Sand tilefish (Malacanthus plumieri)is found from Bermuda and the Carolinas south into the Gulf of Mexico and then further south to Brazil. This tile fish can reach about 2 feet in length. This tilefish has an unusal tail with a rounded indentation and long upper and lower tips. The dorsal and anal fins are very elongated. There is an excellent colored drawing of this species on page 224 of Migdalski. That drawing does not show a lunate tail. That drawing shows a very large mouth.

This group of marine fish species is found world wide in distriubtion. The Malacanthidae family has been referred to as the Branchiostegidae family in earlier years. There are about 12 species per Migdaliski, and less than 30 species per Robins.

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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