1) Striped Mullet- Mugil Cephalus

The fish often seen jumping in shallow, muddy coastal areas like the Batiquitos Lagoon are known as the striped mullet. They jump to clear their gills of mud, sediment, or parasites after bottom feeding, as well as to refill their air sacs in low oxygen and muddy conditions

• Behavior: Feed on the lagoon floor, taking in mud and detritus, which can clog their gills
• When they are often seen: While they jump year-round, they are often seen doing this more frequently during feeding or in fall when they spawn.

2) Leopard Shark-Triakis semifasciata

Although the word shark has negative connotations, leopard sharks are completely harmless and non-aggressive toward humans. They often travel in schools, which is unusual for sharks as they tend to be solidary predators. Leopard sharks can tolerate low oxygen environments, helping them survive in the warm shallow waters of the Batiquitos lagoons. 

• Where/when they can be found: They are usually found cruising just above the seafloor or resting near it. They can be seen seasonally, especially in the warmer months when they use the lagoon as a nursery and feeding ground. 
• Diet: They stay near the seafloor, eating crabs, claims, small fish, and much more. They use suction and strong jaws to pull prey out of sand or crush shells. 
• Appearance: They have silvery-bronze skin, patterned with dark ovals that stretch in a neat row across its back. The older the leopard shark is, the paler the interior of the spots. 
• These majestic creatures serve as a mid level predator in coastal food webs which help control the population of small invertebrates and crabs. They are highly flexible coastal species that can shift between many different habitats such as shallow water, mid-water swimming, shallow nursery zones, and changes of salinity. 
  

3) Eelgrass-Zostera marina

Although This plant plays an important role in the lagoon by stabilizing sediments, storing carbon, and acting as a habitat for many diverse species. 

• Appearance: Long ribbon-like green leaves, that typically are 3-4 feet, but sometimes can grow much larger under the right conditions. They create these dense underwater “meadows” that are vital for animals. 
• Species located within Eelgrass Beds: The Bay Pipefish use the eelgrass to camouflage themselves among the blades and avoid predators. The Leopard Shark is often seen cruising around the beds because it contains necessary prey.