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REEF
Invertebrate Invasive
Tunicates Jan's ------------------- REEF
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- by Wes Nicholson Some fish are easy to identify while others are a challenge. Here are some tips to help improve your identification skills: Learn the characteristics of the major ID groups (as used by REEF) and / or fish families. This is the first step. Knowing the ID group or family (e.g. rockfish or sculpin) makes identifying the species much easier. Learn the markings and physical features that are most useful for identifying fish in each of the ID groups / families. Buy the appropriate ID books. For the PNW, you should at the very least have Humann's Coastal Fish Identification and Lamb and Edgell's Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest. There are numerous other references available, but definitely consider getting the Guide to Northeast Pacific Flatfishes by Kramer, Barss, Paust and Bracken (dead fish pictures but excellent ID tips). This is available from the Alaska Sea Grant Program 1-888-789-0090 see (http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Pubs_Videos/pubs/MAB-47.html). Work with each of your references until you are comfortable with them and understand the information they provide and their strengths and weaknesses. Attend fish identification classes. Do your homework as you start to learn fish watching. Learn to identify the most commonly sighted fishes in your area - use REEF's database to get a list of the fishes sighted and then focus on the top 25 or so. Once you know these, start working on the next fishes on the list. Be careful
to not double count the fish you see if you follow the same path on the
way in as you took on the way out. Remember that many of our fish are
territorial and will not move far from where you first saw them. Be prepared for mystery fish. A mystery fish is any fish you cannot positively identify underwater. Even the most skilled fish watchers run into mystery fish. The challenge of finding and identifying new fishes is the spice of fish watching. When you start fish watching, most of the fish you see may be mystery fish. Learn a few species on each dive. Take the time to study these few species carefully rather than trying to identify all the fish you see. When you encounter a mystery fish write a good description of what you have found on your slate. Don't just depend on your memory! A good description will provide you with the memory clues that you will need to recognize the fish in one of the reference books.
Use good reference materials to look up mystery fish back on the surface. Don't stop with the first picture that looks like the fish you saw. Look at pictures and descriptions of similar species. Be sure to check the normal ranges of the your tentatively identified species. You may see fish outside the stated ranges, but it is unlikely and thus you should take extra efforts in confirming you identification. Check the common habitats and behaviors of your tentatively identified species and other similar species. Habitats and behaviors are not positive identification guides but can help your evaluations. Be prepared to not find a mystery fish in one of your reference books - many books do not cover all of the fish you might see. For example, just because it is not in Humann's book doesn't mean you didn't see it. Look for other reference materials or ask other fish watchers for help. If you can't identify the mystery fish from your references, go back for a second look and take another fish watcher or a camera. Many of our fishes are territorial and will stay close to where you spotted them. Only report a fish that you are sure that you have positively identified. If you have any doubts don't report it.
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