wreckfish

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Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

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vulture. An adult bearded vulture at a raptor recovery center. The Gypaetus barbatus also known as the Lammergeier or Lammergeyer, is a bird of prey and considered an Old World vulture.

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wreckfish

fish

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Gulf of Maine Research Institute - Wreckfish
Fish Base - Wreckfish

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Also known as: Polyprion americanus, stone bass

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Also called:: stone bass

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wreckfish, (Polyprion americanus), large, grayish fish of the family Polyprionidae (order Perciformes), found in the Mediterranean and in both sides of the Atlantic, generally in offshore waters. The wreckfish is deep-bodied, with a large head and jutting lower jaw, and attains a length and weight of about 2 metres (6.5 feet) and 36 kilograms (80 pounds) or more. It is named wreckfish because it often lives near floating lumber and other wreckage to feed on the fishes that, in turn, gather to feed on the small organisms found there.

The name wreckfish is used to describe any member of the family Polyprionidae. The family, divided into five species separated into two genera (Polyprion and Stereolepis), includes the hapuka (P. moeone) and giant sea bass (S. gigas).

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.