Scientific name : Serranus tortugarum

 

Family : Serranidae (serrans, 102 species)
Size : Up to 8 cm
Distribution : Caribbean

 

Biology : The chalk grass is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, being both male and female at any age. Despite this, it is unable to impregnate itself.
It feeds on zooplankton and inhabits sandy bottoms in the immediate vicinity of a few rocks or shells that provide shelter.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Limulus polyphemus

 

Family : Limulidae (horseshoe crabs, 4 species)
Size : Up to 70 cm
Distribution : North-West Atlantic, from New York to Mexico

 

Biology : The horseshoe crab is a very unusual animal. The Limulidae family has existed for more than 250 million years: they appeared long before the dinosaurs.
They are not crustaceans, but close relatives of spiders and scorpions. Their blood is blue and is used to reveal the presence of bacteria. During the breeding season, thousands of horseshoe crabs return to the beaches to lay their eggs.

 

IUCN status : Vulnerable

 

Scientific name : Premnas biaculeatus

 

Family : Pomacentridae (damselfish, beetles and clownfish, 418 species)
Size : Up to 17 cm
Distribution : Tropical Indo-Pacific, from Taiwan to Australia

 

Biology : Its name comes from the small spine on its cheek, which does not seem to have any real defensive role.
It is a fairly primitive clownfish, although its lifestyle is very similar to that of other species of clownfish, with which it can sometimes hybridise.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Pomacanthus imperator

 

Family : Pomacanthidae
Size : Up to 40 cm
Distribution : Tropical West and Central Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

 

Morphology : The body is yellow with blue stripes. The eyes are surrounded by a black mask.

 

Biology : It is especially present in reefs where the level of coral is dense. It’s a fish that defends its territory against the intrusion of its fellow fish.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Amphiprion ocellaris

 

Family : Pomacanthidae
Size : Up to 11 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific

 

Remarkable behaviour : Lateral compressed oval body, orange in colour with three white stripes.

 

Biology : It lives in symbiosis with anemones and feeds on small crustaceans.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Siganus vulpinus

 

Family : Siganidae
Size : Up to 25 cm
Distribution : West Pacific

 

Remarkable behaviour : When frightened, the livery looks completely different, with large dark mottling all over the body.

 

Biology : The 13 spines are connected to venom glands. The injuries caused are not really serious, but are quite painful and take a long time to heal.

 

Scientific name : Heteroconger hassi

 

Family : Congridae (conger eels and garden eels, 197 species)
Size : Up to 45 cm
Distribution : Indian Ocean and tropical Pacific

 

Biology : The spotted garden eel is characterised by its sedentary lifestyle. It lives buried in the sand, only partially emerging to capture zooplankton drifting within its reach. Generally gregarious, it forms colonies that, seen from a distance, resemble a garden, hence its name. Despite their peaceful nature, territorial conflicts can arise within colonies. In such cases, the dominated eel will move to settle out of reach of the dominant individual. Such movements are rare, as this species is not very mobile.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Gorgasia preclara

 

Family : Congridae (conger eels and garden eels, 197 species)
Size : Up to 40 cm
Distribution : Indian Ocean and tropical Pacific

 

Biology : Although smaller and more colourful than its cousin the spotted garden eel, the splendid garden eel shares a similar lifestyle.
It consolidates its tunnel using mucus.
During the breeding season, the male leaves his burrow to settle near a female, adopting a very protective behaviour.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Stegostoma fasciatum

 

Family : Stegostomatidae
Size : Up to 350 cm
Distribution : Red sea, Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : It lives alone on the reef in search of molluscs, crustaceans, small fish and sea snakes. It is an oviparous species (the female lays eggs, so the embryo grows externally to the mother’s body). The egg-laying rate is 2 to 4 eggs.

 

IUCN status : Endangered

 

Scientific name : Triaenodon obesus

 

Family : Carcharhinidae
Size : Up to 220 cm
Distribution : Red sea, Indian ocean, Pacific ocean

 

Biology : During the day, it remains sheltered in reef caves. At night it hunts for food (fish, cephalopods, crustaceans). It is a viviparous species (the embryo grows inside the female’s belly). It can give birth to several young (5 max.).

 

IUCN status : Least concern