White bream (Diplodus sargus) is found in the Mediterranean and also the eastern Atlantic. In the eastern Atlantic this is found from Angola near southern Africa and north to about France. This bream grows to about 18 inches in length. There is a dark spot on the body near the tail. There are also some poorly marked vertical bands on this silver fish. This fish can feed on crustacea and mollusks which it can crush with its strong teeth.

Porgies family (Sparidae) has about 120 species found worldwide in warmer and tropical shallow marine waters. These are deep bodied and compressed fish. Most are silver fish with a deeply forked tail. Most species reach between 12 and 20 inches, but there are a few giants in the family. Many species are important both as food and sport fish. The dorsal fin in many species is sawtoothed at the front.

Perch-like Fish, Order Perciformes, are the largest order of fish in both freshwater and shallow saltwater. Most of the conventional fish belong to this order. The bass, bluegills, perch and crappies of freshwater plus the groupers and sea bass of salt water belong to this order. The fish all have spiny rays in their fins and the tail fin has seventeen rays. There are approximately 150 families. Herein, we have placed the families in alphabetical sequence within this order. (In some instances the typical taxonomic sequence of families is not much help. Consider, for example, that the barracudas are usually placed between the mullets and the threadfins.)

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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