Species library

Field marks, habits, and camera tips for the wildlife that visits backyard habitats.

613–648 of 764 species

Smallscale Fat Snook

Smallscale Fat Snook

Centropomus parallelus

A deep-bodied master of disguise, the Smallscale Fat Snook lurks within the shadows of mangrove roots and dock piling...

Fish
Smallscale Scorpionfish

Smallscale Scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

A silent master of the reef, the Smallscale Scorpionfish uses incredible camouflage to disappear into plain sight. Fi...

Fish
Smalltooth Emperor

Smalltooth Emperor

Lethrinus microdon

Meet the 'Pigface Bream' of the Indo-Pacific—a long-snouted specialist of the reef floor. The Smalltooth Emperor is a...

Fish
Smalltooth Sawfish

Smalltooth Sawfish

Pristis pectinata

A prehistoric wonder of the shallows, the Smalltooth Sawfish is easily recognized by its incredible tooth-lined rostr...

Fish
Smooth Anglerfish

Smooth Anglerfish

Histiophryne bougainvilli

The Smooth Anglerfish is a cryptic wonder of the Australian coast, 'walking' across the seafloor with hand-like fins ...

Fish
Smooth Trunkfish

Smooth Trunkfish

Lactophrys triqueter

With its boxy frame and polka-dot pattern, the Smooth Trunkfish is the ocean's most charming 'stinkpot.' This triangu...

Fish
Snake Blenny

Snake Blenny

Xiphasia setifer

Meet the ocean's ribbon-dancer. The Snake Blenny is an extraordinary, eel-like fish that spends its days peeking from...

Fish
Snowflake Moray

Snowflake Moray

Echidna nebulosa

With its striking star-patterned skin and curious personality, the Snowflake Moray is a favorite find for coastal exp...

Fish
Snubnose Garfish

Snubnose Garfish

Arrhamphus sclerolepis

A shimmering surface-dweller of the Indo-Pacific, the Snubnose Garfish is a master of adaptation, equally at home in ...

Fish
Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye Salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

Witness one of nature's most spectacular migrations right in your local waterways. The Sockeye Salmon's dramatic tran...

Fish
South Seas Demoiselle

South Seas Demoiselle

Chrysiptera taupou

The South Seas Demoiselle is a tiny bolt of sapphire lightning that brings a splash of neon color to the western Paci...

Fish
Southern Eagle Ray

Southern Eagle Ray

Myliobatis tenuicaudata

Witness the 'birds of the sea' as they glide effortlessly through coastal shallows. With their shimmering blue-spotte...

Fish
Southern Fiddler

Southern Fiddler

Trygonorrhina dumerilii

The Southern Fiddler Ray is the ornate 'Banjo Shark' of Australia's southern coast, known for its intricate patterns ...

Fish
Southern Garfish

Southern Garfish

Hyporhamphus melanochir

The Southern Garfish is a shimmering, acrobatic resident of southern coastal waters, instantly recognizable by its un...

Fish
Southern Redbelly Dace

Southern Redbelly Dace

Chrosomus erythrogaster

A hidden gem of North American waterways, the Southern Redbelly Dace is famous for its neon-like stripes and the male...

Fish
Southern Stingray

Southern Stingray

Hypanus americanus

The Southern Stingray is a master of camouflage, gliding through sun-drenched shallows and sandy flats with effortles...

Fish
Spangled Emperor

Spangled Emperor

Lethrinus nebulosus

With a body draped in shimmering blue 'spangles' and a regal presence on the reef, the Spangled Emperor is one of the...

Fish
Spanish Hogfish

Spanish Hogfish

Bodianus rufus

With its stunning purple-and-gold coat, the Spanish Hogfish is the undisputed jewel of the Western Atlantic reefs. Wh...

Fish
Speckled Carpetshark

Speckled Carpetshark

Hemiscyllium trispeculare

The Speckled Carpetshark is the ocean's most charismatic pedestrian, a tiny predator that walks across the reef on it...

Fish
Speckled Dace

Speckled Dace

Rhinichthys osculus

The ultimate survivor of Western waters, the Speckled Dace is a master of adaptation found everywhere from desert spr...

Fish
Speckled rockfish

Speckled rockfish

Sebastes ovalis

A master of the deep-water reefs, the Speckled rockfish is easily identified by the thousands of tiny dark spots that...

Fish
Spectacled Triplefin

Spectacled Triplefin

Ruanoho whero

Meet the tiny sentinel of New Zealand's rocky reefs. With its distinctive blue-lined face and 'spectacled' eyes, the ...

Fish
Spinetail Devil Ray

Spinetail Devil Ray

Mobula mobular

The Spinetail Devil Ray is a breathtaking ocean acrobat, known for its massive wingspan and its habit of leaping high...

Fish
Spinner Shark

Spinner Shark

Carcharhinus brevipinna

Meet the ocean's most acrobatic hunter. The Spinner Shark is famous for its high-speed vertical leaps and spiraling a...

Fish
Spiny Dogfish

Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias

The ocean's most sophisticated traveler, the Spiny Dogfish is a master of the deep. Recognizable by its white-spotted...

Fish
Spoonhead Sculpin

Spoonhead Sculpin

Cottus ricei

The Spoonhead Sculpin is a master of the northern depths, sporting a uniquely flattened head and a coat of sharp pric...

Fish
Spotfin Butterflyfish

Spotfin Butterflyfish

Chaetodon ocellatus

A masterpiece of Caribbean color, the Spotfin Butterflyfish is easily identified by its sun-yellow fins and its cleve...

Fish
Spotfin Croaker

Spotfin Croaker

Roncador stearnsii

A powerful swimmer of the Pacific surf, the Spotfin Croaker is a coastal icon known for its metallic sheen and the di...

Fish
Spotfin Hogfish

Spotfin Hogfish

Bodianus pulchellus

A vibrant jewel of the Atlantic reefs, the Spotfin Hogfish stands out with its stunning red-and-yellow gradient and a...

Fish
Spotfin Squirrelfish

Spotfin Squirrelfish

Neoniphon sammara

A shimmering sentinel of the Indo-Pacific reefs, the Spotfin Squirrelfish is a master of the night, easily identified...

Fish
Spottail Seabream

Spottail Seabream

Diplodus holbrookii

Meet the "pinfish with a spot," a shimmering coastal regular that brings life to every pier and jetty. With its curio...

Fish
Spottail Shiner

Spottail Shiner

Hudsonius hudsonius

The Spottail Shiner is a shimmering sentinel of our freshwater shores, recognized by the bold black 'thumbprint' at t...

Fish
Spotted Eagle Ray

Spotted Eagle Ray

Aetobatus narinari

The Spotted Eagle Ray is the undisputed 'bird of the sea,' famous for its stunning white-spotted pattern and the way ...

Fish
Spotted Moray

Spotted Moray

Gymnothorax moringa

With its stunning 'leopard' spots and piercing gaze, the Spotted Moray is a master of the Atlantic's rocky shadows. T...

Fish
Spotted Ribbonfish

Spotted Ribbonfish

Desmodema polystictum

A shimmering, silver phantom of the deep, the Spotted Ribbonfish is a rare marvel known for its polka-dot patterns an...

Fish
Spotted Sand Bass

Spotted Sand Bass

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

The undisputed king of the coastal bay, the Spotted Sand Bass is a master of camouflage and a favorite for underwater...

Fish

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