Scientific name : Acanthurus achilles

 

Family : Acanthuridae
Size : Up to 24 cm
Distribution : West Tropical Pacific

 

Biology : It eats seaweeds, refuses, invertebrates as well as zooplankton. It also absorbs sand to help with its digestion.
Its drop-shaped stain at the base of its caudal fin allows it to thwart predators attacks by looking like an eye, but also, by hiding the scalpel-like spine specific to surgeon fishes.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Heniochus acuminatus

 

Family : Chaetodontidae
Size : Up to 25 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : It enjoys the relatively deep waters of lagoons, passes and sheltered reef slopes.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Acanthurus pyroferus

 

Family : Acanthuridae
Size : Up to 25 cm
Distribution : West Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : The juveniles mimic Centrotype-like angelfishes that are very timorous and hide quickly. It is considered as a way to protect themselves against predators.
The spine located on each side of the caudal peduncle is sharp.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Gomphosus caeruleus

 

Family : Labridae
Size : Up to 30 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

 

Biology : The Gomphosus caeruleus lives in small groups or by itself. Its long muzzle allows it to look for, and to catch its hidden preys in the coral, mostly crustaceans, molluscs, and small fishes. It is called a birdmouth wrasse because of its winding swimming due to the flapping of its pectoral fin.
It belongs to the family of wrasses. These are hermaphrodite animals, their sex changes throughout their lives. They are born female, then, become male when the existing male disappears.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Pomacanthus annularis

 

Family : Pomacanthidae
Size : Up to 40 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

 

Biology : Its diet is mainly composed by seaweeds and marine invertebrates like sponges.
If it is threatened or disturbed, it gives out a deaf sound through its swim bladder, which can be heard by men under water. A blue long spine specific to angelfishes is present at the base of the operculum.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Rhinopias frondosa

 

Family : Scorpaenidae (scorpionfishes, 231 species)
Size : Up to 23 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific, from Madagascar to Taiwan

 

Biology : This fish is a master of camouflage, thanks in particular to the many leafy appendages that dot its body.
It can also display a wide range of colours, from yellow to green, red and even candy pink. It will feed on just about any fish that will fit in its large mouth, as long as they come close enough when it is stalking.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Pogonoperca punctata

 

Family : Serranidae
Size : Up to 35 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : It can be found on the slopes of coral reefs where currents are moderate. This fish produces a toxin on its skin : grammistin. This bitter toxin protects it from predators. The heavy mucus produced by this fish makes its body slimy and slippery like soap.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Rhinecanthus rectangulus

 

Family : Balistidae
Size : Up to 30 cm
Distribution : Pacific ocean, Oceania, Indian ocean, Red sea

 

Biology : It is famous because of its Hawaiian name “Humuhumunukunukuapua’a”. It is emblematic of Hawaii.
They live near coral reefs and in shallow lagoons where they feed on algae, molluscs, crabs, sea urchins…

 

Scientific name : Astropyga radiata

 

Family : Diadematidae (long-spined sea urchins and red urchins, 46 species)
Size : 20 cm width
Distribution : Abundant throughout the Indo-Pacific, from Mozambique to Hawaii

 

Biology : This sea urchin especially likes sandy seafloors and seagrass beds. It is able to inoculate a venom causing severe pain. However, very few accidents have occurred because it is easily spotted. This sea urchin acts as a shelter for some small fish and crustaceans. The urchin crab is well known for carrying one around on its carapace in order to protect itself.

 

IUCN status : Not assessed

 

Scientific name : Sphaeramia nematoptera

 

Family : Apogonidae
Size : Up to 9 cm
Distribution : Tropical western Pacific

 

Biology : During the day, it is hidden mainly between the branches of the corals. At night, it looks for food near the bottom.