Fish & Plankton

Striped Bass
Morone saxtalis
This fish finds shelter and food in the pile fields of the Estuarine Sanctuary.  Although the species is usually anadromous (migrating from the ocean to rivers for spawning), they will overwinter in the Hudson River.  Popular with anglers, the striped bass can grow to over 3’ long.  The Hudson River Park Trust is participating in a Striped Bass Monitoring Study with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Oyster Toadfish
Opsanus tau
This fish has unusual adaptations. Instead of scales, toadfish are covered in a thick layer of slime.  Males vocalize with a croaking sound. Their large mouths are suited to a variety of foods- crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. These ambush predators stay hidden in crevices, which are plentiful in Hudson River Park’s pile fields, then snap at their prey. The Oyster Toadfish is tough; it can survive out of the water for over an hour

American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
Eels are the only catadromous species found in the Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary.  Eels spawn out at sea.  Young eels are transparent; they are called glass eels.  When they’ve moved into the estuary, the eels gain color and are known as elvers. 

Drifting plankton are the foundation of the Estuarine Sanctuary food chain. Phytoplankton are plant-like creatures that produce their own food through photosynthesis.  Zooplankton, which are animals, vary significantly.  Jellies are the easiest varieties of zooplankton to spot in the park; you’ll need a microscope for others, like the copepod. Many animals spend their early lives as plankton, including species of fish, crabs, and mollusks. 

Copepod
Acartia tonsa
According to a 2003 River Project study, this species of copepod is the most abundant type of zooplankton found in Hudson River Park. Copepods are small crustaceans that spend their entire lives as plankton. They are an important food source for marine invertebrates and small fish.
Other planktonic crustaceans are frequently observed in Hudson River Park, such as water fleas, ostracods and amphipods.

Lion’s Mane Jelly
Cyanea capillata
This is the worlds’s largest jellyfish, capable of growing to eight feet across.  They thrive in cold northern waters, like those of the Hudson River Estuarine sanctuary.  They pack a short-lived, but painful sting.