs near a
full moon. The transparent
eggs float in the water until they hatch. Juveniles of the species have different coloration than adults and act as
cleaner fish. (Full article...)
Image 8
The giant freshwater stingray (Urogymnus polylepis, also widely known by the
junior synonymHimantura chaophraya) is a
species of
stingray in the family
Dasyatidae. It is found in large
rivers and
estuaries in
Southeast Asia and
Borneo, though historically it may have been more widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia. The largest freshwater fish and the largest stingray in the world, this species grows up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft) across and can reach up to 300 kg (660 lb) in weight. It has a relatively thin, oval
pectoral fin disc that is widest anteriorly, and a sharply pointed snout with a protruding tip. Its tail is thin and whip-like, and lacks fin folds. This species is uniformly grayish brown above and white below; the underside of the pectoral and
pelvic fins bear distinctive wide, dark bands on their posterior margins.
The Sacred Cod in its "natural habitat". "Humble the subject and homely the design; yet this painted image bears on its finny front a majesty greater than the dignity that art can lend to graven gold or chiselled marble", said an 1895 paean by Massachusetts legislators.[C]: 12
The Sacred Cod is a four-foot-eleven-inch (150 cm) carved-wood
effigy of an
Atlantic codfish, "painted to the life", hanging in the
House of Representatives chamber of Boston's
Massachusetts State House—"a memorial of the importance of the
Cod-Fishery to the welfare of this Commonwealth" (i.e.
Massachusetts, of which cod is officially the "historic and continuing symbol"). The Sacred Cod has gone through as many as three incarnations over three centuries: the first (if it really existed—the authoritative source calling it a "prehistoric creature of tradition") was lost in a 1747 fire; the second disappeared during the
American Revolution; and the third, installed in 1784, is the one seen in the House chamber today.
"Sacred Cod" is not a formal name but a nickname which appeared in 1895, soon after the carving was termed "the sacred emblem" by a House committee appointed "to investigate the significance of the emblem [which] has kept its place under all administrations, and has looked upon outgoing and incoming legislative assemblies, for more than one hundred years".[C]: 3-4,12 Soon sacred cod was being used in reference to actual codfish as well, in recognition of the creature's role in building Massachusetts's prosperity and influence since early colonial times. (Full article...)
Image 10
The sand devil or Atlantic angel shark (Squatina dumeril) is a
species of
angelshark,
family Squatinidae, native to the northwestern
Atlantic Ocean. It occurs off the eastern
United States, in the northern
Gulf of Mexico, and possibly in parts of the
Caribbean Sea. This
bottom-dwelling shark is found in shallow
inshore waters in summer and fall, and deep offshore waters in winter and spring. The sand devil's flattened body and enlarged
pectoral and
pelvic fins give it a
ray-like appearance. There is a band of enlarged thorns running along the middle of its back. It is gray or brown in color, with scattered small dark spots. This species reaches 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) in length.
The diet of the sand devil consists mainly of small
teleost fishes and
squid, which are captured via
ambush attack. This species is
viviparous, with the unborn young nourished by their
yolk sacs. Females have a multi-year reproductive cycle and give birth to 4–25 pups in spring or early summer, following a 12-month
gestation period. The sand devil is not aggressive, but may attempt to bite if harassed or captured. Though not valued economically, it is
caught incidentally by
commercialbottom trawlfisheries. (Full article...)
Sharks are a group of
elasmobranch fish characterized by a
cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven
gill slits on the sides of the
head, and
pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the
cladeSelachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the
sister group to the
Batoidea (
rays and kin). Some sources extend the term "shark" as an informal category including extinct members of
Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) with a shark-like morphology, such as
hybodonts. Shark-like chondrichthyans such as Cladoselache and Doliodus first appeared in the
Devonian Period (419–359 million years), though some fossilized chondrichthyan-like scales are as old as the
Late Ordovician (458–444 million years ago). The oldest confirmed modern sharks (selachimorphs) are known from the
Early Jurassic, about 200 million years ago, though records of true sharks may extend back as far as the
Permian.
Sharks range in size from the small
dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi), a deep sea species that is only 17 centimetres (6.7 in) in length, to the
whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world, which reaches approximately 12 metres (40 ft) in length. They are found in all seas and are common to depths up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). They generally do not live in freshwater, although there are a few known exceptions, such as the
bull shark and the
river shark, which can be found in both seawater and freshwater. Sharks have a covering of
dermal denticles that protects their skin from damage and
parasites in addition to improving their
fluid dynamics. They have numerous sets of replaceable teeth. (Full article...)
Sturgeons are long-lived, late-maturing fishes with distinctive characteristics, such as a
heterocercal caudal fin similar to those of
sharks, and an elongated, spindle-like body that is smooth-skinned, scaleless, and armored with five lateral rows of bony plates called
scutes. Several species can grow quite large, typically ranging 2–3.5 m (7–12 ft) in length. The largest sturgeon on record was a
beluga female captured in the
Volga Delta in 1827, measuring 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in) long and weighing 1,571 kg (3,463 lb). Most sturgeons are
anadromousbottom-feeders, migrating upstream to spawn but spending most of their lives feeding in
river deltas and
estuaries. Some species inhabit freshwater environments exclusively, while others primarily inhabit marine environments near
coastal areas, and are known to venture into open ocean. (Full article...)
Image 13
The Atlantic torpedo (Tetronarce nobiliana) is a
species of
electric ray in the
familyTorpedinidae. It is found in the
Atlantic Ocean, from
Nova Scotia to
Brazil in the west and from
Scotland to
West Africa and off
southern Africa in the east, occurring at depths of up to 800 m (2,600 ft), and in the Mediterranean Sea. Younger individuals generally inhabit shallower, sandy or muddy
habitats, whereas adults are more
pelagic in nature and frequent open water. Up to 1.8 m (6 ft) long and weighing 90 kg (200 lb), the Atlantic torpedo is the largest known electric ray. Like other members of its genus, it has an almost circular
pectoral fin disk with a nearly straight leading margin, and a robust tail with a large triangular
caudal fin. Distinctive characteristics include its uniform dark color, smooth-rimmed
spiracles (paired respiratory openings behind the eyes), and two
dorsal fins of unequal size.
Solitary and
nocturnal, the Atlantic torpedo is capable of generating up to 220
volts of
electricity to subdue its prey or defend itself against predators. Its diet consists mainly of
bony fishes, though it also feeds on small
sharks and
crustaceans. It is an
aplacental viviparous species, wherein the developing
embryos are nourished by
yolk and later maternally provided histotroph ("uterine milk"). Females give birth to up to 60 young following a
gestation period of one year. The
electric shock of this species can be quite severe and painful, though it is not fatal. Because of its electrogenic properties, the Atlantic torpedo was used in
medicine by the
Ancient Greeks and
Romans and became the namesake of the
naval weapon. Prior to the 19th century, its
liver oil was used as lamp fuel, but it is no longer of any economic value. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed this species as Least Concern; it is
caught unintentionally by
commercial and
recreational fishers, but the impact of these activities on its population is unknown. (Full article...)
Image 14
The bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) is a
species of
stingray in the family
Dasyatidae. Found from the
intertidal zone to a depth of 30 m (100 ft), this species is common throughout the tropical
Indian and western
Pacific Oceans in
nearshore,
coral reef-associated
habitats. It is a fairly small ray, not exceeding 35 cm (14 in) in width, with a mostly smooth, oval
pectoral fin disc, large protruding eyes, and a relatively short and thick tail with a deep fin fold underneath. It can be easily identified by its striking color pattern of many electric blue spots on a yellowish background, with a pair of blue stripes on the tail.
At night, small groups of bluespotted ribbontail rays follow the rising tide onto sandy flats to root for small benthic
invertebrates and
bony fishes in the sediment. When the tide recedes, the rays separate and withdraw to shelters on the reef. Reproduction is
aplacental viviparous, with females giving birth to litters of up to seven young. This ray is capable of injuring humans with its
venomous tail spines, though it prefers to flee if threatened. Because of its beauty and size, the bluespotted ribbontail ray is popular with
private aquarists despite being poorly suited to captivity. (Full article...)
Image 15
The thornback guitarfish (Platyrhinoidis triseriata) is a
species of
ray in the
familyPlatyrhinidae, and the only member of its
genus. Despite its name and appearance, it is more closely related to
electric rays than to true
guitarfishes of the family
Rhinobatidae. This species ranges from
Tomales Bay to the
Gulf of California, generally in
inshore waters no deeper than 6 m (20 ft). It can be found on or buried in sand or mud, or in and near
kelp beds. Reaching 91 cm (36 in) in length, the thornback guitarfish has a
heart-shaped
pectoral fin disc and a long, robust tail bearing two posteriorly positioned
dorsal fins and a well-developed
caudal fin. The most distinctive traits of this plain-colored ray are the three parallel rows of large, hooked thorns that start from the middle of the back and run onto the tail.
The Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) comprises several
phenotypic varieties of
freshwaterfish distributed geographically across Southeast Asia. While most consider the different varieties to belong to a single species, work by Pouyaud et al. (2003) differentiates these varieties into multiple
species. They have several other common names, including Asian bonytongue, dragonfish, and a number of names specific to the different color varieties.
... that model Patsy Pulitzer was called one of the "World's Loveliest Sportswomen" after catching a 1,230-pound (560 kg) black marlin, a then world-record fish for a woman?
... that at a maximum
standard length of roughly 2 cm (0.8 in), dwarf pufferfish are some of the smallest pufferfish in the world?
... that the New Zealand fishing company Sealord Group is half-owned by
iwi?
... that although some sources have cited the fish kick as potentially the fastest way for humans to swim, it has not been widely used in competitive swimming?
Image 3Coral reefs support flourishing ecosystems,
paradoxically in clear, low nutrient waters, along tropical continental coasts and around volcanic islands.
Coral reef fish are numerous and diverse. (from Coastal fish)
Image 4Lanternfish are partial residents of the ocean epipelagic zone During the day they hide in deep waters, but at night they migrate up to surface waters to feed. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 6Scale diagram of the layers of the pelagic zone (from Pelagic fish)
Image 7Bigeye tuna cruise the epipelagic zone at night and the mesopelagic zone during the day (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 8Pacific decadal anomalies – April 2008 (from Pelagic fish)
Image 9An annotated diagram of the basic external features of an
abyssal grenadier and standard length measurements. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 10Cod-like fishes, like this
morid cod have a
barbel (fleshy filament) on their lower jaw which they use to detect prey buried in the sand or mud. (from Coastal fish)
Image 11The
stargazer is an
ambush predator which can deliver both venom and electric shocks. It has been called "the meanest thing in creation". (from Coastal fish)
Image 12Areas of upwelling in red (from Coastal fish)
Image 13Herring reflectors are nearly vertical for camouflage from the side. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 15Long-snouted lancetfish. Lancetfish are ambush predators which spend all their time in the mesopelagic zone. They are among the largest mesopelagic fishes (up to 2 m). (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 17The
stoplight loosejaw has a
lower jaw one-quarter as long as its body. The jaw has no floor and is attached only by a hinge and a modified tongue bone. Large fang-like teeth in the front are followed by many small barbed teeth. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 19The
stoplight loosejaw is also one of the few fishes that produce red
bioluminescence. As most of their prey cannot perceive red light, this allows it to hunt with an essentially invisible beam of light. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 20Scale diagram of the layers of the pelagic zone (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 25Surgeonfish are among the most common of coral reef
herbivores, often feeding in
shoals. This may be a mechanism for overwhelming the highly aggressive defence responses of small territorial
damselfishes that vigorously guard small patches of algae on coral reefs. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 26Demersal fish output in 2005 (from Demersal fish)
Image 35The giant
whale shark, another resident of the ocean epipelagic zone, filter feeds on
plankton, and periodically dives deep into the mesopelagic zone. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 36Many
bristlemouth species, such as the "spark anglemouth" above, are also bathypelagic ambush predators that can swallow prey larger than themselves. They are among the most abundant of all vertebrate families. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 37Most mesopelagic fishes are small filter feeders that ascend at night to feed in the nutrient rich waters of the epipelagic zone. During the day, they return to the dark, cold, oxygen-deficient waters of the mesopelagic where they are relatively safe from predators.
Lanternfish account for as much as 65% of all deep sea fish
biomass and are largely responsible for the
deep scattering layer of the world's oceans. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 46In the foreground is an
orange-lined triggerfish displaying spines.
Triggerfish have mouths that crush shells. Orange-lined triggerfish are particularly aggressive. The black and white fish are
three-stripe damselfish and the unstriped fish are
blue-green chromis damselfish. If the triggerfish attacks, the damselfish will hide in the nearby
cauliflower coral. If the triggerfish wants to hide, it will squeeze into a coral crevice and lock itself in place with its spines. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 47Shortfin mako shark make long seasonal migrations. They appear to follow temperature gradients, and have been recorded travelling more than 4,500 km in one year. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 49The
humpback anglerfish is a bathypelagic ambush predator, which attracts prey with a bioluminescent lure. It can ingest prey larger than itself, which it swallows with an inrush of water when it opens its mouth. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 53Most of the rest of the mesopelagic fishes are ambush predators, such as this
sabertooth fish. The sabertooth uses its telescopic, upward-pointing eyes to pick out prey silhouetted against the gloom above. Their recurved teeth prevent a captured fish from backing out. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 55Young, red
flabby whalefish make nightly vertical migrations into the lower mesopelagic zone to feed on
copepods. When males mature into adults, they develop a massive liver and then their jaws fuse shut. They no longer eat, but continue to metabolise the energy stored in their liver. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 60Humans seldom encounter
frilled sharks alive, so they pose little danger (though scientists have accidentally cut themselves examining their teeth). (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 71Red snapper, are generalized reef feeders with standard jaw and mouth structures that allow them to eat almost anything, though they prefer small fish and
crustaceans. (from Coral reef fish)
Bryaninops yongei is a
benthic species of
goby widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the
Indian Ocean; it is commonly found living in and around coral. Although this species was discovered in 1906, its ability to propel itself quickly to escape predators makes it difficult to study.
The round ribbontail ray (Taeniura meyeni) is a species of stingray in the family
Dasyatidae, found throughout the nearshore waters of the tropical
Indo-Pacific region. Reaching 1.8 m (6 ft) across, this large ray is characterized by a thick, rounded pectoral fin disc covered by small
tubercles on top, and a relatively short tail bearing a single venomous spine. The ray is well-camouflaged when lying on the seabed; it is largely nocturnal, and preys on
molluscs,
crustaceans and
bony fish. Mature females bear litters of up to seven pups, which are fed during gestation on "uterine milk", a product secreted by the walls of the
oviduct. This round ribbontail ray was photographed in
Lakshadweep, India.
The mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus, not to be confused with the similarly named
mandarin fish) is a small (~6 cm or 2.4 in), brightly-colored member of the
dragonet family, popular in the saltwater
aquarium trade. The mandarinfish is native to the Western
Pacific, ranging approximately from the
Ryukyu Islands south to
Australia.
The spotted trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis) is a species of
ray-finned fish in the family
Ostraciidae, native to the
Caribbean Sea and parts of the western Atlantic Ocean. Members of this family are known as boxfishes because they have a hard outer covering consisting of hexagonal, plate-like scales fused together into a solid, triangular or box-like
carapace. Because of this casing, the body of the spotted trunkfish is not flexible, and locomotion is normally limited to slow movements performed by rippling its
dorsal and
anal fins and gently beating its
pectoral fins. If faster motion is required, it can additionally use its
caudal fin for propulsion. This spotted trunkfish was photographed at a depth of about 40 ft (12 m) at Bari Reef,
Bonaire.
Rhinogobius flumineus, also known as the lizard goby, is a species of
goby in the family
Oxudercidaeendemic to Japan, seen here in
Hamamatsu,
Shizuoka Prefecture. A small freshwater fish found in fast-flowing streams, it maintains its position against the current by gripping a rock with a sucker formed from two of its fins. The fish's mouth is slightly asymmetric; dextral (right-sided) fish tend to curve their bodies to the right as they rest, while sinistral (left-sided) fish tend to adopt a left-curving posture. The fish are omnivorous, picking edible items off the stream bed with the side of the mouth, but dextral and sinistral fish show no preference for which side of the mouth they use for this purpose.
The leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is a species of
hound shark found along the
Pacific coast of
North America from the U.S. state of
Oregon to
Mazatlán in Mexico. Typically measuring 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) long, this slender-bodied shark is characterized by black saddle-like markings and large spots over its back.
The Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) is a species of freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. The aggressive fish is known to reproduce rapidly, leading to problems when it is introduced to foreign bodies of water.
The Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a species of
fish from the
cichlidfamily. In
South America, where the species occurs, they are often found for sale as a food fish in the local markets. The species is also a popular
aquarium fish. They have been reported to grow to a length of 45 cm (ca. 18 in) and a mass of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb).
Brachysomophis cirrocheilos, the stargazer snake eel, is a marine fish belonging to the family
Ophichthidae. It is native to shallow tropical and subtropical waters in the western Indo-Pacific region. It hunts at night for
crustaceans and small fish, after which it submerges itself into the sediment tail first and remains there all day, with just its eyes and the top of its head projecting, as seen here in
Batangas Bay in the Philippines.
The Atlantic spadefish is a species of marine fish
endemic to the shallow waters off the coast of the southeastern United States and in the
Caribbean Sea. They are similar in appearance to
fresh waterangelfish, but much larger, reaching up to three feet (0.9 m) in length. Due to their reputation as strong fighters, they are popular
game fish, especially during the summer months when they are most active.
Koi are ornamental domesticated varieties of the
common carpCyprinus carpio, originated from
China and widely spread in
Japan. They are very closely related to
goldfish. The word "koi" comes from
Japanese meaning "
carp".
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