Scientific name : Acanthochromis polyacanthus

 

Family : Pomacentridae
Size : Up to 14 cm
Distribution : West Pacific

 

Biology : The parents look after the young fish. Adults form monogamous pairs, which are quite territorial during reproduction.
The female lays eggs that stick to the substrate. The male guards and aerates them.

 

Scientific name : Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides

 

Family : Haemulidae
Size : Up to 72 cm
Distribution : West and Central Tropical Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : The young are light brown with large white spots. The number of spots increases with age and the coat becomes darker.
It feeds at night mainly on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish.

 

Scientific name : Epinephelus malabaricus

 

Family : Serranidae
Size : Up to 234 cm
Distribution : Red Sea, Tropical West Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : It frequents lagoons, mangroves, sandy and muddy bottoms, and coral reefs as well as rocky ones.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Acanthurus chirurgus

 

Family : Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes, 84 species)
Size : Up to 40 cm
Distribution : Western Atlantic Ocean, from the Caribbean to Southern Brazil

 

Biology : This surgeonfish is rather sociable and it lives in small groups. They feed primarily on algae and they are extremely useful to sea turtles since they clean their shells.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Epinephelus flavocaeruleus

 

Family : Serranidae
Size : Up to 90 cm
Distribution : Tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean

 

Biology : It is nocturnal, it hunts in search of its prey.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Megalops atlanticus

 

Family : Megalopidae
Size : Up to 240 cm
Distribution : West and East Atlantic in the tropical zone

 

Biology : It can be found in the brackish waters of mangroves or on the outer slopes of the reef. It feeds mainly on fish.

 

IUCN status : Vulnerable

 

Scientific name : Zebrasoma flavescens

 

Family : Acanthuridae
Size : Up to 20 cm
Distribution : Hawaiian Archipelago, Micronesia, Japan

 

Biology : The yellow surgeon lives in a school. Individuals may occasionally squabble to establish or maintain hierarchy in the group.
Like all surgeon fish, it has a spine at the base of its tail. This is similar to the scalpel used by surgeons, hence the name. This spine is an effective means of defence.

 

Scientific name : Chaetodon auriga

 

Family : Chaetodontidae
Size : Up to 23 cm
Distribution : Red sea, Indian Ocean, tropical West Pacific

 

Biology : Butterflyfish reproduction is seasonal. It can depend on the tides, the moon or the monsoon and therefore varies according to geographical areas.
Individuals form pairs, reaching sexual maturity at the age of 2, usually for their entire lives.

 

Scientific name : Paracanthurus hepatus

 

Family : Acanthuridae
Size : Up to 20 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : It is called “palette” because its livery is reminiscent of a painter’s palette.
Like all surgeon fish, it has a spine at the base of its tail. This is similar to the scalpel used by surgeons, hence the name. This spine is an effective means of defence.

 

Scientific name : Plectorhinchus vittatus

 

Family : Haemulidae
Size : Up to 90 cm
Distribution : West and Central Tropical Indo-Pacific

 

Biology : It is nicknamed the “growler” fish because it is able to produce sounds with its teeth, which are amplified by the swim bladder.
As a juvenile, it is brown with creamy yellow spots. It feeds on benthic invertebrates.