You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

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

352 Results

Fishes

Whitespotted greenling

These small fish spend time around coastal algae, rocks, pilings and eelgrass beds. They can be light greenish brown with hints...

Sharks & Rays, Fishes

Whitetip reef shark

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

Corals, Invertebrates

Yellow cup coral

Contrary to their name, yellow cup corals are usually brown or gray in color. They can grow in a few different forms including...

Invertebrates

Yellow rock crab

Yellow rock crabs are round and pancake-like in shape. They have eight walking legs, two black-tipped claws, one tooth and two...

Corals, Invertebrates

Yellow sea whip

Yellow sea whips range in color from yellow and green to orange and purple. This coral grows stiff lateral branches from a single...

Corals, Invertebrates

Yellow star coral

Yellow star corals are pulsing corals, expanding and contracting its feathery polyps every few seconds. This species is usually...

Fishes

Yellow tang

Yellow tangs are entirely yellow in color. They’re round and flat with long dorsal and pectoral fins. These tangs also have...

Fishes

Yellow-saddle goatfish

Yellow-saddle goatfish have yellow-gray bodies and scales lined with highlights of bright blue. They also have irregular striping...

Fishes

Yellowback basslet

Male yellowback basslets have a violet body with yellow coloring back to the base of their tail. Females are lavender in color...

Fishes

Yellowbanded possum wrasse

Yellowbanded possum wrasses get their name from the two yellow bands at both ends of their body. They’re pink in color with...

Fishes

Yellowbanded sweetlips

Yellowbanded sweetlips have a striking appearance with black wavy lines on the top of their bodies and a dotted pattern along...

Fishes

Yellowed jawfish

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

Fishes

Yellowtail snapper

The yellowtail snapper has a silvery-blue body with a single horizontal yellow line running from their head to their yellow tail.

Fishes

Zebra perch

Zebra perches have silvery grey bodies with eight brown bars running vertically from their head to the base of their tail. They...

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,...

Fishes

Zebratail blenny

Zebratail blennies get their name from the black and white striping on their tails. The rest of their body is red with white irregular...