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 : 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 : Diodon holocanthus

 

Family : Diodontidae
Size : Up to 50 cm
Distribution : Tropical seas around the world

 

Biology : They can inflate themselves with water or air to appear larger to a predator.
Travels alone or in small groups over the reef or sandy areas in search of its food, which consists of invertebrates.

 

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

 

Scientific name : Arothron manilensis

 

Family : Tetraodontidae
Size : Up to 31 cm
Distribution : West Pacific, Australia, Tonga

 

Biology : If they are threatened, they swell up with water thanks to their firm but extensible skin, and so they become bigger to disconcert predators.
Their skin, internal organs including the liver, intestines and gonads hold a deadly toxin : the tetrodotoxin.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Cetoscarus ocellatus

 

Family : Scaridae
Size : Up to 90 cm
Distribution : Tropical Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : At night they sleep in holes or cracks, surrounded by a cocoon of mucus.
They are herbivorous fish that feed on algae. Their strong teeth allow them to crush pieces of hard coral. Here you can see a juvenile specimen. The adults are green.