How to Identify a Harlequin Bass

Video Transcript

"The marine organism we're going to identify now is the harlequin bass. The harlequin bass is one of the most common members of the sea bass family that you'll see on a tropical reef. Generally seen alone or is pairs, the small, two and a half to three and a half inch long fish is found in areas with low profile reefs over coral rubble, and even sea grass. They stay close to the bottom, rarely rising more than a few inches to a foot above the bottom. The harlequin bass is relatively easy to identify. It has a long, cigar shaped body with a long, pointed nose. Its body color ranges from yellow to green but the most distinguishing color feature are the dark, irregular vertical bars on its body. The reported maximum length is four inches. Harlequin bass are found throughout the Caribbean and the waters around Florida and the Bahamas. They are a very commonly seen fish in both the shallows as well as on the reefs as deep as one hundred and twenty feet. They are often a curious fish and may approach divers and snorkelers for a closer look. Harlequin bass are synchronise ormaferdites. This means they posses both male and female sex organs at the same time. And both are fully functional. This does not mean, however, that they self fertilize their own eggs. It simply means that hen two harlequin bass mate, they take turns fertilizing each other's eggs to ensure genetic variety continues in the species. Spawning occurs when a pair of harlequin bass swim together toward the surface, releasing their gametes at the apogee of their rise and quickly returning to the safety of the reef bottom. Juveniles of this species have a similar color pattern, although the colors may be more muted. Harlequin bass feed primarily on crustaceans such as hermit crabs, and small crabs they find in the sandy or rubble strewn areas they inhabit. That's the harlequin bass."