Tautog

Tautoga onitis

The Tautog has a blunt snout and thick, fleshy lips that cover its strong, conical teeth. It uses these teeth to crush its favorite food: shellfish from the ocean bottom. The Tautog is a member of the wrasse family. Like the other wrasses, it has a single dorsal fin with weak spines. Wrasses have compressed bodies and range in shape from elongate to deep. Most wrasses are abundant around coral reefs, but the Tautog is one of a few species that prefers cooler, temperate waters.

Look For : A compressed, black or gray wrasse with a dark, marbled pattern. Cheeks scaleless. Mature males black with white chin.

Length : 3'.

Habitat : Juveniles in sea-grass beds; adults around rocks and man-made structures.

Range : From Nova Scotia to South Carolina.