THE FINFISH OF

HEMPSTEAD HARBOR

This list is based on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's fieldwork in Hempstead Harbor as part of the Long Island Sound Finfish Survey. Their efforts have generated a fairly comprehensive list of the finfish of Hempstead Harbor. The format of the list has been modified to conform to taxonomy.

Many of these species are only present in Hempstead Harbor during certain seasons. 

CLASS OSTEICHTHYES

Family ACIPENSERIDÆ

Acipsenser sturio (Sea Sturgeon)

Family ANGUILLIDÆ

Anguilla rostrata (Eel)

Family CONGRIDÆ

Conger oceanicus (American Conger)

Family CLUPEIDÆ

Alosa sapidissima (American Shad)
Alosa pseudoharengus (Alewife)
Alosa aestivalis (Blueback Herring)
Alosa mediocris (Hickory Shad)
Brevoortia tyrannus (Menhaden)
Clupea harengus (Atlantic Herring)
Clupea sp. (a species of Herring)

Family ENGRAULIDÆ

Anchoa mitchilli (Bay Anchovy)
Anchoa spp. (various species of Anchovy)

Family SALMONIDÆ

Salmo trutta (Brown Trout)

Family BATRACHOIDIDÆ

Opsanus tau (Toadfish)

Family GADIDÆ

Enchelyopus cimbrus (Four-bearded Rockling)
Gadus morhua (Atlantic Cod)
Merluccius blinearis (Silver Hake)
Microgadus tomcod (Tomcod)
Urophycis regius (Spotted Hake)
Urophycis chuss (Squirrel Hake)

Family CYPRINODONTÆ

Cyprinodon variegatus (Sheephead minnow)
Fundulus heteroclitus (Common Mummichog)
Fundulus majalis (Striped Mummichog)
Fundulus spp. (various species of Killifish)

Family ATHERINIDÆ

Menidia menidia (Atlantic Silverside)
Menidia spp. (various species of Silverside)

Family GASTEROSTEIDÆ

Apeltes quadracus (Four-spined Stickleback)
Gasterosteus aculeatus (Three-spined Stickleback)

Family SYNGNATHIDÆ

Hippocampus erectus (Lined Seahorse)
Syngnathus fuscus (Common Pipefish)

Family PERCICHTHYLIDÆ

Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass)
Morone americana (White Perch)

Family SERRANIDÆ

Centropristis striata (Sea Bass)

Family POMATOMIDÆ

Pomatus saltatrix (Bluefish)

Family SCIAENIDÆ

Cynoscion regalis (Weakfish)
Micropogonias undulatus (Atlantic Croaker)
Leiostomus xanthurus (Spot)

Family SPARIDÆ

Stenotomus maculatus (Scup)

Family LABRIDÆ

Tautoga onitis (Tautog)
Tautogolabrus adspersus (Cunner)

Family MUGLIDÆ

Mugil curema (White Mullet)
Mugil cephalus (Striped Mullet)

Family BLENNIIDÆ

Hypsoblennius hentzii (Feather Blenny)

Family PHOLIDÆ

Pholis gunnellus (Rock Gunnel)

Family AMMODYTIDÆ

Ammodytes spp. (various species of Sand Lance)

Family GOBIIDÆ

Gobiosoma ginsburgi (Seaboard Goby)
Gobiosoma bosci (Naked Goby)
Gobiosoma spp. (various species of Goby)

Family SCOMBRIDÆ

Scomber scombrus (Mackerel)
Scomberomorus maculatus (Spanish Mackerel)
Sarda sarda (Atlantic Bonito)

Family STROMATEIDÆ

Peprilus triacanthus (Butterfish)

Family TRIGLIDÆ

Prionatus evolans (Striped Sea Robin)
Prionatus carolinus (Common Sea Robin)
Prionatus spp. (various species of Sea Robin)

Family COTTIDÆ

Myoxocephalus spp. (various species of Sculpin)
Myoxocephalus aenaeus (Grubby)

Family BOTHIDÆ

Citharicthys Arctifrons (Gulf Stream Flounder)
Paralicthys dentatus (Summer Flounder)
Paralicthys oblongatus (Four-spotted Flounder)
Scophthalmus aquosus (Windowpane)

Family PLEURONECTIDÆ

Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Winter Flounder)

Family SOLEIDÆ

Trinectes maculatus (Hogchoker)

 Family TETRAODONTIDÆ

Sphoeroides maculatus (Puffer)

 

CLASS ELASMOBRANCHIOMORPHI

Family CARCHARHINIDÆ

Mustelus canis (Dogfish)

12/98 (D. E. Russell)