Order : Sabellida

 

Biology : Sabella are sedentary worms, also known as sea tubeworms. They are characterized by secreting a hardened mucus tube in which to spend the majority of their lives.
However, should the conditions be unfavorable, they are able to escape from their tube and settle elsewhere to secrete a new tube.

 

Sabella have a crown of tentacles that enable them to breathe and capture plankton. If a threat is spotted, sabella is able to retract its crown into the tube in seconds. Some species are colonial, individuals stick together and build their tubes on each other.

 

Scientific name : Hoplolatilus marcosi

 

Family : Malacanthidae (the malacanths, 42 species)
Size : Up to 12 cm
Distribution : Indonesia and the Philippines, from Java to the Solomon Islands

 

Biology : They generally live in monogamous pairs. They can be found on sandy bottoms where they dig burrows and form mounds of sand. They eat zooplankton.

 

IUCN status : Not assessed

 

Scientific name : Priacanthus hamrur

 

Family : Priacanthidae
Size : Up to 45 cm
Distribution : Indian Ocean and tropical Pacific

 

Biology : The lunar-tailed bigeye likes the dark. It hides in groups under overhangs during the day and emerges from its hiding place at dusk.
Its large eyes make it an excellent nocturnal hunter.
Its intense red color allows it to be stealthy in the dark, as red light penetrates very little water.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Monocentris japonica

 

Family : Monocentridae (pinecone Fish, 5 species)
Size : Up to 17 cm
Distribution : From South Africa to New Caledonia and Japan

 

Biology : Despite its appearance, the Japanese pineapplefish does not have scales; its skin is covered in bony plates. It is a secretive fish that prefers dark places such as caves. It can be observed at depths of up to 250 meters.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Grammistes sexlineatus

 

Family : Grammistidae (soap fish, 32 species)
Size : Up to 30 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : Like other soapfish, the golden striped soapfish produces a toxic, slippery mucus on its skin to escape predators.
It is a very discreet fish, living in rocky interstices. It feeds on fish and shrimp, and its mouth is so extensible that its size is quite remarkable.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Sargocentron spiniferum

 

Family : Holocentridae (soldier and squirrel fish, 90 species)
Size : Up to 45 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : The giant squirrelfish is characterised by its beautiful colours and very large size. To defend itself, it has venomous dorsal spines, like scorpion fish, although it is not related to them.
It is a discreet animal during the day, often immobile in caves and under overhangs, preferring to come out at night to hunt.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Lactoria cornuta

 

Family : Ostraciidae
Size : Up to 46 cm (including tail)
Distribution : Red Sea, tropical Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : Feeds on small invertebrates, which it finds by blowing into the sand.
It prefers to live in shallow sandy-muddy coral lagoons, seagrass beds, harbour areas and estuaries.

 

Scientific name : Chelmon rostratus

 

Family : Chaetodontidae
Size : Up to 23 cm
Distribution : Indian ocean and South Pacific

 

Biology : Sociable towards other fish species, it can be aggressive and territorial towards its fellow fish. It lives alone or in pairs above the reefs.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Chaetodon falcula

 

Family : Chaetodontidae
Size : Up to 20 cm
Distribution : Indian Ocean

 

Biology : They meet in the coral reef as a couple or in small groups. Thanks to their long muzzle, they mostly eat coral polyps.
Its name, butterflyfish, comes from its round and very colourful shape, and from its fluttering behaviour above the coral.

 

IUCN status : Least concern