R. Grant Gilmore, Jr., Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institution, 5600 U.S. Highway 1, North Fort Pierce, Florida 34946; Voice 561-465-2400 FAX
561-468-0757 E-Mail rggilmorej@aol.com
Keywords: endangered, tropical, peripheral, freshwater,
management
Post-glacial tropical fish invasions of the southeastern U.S.,
principally to the Florida peninsula have brought a diverse and unique fauna to the
region. Among these species are an inter-phyletic euryhaline group that depend on
freshwater for spawning and adult habitat, estuaries and the ocean for larval/juvenile
habitat and dispersal. These fishes belong to the guild known as tropical peripherals. The
guild includes three snook species, Centropomus spp., one grunt, Pomadasys
crocro, the opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus lineatus, nine species of sleepers
and gobies, eleotridae and gobiidae, and the mountain mullet, Agonostomus monticola.
The snooks and gobies are of direct fishery value throughout much of the Caribbean, but
are not utilized by North Americans. Their existence in the United States is threatened by
freshwater habitat destruction and reckless coastal freshwater release through flood
control structures. Life history and ecology are discussed. Conservation measures are
presented.
