Habitat
Traits
The Pine Fish breathes by absorbing oxygen from the water through the surface of their outer layer. They also release carbon dioxide out of their surface layer. The neritic zone is rich in oxygen so there is plenty for the pine fish to live comfortably. The Pine Fish usually acts as a planktonic organism but can swim freely when it needs to. The Pine fish eats Zooplankton while drifting through the water but while on the hunt the Pine Fish loves to feast on baby Hog Fish. The Pine fish has another unique feature of planting itself into the ground and acting like a plant and letting the Zooplankton come right to the fish. The Pine Fish does not like to waste a lot of energy that is why it just drifts through the water. When the Pine Fish is in danger or chasing after its prey then it uses it's fins to maneuver through the water.
Physical Characteristics
The Pine Fish can grow to be about 3 feet in length and weigh about 5 pounds. The Pine fish is green with bright yellow accents. The green is to make it camouflage with the other plants so the hog fish do not see it. The yellow accents only turn yellow when the Pine Fish is in danger and they are used to warm off predators. If the Pine Fish is under attack of the Nurse shark, one of its predators, then the needles on the branches of the Pine fish get released and stab the Nurse shark in the face. Another predator that gets stabbed in the face by the needles is the Barracuda, once he feels the deathly pain of the needles he backs off and leaves the Pine Fish alone.
The Pine Fish reproduces by laying eggs. The peak spawning occurs during the months of February and March. Pine Fish schools consist of groups of females dominated by a larger male, the male and female release gametes into the surrounding water where fertilization takes place. Once the eggs are fertilized the female lays them. The eggs take 4 weeks to hatch and there are about 15 eggs per female fish.