Creatures in the Sargassum - Padre Is. Natl. Seashore

Since I was little I have always searched through the seaweed in search of sea creatures.  There was always an abundance of interesting things to find from shrimp to juvenile fish and occasionally a bright yellow seahorse.  Seaweed or Macro-algae differs from place to place as well as the organisms that inhabit them.  

Here on the Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico we have lots of sargassum seaweed.  

Sargassum is found throughout the tropical seas and host many specialized groups of plants and animals  found no where else.  These organism have evolved with the sargassum and many mimic the look of sargassum for camouflage. 

Padre Island National Seashore - Malaquite Beach 

This is one of my favorite places in Texas!  Whenever I show other Texans pictures like this they think it is somewhere exotic but it is actually right of the coast of Corpus Christi. 

Sargassum sp. floating along.  There are many rafts of these floating communities drifting around the Gulf of Mexico.  It looks like just seaweed but you would be amazed by what's actually inside. 

Sargassumfish - Histrio histrio,  is highly camouflaged in the Sargassum.

This unusual predatory fish is pretty easy to find. 

Shrimp - many different species of shrimp are commonly found in Sargassum. 

Hermit Crab - usually not found in Sargassum but this one must have hitched a ride at some point. 

Pygmy Filefish - Stephanolepis setifer

This was one of the most common fish found in the Sargassum today.  

Pygmy Filefish - Stephanolepis setifer

This one is a little bigger...

Juvenile Scrawled Filefish - Aluterus scriptus

I have never seen this fish in the Sargassum before.  I have read that it usually inhabits reef areas. 

Juvenile Chub - Kyphosus sp. 

Sergeant Major - Abudefduf saxatilis

These are a common sight in the Sargassum and throughout the Gulf.

unknown fish... any guesses? 

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Juvenile Jack (?)

Pipefish - 

Pipefish -