Permit (Trachinotus falcatus)

Permit
Scientific name: Trachinotus falcatus

Appearance:
Its color is grayish or iridescent blue on its dorsal side, and silvery on its sides. In dark waters, its ventral side appears golden. Its tongue has teeth which are designed to crush mollusks and crustaceans. The teeth are more obvious in younger fish. This fish doesn’t have scutes. It possesses a scythe-shaped dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail. The permit is also identified by its laterally compressed body, thus making the fish look tall and thin.

Habitat:
Permits live in shallow and tropical waters like sandy flats and muddy bottoms. They are either seen as individuals or in schools. Though they may be found close to shore or in brackish waters, they spawn offshore.

Florida locations:
Permits are common in south Florida.