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The marine organism we're going to identify now is the spotted drum juvenile. One of the
most elegant fish on the reef is the juvenile spotted drum. This tiny fish, only about three
quarters to one and half inches long, gets its elegant look from its black and white
colors, and its long flowing dorsal and tail fins. The spotted drum juvenile is best distinguished
from a similar species, the jack knife fish juvenile by the black spot on its nose instead
of a black vertical dash that is found on the jack knife fish juvenile. The spotted
drum juvenile will most often be found under coral ledge during daytime. They generally
maintain a regular residence, at least until they mature. So if you find one on snorkel
or a dive, chances are, you'll be able to find it under the same ledge when you return
to that site a few days, or even weeks later. They swim in a steady circuited pattern under
their ledge with those long dorsal and tail fins flowing behind them. Spotted rum juveniles
are found in the spring and summer months. They can be found with some regularity throughout
tropical waters in the US, Bahamas, and Caribbean, and usually in depths of fifteen to one hundred
feet. Although, most that I have seen have been above fifty feet. This means, both scuba
divers and snorkelers will have a chance to view these elegant fish. If you spot one,
move slowly and you should be able to approach them closely. Spotted drum juveniles are nocturnal
feeders. They feed primarily on plankton and other small animals. During the night they
will leave their protected daytime hideout to swim over the reef to feed. That's the
spotted drum juvenile.