Scientific name : Pygoplites diacanthus
Family : Pomacanthidae (marine angelfishes, 91 species)
Size : Up to 25 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Hawaii
Biology : They are territorial species that can be found solitary and occasionally in pairs. It feeds mainly on sponges and other invertebrates. It is a sequential hermaphrodite; it is born as a female and eventually it transforms into a male.
IUCN status : Least concern
Scientific name : Zebrasoma xanthurum
Family : Acanthuridae
Size : Up to 22 cm
Distribution : Indian ocean, Red sea
Biology : Like all surgeonfish, it has a scalpel-shaped spine on each side at the base of its tail.
It lives in schools above the reef where it feeds on algae and invertebrates.
IUCN status : Least concern
Scientific name : Pseudanthias dispar
Family : Serranidae
Size : Up to 10 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific
Biology : They’re planktivorous animals. They constantly feed on tiny crustaceans, eggs, and different larvae that they catch in the open water.
They can be found by walls and reef slopes exposed to currents. They change sex during their lives (Sequential hermaphroditism). They are born female and then become male over the course of their lives.
IUCN status : Least concern
Scientific name : Diadema setosum
Family : Diadematidae
Size : Spikes can reach 30 cm
Distribution : Red sea, Indian ocean, Tropical central Pacific ocean, East Mediterranean
Biology : It has powerful teeth that help it to pull out algae attached to the substrate.
It is found in lagoons, on the sand, in sea grass beds…
Scientific name : Aeoliscus strigatus
Family : Centriscidae
Size : Up to 15 cm
Distribution : Indian ocean, West Pacific
Biology : They move in groups, head facing down, tail up. They feed on zooplankton. The almost daily reproduction looks like a graceful ballet.
They live close to the bottom, close to fallback areas to escape predators by hiding either in the spines of sea urchins, corals or in gorgonians.
Scientific name : Gymnothorax funebris
Family : Muraenidae
Size : Up to 230 cm
Distribution : West and East tropical Atlantic
Biology : It moves mostly at night to hunt fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. During the day, it remains sheltered, hidden in rocky faults.
IUCN status : Least concern
Scientific name : Neocirrhites armatus
Family : Cirrhitidae
Size : Up to 9 cm
Distribution : Pacific ocean
Biology : It positions itself on observation points among the corals. If it spots any danger, it can hide away in the coral.
The flame hawkfish is a rather aggressive fish and mightily defends its territory against its fellow creatures.
They live in pairs.
Scientific name : Zoanthus spp
Family : Zoanthidae (zoanthus, 23 species)
Size : The polyps are about 1 cm width, but the colony may extend over several square meters
Distribution : They occur in all tropical seas of the world
Biology : Like many reef corals, zoanthus host symbiotic algae, allowing them to feed indirectly through photosynthesis. Besides, they also feed on zooplankton. Zoanthus secrete palytoxin, one of the most poisonous toxins in the world. Therefore, they hardly have predators. Aquarists love them because they are so varied in color and have such remarkable fluorescence.
IUCN status : Not assessed
Scientific name : Chrysiptera parasema
Family : Pomacentridae (damselfishes and clownfishes, 418 species)
Size : Up to 7 cm
Distribution : From Indonesia to the Ryūkyū Islands
Biology : This species inhabits shallow, sheltered waters. It is usually found near branching corals where it can quickly hide. It is omnivorous and feeds on algae and small invertebrates. The female lays about 300 adhesive eggs and the male protects and distributes them.
IUCN status : Not assessed
Scientific name : Lysmata amboinensis
Family : Hippolytidae
Size : Up to 7 cm
Distribution : South Pacific ocean, Red sea, Indian ocean
Biology : It is detritivorous and a parasite-remover. It spends most of its time sheltered under rocks.
