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Archosargus probatocephalus
Pair of Sheepshead approx. 12 inches long - grazing in 5 feet of water about 50 feet from beach.
Inshore Waters, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, Florida. 25.125, -80.405
The Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) is a marine fish that grows to 30 in (760 mm), but commonly reaches 10 to 20 in. It is deep and compressed in body shape, with 5 to 6 dark bars on the side of the body over a gray background. It has sharp dorsal spines. Its diet consists of oysters, clams, and other bivalves, and barnacles, fiddler crabs, and other crustaceans. It has a hard mouth, with several rows of stubby teeth, which help crush the shells of prey. It is almost entirely a southern species: its range extends from the Mid-Atlantic to Texas. The average weight of a sheepshead is 3 to 4 pounds, but some individuals reach the range of 10 to 15 pounds. (credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheepshead_...))
Spotted on Aug 30, 2012
Submitted on Nov 10, 2012
2 Comments
Christine,
Yes, they're masters of camouflage; their coloration is perfect for their habitat near docks and pilings where they forage crustaceans.
the bold stripes appear to provide pretty good camouflage