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MEET THE ANIMALS

Animal Encyclopedia

Learn about aquatic species

Mote scientists work with many of these species to learn more about their roles in marine ecosystems and how to conserve their populations. You can even visit some of these species at Mote! Click on each species to learn more.

Species Type

Exhibit Location

69 Results

Masked goby

Masked gobies are small marine fish commonly found in coral communities close to shore. They are translucent with a horizontal...

Restored Mountainous Star Coral Spawning 2020

Mountainous star coral

Mountainous star coral has a unique algae called D symbionts that provide it food and energy. Found throughout the western Atlantic...

North American river otter

The short statured North American river otter has highly adapted physical features that equips them for both aquatic and terrestrial...

Pinfish

Pinfish have oval shaped bodies, a pointed snout and a forked tail. This reflective fish is shiny green with turquoise stripes.

Potbelly Seahorse

Potbelly seahorse

With dorsal and pectoral fins, the potbellied seahorse can steer, propel and stabilize itself while swimming. Their prehensile...

Princess Parrotfish

Princess parrotfish

Adult princess parrotfish are mostly blue, with a patch of bright yellow near their pectoral fins. Their dorsal fins have a stripe...

Queen Triggerfish

Queen triggerfish

Queen triggerfish have slender, oval shaped bodies with long spines on their dorsal fins. They can range in color from greenish...

Red drum

Red drum, also commonly referred to as redfish, are a common sport fish in Florida. They are a coppery bronze color, which fades...

Red grouper

Red grouper, as the name suggests, are red to reddish brown with irregular white splotches on their body. They may also have small...

Rock beauty

The rock beauty is a member of the angelfish family. Their bodies are thin and disc shaped, with distinctive black and yellow...

Roseate spoonbill

Pink in color with a long, narrow beak, roseate spoonbills are similar in appearance to flamingos, but they also have features...

Sharks & Rays, Fishes

Sand tiger shark

Sand tiger sharks have an intimidating appearance— they have multiple rows of long, razor like teeth that are visible even with...

Sergeant major

Highly social fish, sergeant major travel in schools near shallow reef communities, caves, shipwrecks and other sheltered areas...

Sharks & Rays, Fishes

Silky shark

Silky sharks have long, slender bodies, with a dark gray or bronze coloration and white belly. They have a distinctive rounded...

Southern stingray

Southern stingray

Spotted eagle ray

Spotted eagle rays are large, diamond shaped rays; their pectoral fins look like wings! They have dark bodies with patterns of...

Sharks & Rays, Fishes

Swell shark

The swell shark is a small, nocturnal species of shark. They have large mouths, extending past their eyes. Swell sharks have a...

Atlantic Tarpon

Tarpon

Tarpon have special lung like features in their swim bladder that allow them to breathe oxygen from the surface if there isn’t...

Sharks & Rays, Fishes

White tip reef shark

Whitetip reef sharks are a smaller species of shark, with grayish brown coloration and a distinctive white tip on their dorsal...

Yellowhead Jawfish

Yellowed jawfish

Yellowed jawfish are saltwater fish that are commonly found along coastal reef communities. Their bodies are a light blue color...

Sharks & Rays, Fishes

Zebra shark

Zebra sharks get their name from the coloration they exhibit as juveniles. Juvenile zebra sharks have brown and white stripes,...