Archosargus probatocephalus

Behavior:

Sheepshead are an important recreational fish species for the recreational fishing industry in Florida. Also called convict fish due to their telltale striped appearance, they are found in many habitats, including rocky reefs and seagrass beds, as well as around jetties and piers. They are omnivorous, feeding on algae and invertebrates and have teeth that resemble those of sheep, which is the origin of their common name.

Predators:

Sharks, grouper and other large carnivorous fish.

Did you know?

The sheepshead is similar in both name and appearance to the sheepshead porgy, which is an entirely different species that can be found in a similar range. It’s not known why these two species have such similar names, but it could have been a case of mistaken identity, that was later corrected with the addition of the word porgy to one of the names (even those both species are members of the porgy family).