Annotated list of fishes reported from the marine waters of New York; Briggs, Philip T; Waldman, John R
Northeastern Naturalist 01-01-2002 1170L
Annotated list of fishes reported from the marine waters of New York
Byline: Briggs, Philip T; Waldman, John R
Volume: 9
Number: 1
ISSN: 10926194
Publication Date: 01-01-2002
Page: 47
Type: Periodical
Language: English
ABSTRACT - The marine waters of New York State (excluding the Hudson River) are home to a large and diverse ichthyofauna that includes pelagics, migratory coastal fishes, resident species, anadromous and catadromous fishes, euryhalineestuarine forms, and freshwater and deep-ocean strays. This diversity is attributable, in part, to the broad variety of habitats composing New York's marine waters. Also, although New York is located near the center of the Virginian biogeographic province, seasonal representatives of the Acadian and Carolinian provinces increase the breadth of its ichthyofauna. We record 338 fishes (114 families) reported from these waters, with annotations where warranted. Rare and unusual specimens are documented where possible with museum and literature citations.
INTRODUCTION
The last, most complete, compilation of the fishes found in the marine waters of New York was that of Nichols and Breder (1927). Since then, many additions and clarifications have been made. Here we attempt to bring together and incorporate these many changes and produce a new, updated document to present New York's coastal fish fauna. Classification and nomenclature have changed. That used in Robins et al. (1991) is generally used in this list, with some exceptions above the species level, where we follow Nelson (1994) as being more appropriate. When a species is not listed by them the most generally accepted nomenclature for that species is used.
The geographical boundaries for this list are defined as follows. The 47.5 meter (25 fathom) depth limit used by Nichols and Breder (1927) is accepted for water seaward of Long Island. An eastern boundary of the New York-Rhode Island border in Block Island Sound has been set. However, if literature sources state only vaguely "near Block Island," or, "Block Island Sound," or similarly inexact wording, the species is included. All fishes reported from Long Island Sound and Fishers Island Sound are included. The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, is set as the boundary to exclude fishes of the Hudson River (although marine fishes routinely penetrate the Hudson River north of the Battery). All fishes reported from Upper and Lower Bays of New York Harbor and the waters surrounding Staten Island (Kill Van Kull, Arthur Kill, but not including the New Jersey side of Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays) are included.
If a species is abundant or common (a subjective opinion at best), that may be the only comment. If a species is locally or seasonally common, that may be noted. Sometimes common means that a species is generally not common but is common during some years. Occurrences of rare or uncommon species are recorded, or the literature where such occurrences have been reported or reviewed is cited. We consider a species rare when there have been ten or fewer reports of its occurrence in recent (since 1960) years. Uncommon species are those found more frequently, but are not likely to be expected as an everyday event.
At present, this list comprises 338 species of fish representing 114 families. It includes marine, estuarine, diadromous, deepwater species, and freshwater strays. The freshwater strays cannot be considered as part of the marine ichthyofauna of New York; nonetheless, they were captured in what are considered marine locations. These strays number 12 species from five families (Cyprinidae, Ictaluridae, Esocidae, Centrarchidae, and Percidae). If freshwater strays are disregarded, our list totals 326 species from 109 families.