Everglades National Park EDUCATION PROGRAM SHARK VALLEY GUIDE

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1. Mosquitofish - have one to three rows of spots on their dorsal (upper) and caudal (tail) fins. They are one of several species of small fishes often called minnows. The mosquitofish eat a variety of insect larvae, including mosquito larvae! These tiny fish, which only grow to two inches in length, are attracted to water disturbances and become food for almost anything that eats fish. Female mosquito fish retain their eggs in their body and bear live young.

2. Bream or Sunfish - are a favorite food for wading birds and freshwater fishermen. The redear sunfish has a dark red spot, behind its eye and may grow to ten inches in length. Bream ("brim") feed on insects and other aquatic life. Specific species include pumpkin seeds, bluegills, and warmouths.

3. Bass - when young have a dark stripe on their sides and are a favorite food of wading birds. They may grow to twenty inches in length and feed on crayfish and smaller-sized fishes. The male fish guards the nest which is built by clearing plants from a space on the bottom of a pond or canal. Bass are being threatened by a more aggressive, non-native fish, the tilapia, which chases the males off their nest site. Bass are among the first fish to die during the dry season.

4. Garfish - have long jaws armed with sharp teeth. Garfish are also called spotted gar as they have dark brown spots on their long, narrow, needle-shaped body and may reach lengths of thirty inches. As a carnivore, their diet includes other fishes like bass and bream. Gar eggs are toxic if eaten by warm-blooded animals. The garfish is more likely to survive the dry down than bass or bream, as they have an air bladder which helps them breathe in stagnant waters.

5. Tree Snails - are also referred to as Liguus snails and are found in the hammock habitat. More than 50 different color varieties have been found, thus these snails are often called the jewels of the Everglades. The snails feed on lichen found on trees with smooth bark such as Lysiloma and Jamaica Dogwood. During the dry season, the snails estivate, emerging only after a rainstorm. Tree snails breed, lay eggs, and grow more rapidly during the wet season.

6. Apple Snails - are brown in color with a spiraled shell. They are an omnivore, with part of their diet including algae. They have a closeable door, the operculum, which provides some protection. They are the primary food of the endangered snail kite making up 99% of its diet. Apple snails are also eaten by limpkins, a large brown wading bird, and alligators.