This species has tiny tubular feet on the bottom of their bodies that help them move around. These sea cucumbers feed on the top layers of sand underneath coral reef communities. They filter organic ...

Just like human fingerprints, each spotted eagle ray's spot pattern is unique! Mote scientists use these spot patterns to identify individual rays. Spotted eagle rays feed largely on bivalves and ...

The carapace, or shell, of a Caribbean king crab is around 5.4 inches (136 millimeters) for males and 4.7 inches (120 millimeters) for females. They can weigh up to 6 pounds (3 Kilograms). Masters at ...

These fish are shy and will retreat into hiding if approached by other living things. Throughout the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and eastern Pacific Ocean, these fish inhabit ...

These fish may change colors as a form of communication and during spawning season. Occurring in the Gulf of Mexico, eastern and western Atlantic, ocean surgeon inhabit shallow waters near rock and ...

The giant hermit crab is the largest hermit crab species in the western Atlantic ocean. Throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and western Atlantic Ocean, giant hermit crabs inhabit inshore ...

These fish can swim up to 689 feet (210 meters) deep. In the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, the blackbar soldierfish lives among coral reef communities. Blackbar soldierfish are ...

This fish in this species begin female. Some transition into males at a later stage in their lives. This fish is commonly found in reef communities in the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. They can ...

Brown banded bamboo sharks can grow to 41 inches (104 centimeters) and can weigh up to 132 pounds (59.9 kilograms). Living in shallow tide pools, brown banded bamboo sharks eat small benthic organisms ...

Mote Marine Laboratory is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color ...

Red grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites: all fish begin life as female, and transform to males after reaching 23 inches in length (7-14 years). Red grouper eat invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, ...

Masked gobies are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they begin as female and transition to male later on in life. Hiding out near the bottom of the water column, masked gobies can be found in shaded ...