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Animal Profiles

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The Nature Conservancy works with diverse partners to protect the many habitats of Planet Earth for nature and for people.

Fish have more recognized species than any other vertebrate and their habitats range from the smallest freshwater streams to the deepest seafloor canyons. They grow from a fraction of an inch to 50 feet and live anywhere from the artic waters to the tropics. Fish skeletons can either be cartilaginous or bony, a category that includes the vast majority of fish.

	French Angelfish One of the most distinctive fish on coral reefs, the French angelfish ranges from Florida south to Brazil.
	Giant Barracuda Found across the globe in almost all tropical seas, the great barracuda is one of 20 barracuda species
	Blue Tang One of more than 70 species of surgeonfish, the blue tang inhabits coastal waters, coral reefs, and near-shore rocky areas.
	Chinook Salmon Moving from the oceans to river to spawn, salmon rely on diverse habitats during their life cycle.
	Great White Shark This fearsome predator attacks very few people. Fur seals are not so lucky, though!
	Green Moray Eel The moray eel hides in reef holes and waits for its prey to swim within reach.
	Lake Sturgeon Sturegon are believed to be one of the most ancient families of fish on the planet.
	Paddlefish This unusual-looking fish lives in the deep waters of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
	Parrotfish Members of the parrotfish family live in the rich waters around coral reefs.
	Red-Bellied Piranha A small fish with a big reputation, the red-bellied piranha is notoriously fierce.
	Shortnose Sturgeon Scientists in Georgia are working to track the movements of these fascinating fish.
	Whale Shark The planet's largest living fish, this docile giant lives in warm waters around the planet.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom): Angelfish © Norbert Wu / Minden Pictures; Barracuda © Dennis Sabo; Blue Tang © Nancy Nehring; Photo © Michael Quinton/ Minden Pictures (Chinook); Photo © Bart Coenders (Great White Shark); Photo © Cornelius Opstal (Green Moray Eel); Photo © Eric Engbretson (Lake Sturgeon); Photo © TNC (Paddlefish); Photo © Fred Bavendam/ Minden Pictures (Parrotfish); Photo © Claus Meyer / Minden Pictures (Red Bellied Pirahna); Photo © Christopher Holbrook (Shortnose Sturgeon); Photo © Andy Drumm (Whale Shark).