Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea [<1> ed.] 9782759218899

Table of contents :
A word from the partners; Foreword by John E. Randall; Foreword by Jean-Claude Quéro; Introduction; Habitats; Visual quick-find of fishes; Visual approach to families and groups; Description of groups; Sharks; Rays; Morays, snake eels, conger eels and garden eels; Catfishes; Lizardfishes, flatheads and dragonet; Small pelagic fishes; Anglerfishes and frogfishes; Soldierfishes and squirrelfishes; Bigeyes and bulleyes; Unclassified species; Trumpetfishes, cornetfishes and shrimpfishes; Seahorses, pipefishes, ghost pipefishes and sea moths; Scorpionfishes and lionfishes; Stonefishes.
AnthiasGroupers; Soapfishes; Dottybacks; Hawkfishes; Cardinalfishes; Jacks and trevallies; Snappers; Fusiliers; Sweetlips and grunts; Seabreams; Emperor and large-eyed bream; Coral breams; Goatfishes; Chubs; Spadefishes and batfishes; Butterflyfishes; Angelfishes; Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes; Barracudas; Fingerfins and marblefishes; Wrasses, Hogfishes, Coris; Parrotfishes; Sandperches and sand divers; Combtooth blennies; Dartfishes; Gobies; Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes; Rabbitfishes; Tuna and other large pelagic fishes; Flounders and soles; Triggerfishes and filefishes.
Boxfishes; Puffers and porcupinefishes; References and recommended reading; Acknowledgements; Glossary; Index of scientific names; Index of French names; Index of English names.

Citation preview

Guide pratique

Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

M. Taquet, A. Diringer

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Marc Taquet, Alain Diringer

Translated by Janet Heard-Carnot

Éditions Quæ Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Collection Guide pratique Découverte naturaliste des garrigues Luc Chazel, Muriel Chazel 2012, 208 p. Poissons de l’océan Indien et de la mer Rouge 2e édition Marc Taquet, Alain Diringer 2012, 680 p. Les plantes et leurs noms. Histoires insolites François Couplan 2012, 224 p. Les hyménoptères parasitoïdes oophages d’Europe B. Pintureau 2012, version numérique Les plantes et leurs insectes Bruno Didier, Hervé Guyot 2012, version numérique

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

La lutte biologique au jardin Vincent Albouy 2012, 102 p.

Éditions Quæ RD 10 78026 Versailles Cedex, France

First French edition © Éditions Quæ, 2007 Second French edition © Éditions Quæ, 2012 English edition © Éditions Quæ, 2012 ISBN 978-2-7592-1889-9 ISSN 1952-2770 The provisions of the intellectual property code prohibit photocopying for collective use without the authorization of the copyright holders. Non-compliance with this provision endangers publishing, especially scientific publishing and is subject to criminal prosecution. Any partial reproduction of this work is prohibited without the authorisation of the Centre français d’exploitation du droit de copie (CFC), 20, rue des Grands-Augustins, Paris 6e.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

A word from the partners Agency for marine protected areas (AAMP) It was quite far from the Indian Ocean, on the emerald green waters of the Marquesas islands, that this partnership came into being. The Agency for marine areas had organised a knowledge-gathering cruise in the Polynesian archipelago. Marc Taquet took part in it on behalf of Ifremer. He spoke of his passion for fish and for the Indian Ocean. We told him about the Marine nature park of Mayotte and that of the Glorieuses – the two largest French marine protected areas – and about the Agency’s intention to get more involved in regional cooperation programmes in the Indian Ocean. All of this struck a common chord. Indeed, this practical guidebook about fish helps address the need to develop knowledge about the marine environment. The Indian Ocean holds some of the hot spots of global biodiversity, including the Mozambique Channel. This book shows the biological diversity in these waters and clarifies the ecology of species there. It is an invaluable piece of work for managing this marine environment. France is especially accountable there, since 10 % of French waters are located in the Indian Ocean. Successfully protecting them will require knowledge and sharing it with decision-makers and all those who depend on the sea for their livelihood. This book contributes to that goal. As a newly-created public institution devoted to preserving the marine environment, it was natural that the Agency for marine protected areas support this initiative. Jérôme Bignon, President of the French Agency for marine protected areas Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (Wiomsa) As was with the First Edition, WIOMSA is proud to be associated with the production of the Second Edition of this high quality and very relevant publication and wish to congratulate the authors for this updated and expanded version. The content and the quality of this guide clearly affirms that WIOMSA made the right decision to partially support the publication of the First and Second Editions. I believe that this guide, with its beautiful illustrations, will be valuable to scientists, researchers and divers, to help in the identification of the listed species. It will also be an asset to policy makers and the young who will be fascinated by and attracted to the beauty and diversity of fishes illustrated in the guide and hopefully, this fascination will make them become even more supportive of the need to conserve the coastal and marine environment in the region

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Nirmal Shah, President French research institute for exploitation of the sea (Ifremer) The fruit of considerable effort for in situ observation, this richly illustrated and perfectly documented “field guide” offers an attractive panorama of the ichthyofauna of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Above and beyond the beautifully presented illustrations, which can only increase the public’s fascination for the beauty of the underwater world, this publication makes a very valuable contribution to the scientific community, as a census of the fish which populate environments still relatively less explored than those of other oceanic regions. In keeping with the biodiversity inventories and censuses underway, the authors have succeeded in going beyond simply describing the criteria required for the visual quick-find of nearly 1,200 species. In fact, they show us these fishes in their natural environment, thus emphasizing that the survival of species depends first and foremost on preserving the quality of their habitats. By letting us share in the beauty of nature, with talent, Marc Taquet and Alain Diringer remind all those who use the maritime realm of the significant stakes and challenges ahead to preserve marine ecosystems, their functions and their treasures. Jean-Yves Perrot, President-Managing Director Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Foreword The earth is experiencing the extinction of species at a greater rate than any time in its history from the degradation of environments, introduction of invasive species, overexploitation of biological resources, and especially accelerated climate change from the increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition to warming the atmosphere and the sea, the CO2 causes acidification in the sea, which impairs coral growth. The increasing sea temperature is occurring at a greater rate than corals can tolerate over time. Reef-building corals are expected to be extinct within 30 to 50 years, along with all the life dependent on coral reefs This new edition of Marc Taquet and Alain Diringer’s Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, with their lovely underwater photographs of fishes, is a reminder of what the world will lose if we continue to burn fossil fuels at the present rate. If coal, oil, and natural gas did not exist (or if we had been wise enough not to burn them), we would have in time developed nonpolluting sources of energy to achieve the technological advances we now enjoy (though we would have continued to ride horses and cross the seas in sailing vessels much longer). Governments must increase their effort to subsidize industry for other sources of power. Marc and Alain have added 340 fishes to their new edition, thus a total of 1,200 species. In addition to their photographs, they provide characters for species identification, size attained, depth of occurrence, and details of habits and habitat. A real pleasure to have it all in one volume!

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John E. Randall

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Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Foreword Fauna in the Indian Ocean is much less known than that in the Atlantic and Pacific, due to the fact that the few countries with high-level scientific research, i.e., Australia and South Africa, have only a small part of their seafront on this ocean. Therefore, this Guide to Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea is a most welcome publication. The authors, Marc Taquet from Ifremer and his friend Alain Diringer, are not unknown in this field. In 1992, they gratified us with a beautiful book on Indian Ocean groupers entitled Les mérous de l’océan Indien. In this new book, they present nearly 1,200 species of fish, illustrated with over 1,500 underwater photographs. It is the result of nearly 25 years of diving together in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea: in their home location of Reunion Island, Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, and the French Scattered islands (Glorioso, Europa and Tromelin). For the needs of this book, they extended their explorations further afield to South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the Red Sea. Dives were even made far offshore, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, around drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs*) which attract large pelagic* species. I know Marc Taquet particularly well. At the start of his career at Ifremer, he spent three years in the laboratory where I worked, in La Rochelle. During his stay there, I had the opportunity to appreciate his human and professional qualities. Apparently, it was after I’d asked him to identify Triglids during a research cruise that he was bitten by the ichthyology* bug. Later, when posted to Reunion Island, he introduced me to Alain Diringer, a professor of art and design, ever seeking aesthetic beauty. Marc and Alain share the same passion for subaquatic activities. I am very honoured that Marc and Alain have asked me to write a preface for their book. Having studied the deep-sea ichthyological fauna of Reunion Island and Madagascar, the attraction of this region, linked to the excitement of discovery, has remained alive for me. My congratulations go to Marc Taquet and Alain Diringer for serving knowledge through their shared passion and for the effort they have made to share it with one and all.

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Jean-Claude Quéro

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Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Contents A word from the partners .......................................................................................3 Foreword by John E. Randall ..................................................................................5 Foreword by Jean-Claude Quéro ...........................................................................7

Introduction ........................................................................................................13 Habitats .................................................................................................................17 Visual quick-find of fishes ............................................................................20 Visual approach to families and groups ...............................................22 Description of groups .....................................................................................27 Sharks ...............................................................................................................29 Rays ...................................................................................................................47 Morays, snake eels, conger eels and garden eels .............................61 Catfishes ..........................................................................................................77 Lizardfishes, flatheads and dragonet ...................................................81 Small pelagic fishes .....................................................................................91 Anglerfishes and frogfishes....................................................................103 Soldierfishes and squirrelfishes .............................................................109 Bigeyes and bulleyes .................................................................................119 Unclassified species ...................................................................................123 Trumpetfishes, cornetfishes and shrimpfishes .................................145 Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Seahorses, pipefishes, ghost pipefishes and sea moths ................151 Scorpionfishes and lionfishes .................................................................165 Stonefishes ...................................................................................................185 Anthias ...........................................................................................................189 Groupers........................................................................................................199 Soapfishes .....................................................................................................227 Dottybacks ....................................................................................................233 Hawkfishes ...................................................................................................237 Cardinalfishes ..............................................................................................245 Jacks and trevallies ....................................................................................259 Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers ........................................................................................................275 Fusiliers ..........................................................................................................289 Sweetlips and grunts ................................................................................297 Seabreams.....................................................................................................309 Emperor and large-eyed bream ............................................................321 Coral breams ................................................................................................333 Goatfishes .....................................................................................................341 Chubs ..............................................................................................................353 Spadefishes and batfishes .......................................................................359 Butterflyfishes .............................................................................................365 Angelfishes ...................................................................................................391 Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes ...............................407 Barracudas ....................................................................................................439 Fingerfins and marblefishes ...................................................................445 Wrasses, Hogfishes, Coris ........................................................................451 Parrotfishes ..................................................................................................507 Sandperches and sand divers .................................................................523 Combtooth blennies .................................................................................531 Dartfishes ......................................................................................................543 Gobies ............................................................................................................549 Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes ..........................................................573 Rabbitfishes ..................................................................................................595

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Tuna and other large pelagic fishes ...................................................603 Flounders and soles ...................................................................................613 Triggerfishes and filefishes .....................................................................619 Boxfishes .......................................................................................................639 Puffers and porcupinefishes ...................................................................647 References and recommended reading ...................................................... 663 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... 665 Glossary .......................................................................................................... 667 Index of scientific names ............................................................................. 669 Index of French names ................................................................................. 681 Index of English names ................................................................................ 693 Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Introduction This guidebook is intended for everyone who is interested by fish and who wants to identify them or know more about them. To make it, we went to find the fishes in their natural surroundings, in order to fully enjoy the spectacle provided by nature through these beautiful and captivating creatures. In this book, scuba divers, free divers or snorkelers will recognise marine life scenes they have been lucky enough to see for themselves on their underwater forays. They will find here some biological or ecological clarifications to better know, and thus better understand, the fragile balances in play in these sensitive ecosystems. Over many years devoted to studying the fish of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, we have had the opportunity to be in close contact with small-scale fishermen on numerous islands or shores. They have shared their passion for the sea with us. They are well aware that the short-term outlook for their activity is closely and vitally linked to the sustainable management of all marine ecosystems. In return, through this book, we hope to share with them a bit of our vision from underwater, of a world that they often see differently, though the surface of the looking glass.

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This publication is also intended for scientists and particularly ecologists who study fish populations. To measure the impact of direct or indirect human activities on fish populations, scientists often rely on subsea visual censuses which require good ability to quickly identify the species encountered. We hope that this reference book will contribute to both basic and advanced training of scientific diving teams working on these projects. Formal identification of a fish requires a thorough examination in the laboratory, in which the ichthyologist follows a step-by-step observation protocol based on identification keys. At each step in the process, anatomical and morphometric * criteria are checked, guiding the observer towards a dichotomous “either-or” choice. At the end of this path, which can prove to be rather long and complicated in some cases, identification is obtained with the greatest probability of success. The final step then consists in comparing the specimen studied with the available illustrations (drawings or photographs) to bear out this diagnosis, or not. Today, molecular biology* techniques like genetic analyses can complement the tools available to ichthyologists, to help determine a species’ phylogeny*. This scientific method is obviously the most reliable. It enables the various species to be described, in order to group them within a classification having several levels, i.e., within a given order, family and genus. However, it has a major disadvantage in that the fish must be caught and killed. When it is a question of identifying them in a fisheries science study, this is not generally a problem, since samples can be taken from landed catches. However, in ecology studies, sampling in the natural environment must be limited insofar as possible in order to avoid further disturbing ecosystems already subjected to overly strong anthropogenic pressure. In this case, to perform fauna censuses, scientists rely on visual identification on underwater dives. To be effective, the visual identification of fish must follow a methodological approach based on a number of observational steps. In most cases, visual contact with the fish only lasts a few seconds, so it is crucial to learn to look immediately at the distinctive traits which will make it possible to reliably progress towards identifying the species observed. The general shape of the fish should be appraised by asking the following questions: – What is its profile like? stocky, slender, snakelike? – What shape is its body ? laterally compressed, cylindrical, box-shaped or flattened? Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Introduction

13

– Where is its mouth? terminal, inferior or other position? – What is its tail like? pointed, rounded, truncated, crescent-shaped? – How many dorsal fins has it got? What shape(s) are they? Where are they placed? The sketches and nomenclature proposed in the section called “Visual quick-find of fishes” will help the reader to better characterise the species to be determined. Visual identification is also based on the fish’s colour pattern: the colours (number and distribution), the shape of spots and patches, bars, lines or other distinctive markings or patterns present. In some cases, a small detail, like a small spot or dot being present, is sufficient to distinguish between two species belonging to the same genus. However, the colouration of a given species can change, depending on regions, individuals, or for the same individual, on the environment and the circumstances. That is why it will sometimes be impossible to formally identify a fish using the visual method to the degree of precision desired, i.e., to accurately determine the species. In this case, it is often preferable to stop at the higher taxonomic level, by determining the genus or the family, which will already provide considerable information about the observed fish’s position in its ecosystem.

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The reported observations and illustrations in this guide have been collected on several thousand dives in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, made by the authors over the past twenty-five years. Of course, it is impossible to cover such a vast geographical area exhaustively, but we have endeavoured to visit the widest possible range and diversity of diving sites and habitats. An orange dot indicates the main sites studied on the map at the beginning of the book. We have noted sometimes significant differences in size and behaviour in the same species, depending on the degree of anthropization* of the site studied. The indications of fish sizes correspond to the mean size (total length) of the fish when adult. When a reliable indication is available in the literature for the maximum size reached by a species, and this is quite different from the mean size observed, the maximum size is specified in the text. The accuracy of a species’ known geographical range of distribution is greatly dependent on the interest it has had for scientists. In the case of species of value to commercial fisheries, the networks for statistical data collection can help to better assess the geographical range of this distribution. For other species, knowledge is highly linked to the sampling efforts made by ichthyologists. For this reason, the scientific reviews of fish families or genera, like those published by the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, are extremely interesting, because they provide reliable summaries of all the sites where the various species have been found. However, although it is possible to confirm the presence of a species on a given site, it remains impossible to prove that a species is absent from an area. It may be rare there, or quite simply, the geographical area in question may not yet have been studied. In this guide, we have chosen to indicate the geographical distribution of each species based on the following eight categories:

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Indian Ocean and Red Sea

East Indian Ocean

Red Sea only

Indo-Pacific

Mascarene islands only

Circumtropical

North Indian Ocean

Australia

South Indian Ocean

South Africa

West Indian Ocean In some cases, particularly for rare species which had not been recorded in the Indian Ocean, we have specified the place where it was seen. As for the information about the geographical range, the indications of bathymetric* distribution for the same species sometimes varies from one reference book to another. This is in great part due to the notable differences in the way fishes behave depending on their environment. Sea temperature and availability of a type of food at a given depth are factors that will result in regional adaptations, which may lead to different bathymetric distributions from one region to another. The depth limits for species’ ranges of distribution are often based on information collected in the framework of commercial or experimental fisheries and their reliability depends on the gear used. Effectively, a specimen may be caught in a trawl deployed in very deep water, but it is always possible that it was caught while the gear was being lowered or raised. To provide the reader with this information, we have compared the data from our own observations with those available in the literature.

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The various habitats where they can be found are also indicated for each species. They correspond to observations made by the authors in the natural environment of the zones studied. The section on “Habitats”, at the beginning of this guidebook will help the reader visualise the diversity of biotopes seen in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.

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Introduction

15

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Habitats Coral environments As a protective edifice in place for thousands of years, resisting the onslaught of waves, the coral barrier stands like a boundary between the immensity of the open sea and the peaceful waters of lagoons. Seen on this scale, it is hard to imagine that this amazing construction is actually made up of minute calcareous “bricks” secreted by such tiny polyps. The calcareous skeleton of coral is also the basic element of beaches. By scraping the coral as they feed, parrotfishes break off pieces of reef that their specialised digestive system then quickly transforms into sand. Through this process, they play an active part in producing sandy areas and beaches. Whether branching, in massive clumps or like large parasols, corals offer fantastic shelters for numerous species of coastal fishes. Many of them opt for the quiet waters of lagoons and the protection afforded by the coral to make their nest and deposit their eggs. These sheltered areas serve as nurseries for many species in the tropical environment. For all these reasons, and because the coral environment is one of the most sensitive habitats to environmental imbalances, it is essential to protect it from any form of anthropogenic stress or attack.

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Sand Seen from the surface, the great stretches of sand which line sheltered bays or border on reef areas can seem like barren deserts. And yet, they hold furtive, but intense, marine life. As great reservoirs of marine benthic* invertebrates, these sandy areas are the food-store of foragers like the goatfishes. During their evolution, some species, such as flatfish, have adapted their morphology to this specific habitat. Others have developed defence strategies like burying themselves partially or entirely, digging burrows or using exceptional mimicry techniques wh i ch m a k e t h e m p ra c t i c a l l y invisible.

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Habitats

17

Seagrass meadows At first glance, seagrass meadows look like monotonous prairies, rippling with the movements of waves. Even so, taking a closer look reveals a whole world of unusual fauna, curious creatures with unlikely shapes that are almost invisible as they laze or wait patiently. These are the leaf-fishes, seahorses, pipefishes and ghost pipefishes, all of them doing their best to look like aquatic plants. “Herds” of wrasse tirelessly graze in these meadows, moray eels thread their way through them, lionfish lurk there to ambush their prey. For millennia, sea turtles have found the right food there to store the energy reserves they need for their very long reproductive migrations*.

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Wrecks For marine life, recently sunk shipwrecks are new spaces to conquer. It’s a matter of “first come, first served”! The mazes of gangways, cabins and holds provide all sorts of hideaways, where each species can take up residence and adapt, depending on its needs. For predators, it is the assurance of a hunting ground with abundant and varied prey, but requiring them to be clever enough to outwit their furtive victims. For divers, shipwrecks are always magical places where history and human folly mix. They are like shadow theatres where intriguing and mysterious shapes rule supreme. Wrecks are oases of marine life where incredible biodiversity thrives.

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Caves Since they provide effective protection from predators, underwater caves are much coveted shelters. They are peaceful havens shared by numerous species of different sizes and often with very different lifestyles. Some predators don’t hesitate to use their cave as a hideout to lie in wait. Lurking in the shadows, they can ambush unsuspecting prey that have adventured too close to the entrance of their lair.

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The deep sea and fish aggregating devices Beneath the diver stretches the harrowing emptiness of the ocean! The particles of plankton seem invisible, so disproportionate is the scope between their individual size and the distances separating them. Rays of sunlight swirl as they penetrate down through the water, as if to better transfix this infinite space, a vision which makes our heads spin. However, in this huge blue desert, any floating object represents a true living oasis, where numerous species aggregate naturally, like a meeting point for these distant travellers lost in the immensity of the ocean. The natural propensity of some pelagic fish to join up with floating objects on the sea surface has not yet been clearly explained. However, since Antiquity, fishermen have used artificial floating objects called “fish aggregating devices” or FADs to improve their fisheries, either mooring them or letting them drift offshore.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Habitats

19

Visual quick-find Dorsal fin

Spiny rays

Soft rays

Eye Caudal peduncle

Naris

Caudal fin

Maxilla

Preopercle Anal fin

Operculum Pectoral fins

Pelvic or ventral fins Upper lobe

Lower lobe

Gill slits Claspers

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Dots

Spots

Chevrons

Fringe

Mask

Saddle

Bars Ocellated spot

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Lines

of fishes Convex head

Barbels

Beak-like mouth

Cirri

Terminal mouth

Superior mouth

Inferior mouth

Scutes

Rounded tail

Precaudal pit

Truncated tail fin

Spines

Lanceolate tail fin

Humped head

Scalpel

Emarginate tail fin

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Tubular snout

Heterocercal tail

Finlets

Lunate tail fin

Tapered tail

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Visual http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Keels

Forked tail fin

Trilobate tail

quick-find of fishes

21

Visual approach Sharks p. 29

Rays p. 47

Catfish p. 77

Morays, snake eels, conger eels and garden eels p. 61

Lizardfishes, flatheads and dragonets p. 81

Small pelagic fishes p. 91

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Anglerfishes p. 103

Soldierfishes and squirrelfishes p. 109

Bigeyes and bulleyes p. 119

Unclassified species p. 123

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to families and groups Trumpetfishes, Cornetfishes and Shrimpfishes p. 145

Seahorses, pipefishes, ghost pipefishes and sea moths p. 151

Scorpionfishes and lionfishes p. 165

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Anthias p. 189

Dottybacks p. 233

Groupers p. 199

Hawkfishes p. 237

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Visual approach to http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Stonefishes p. 185

Soapfishes p. 227

Cardinalfishes p. 245

families and groups

23

Jacks and trevallies p. 259

Snappers p. 275

Sweetlips and grunts p. 297

Seabreams p. 309

Emperors and large-eye breams p. 321

Coral breams p. 333

Goatfishes p. 341

Chubs p. 353

Spadefishes and batfishes p. 359 Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Fusiliers p. 289

Butterflyfishes p. 365

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes p. 407

Angelfishes p. 391

Barracudas p. 439

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Fingerfins p. 445

Wrasses p. 451

Parrotfishes p. 507

Combtooth Blennies p. 531

Sandperches and sand divers p. 523

Dartfishes p. 543

Gobies p. 549

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes p. 573

Rabbitfishes p. 595

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Tuna and other large pelagic fishes p. 603

Flounders and soles p. 613

Boxfishes p. 639

Triggerfishes p. 619

Puffers and porcupinefishes p. 647

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Visual approach to http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

families and groups

25

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Description of groups

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Carcharhinus longimanus (family Carcharhinidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sharks

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Les requins

Contrary to other fishes, sharks, rays, skates and ghost sharks have a cartilaginous skeleton. As these species evolved, following a phase of bony development, nature went back to using cartilage which makes their bodies both lighter in weight and supple. Their evolution lasted 400 million years, and very quickly, morphological and physiological adaptations gave these predators a real edge. Over this time period, all sorts of shapes were tried out, and the best of them selected. Thus, Carcharocles megalodon, which was “too gigantic” at 15 m and weighing about 25 t, disappeared three million years ago. Sharks have a range of distribution covering every sea, every biotope and every possible prey. There are over 300 species of sharks and many books have been devoted to them. Intensive fisheries, which are now rampant in every ocean of the globe, are threatening many species of shark with overfishing, or even extinction, for those which are the most sought-after or the most vulnerable. Indeed, sharks’ reproduction strategy relies on having offspring which are well adapted to marine life, right from birth, but in very small numbers compared with those of bony fishes. Thus, the natural rate of renewal of these populations cannot compensate for the excessive fishing pressure. Furthermore, some barbaric fishing practices, like that called “finning”, which consists in cutting off the sharks’ fins before throwing them back in the water still alive, thus dooming them to a terrible and certain death, still exist today in many too many fisheries. It is therefore important to realise that these exceptional creatures, which in the great majority of cases are simply trying to feed and not to deliberately harm humans, are in great danger and must absolutely be protected. That is why in this guidebook we have chosen to present the species which divers in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea are mostly likely to see. ■

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sharks

◗◗

Family Rhincodontidae

Whale shark Requin baleine Rhincodon typus This is the largest of all fish, usually measuring a dozen metres in length, though the biggest specimen caught was nearly 20 m long. Blue-grey in colour, with white patches on the head and fins arranged on the body in series of large spots separated by thin white bars. Its body has four longitudinal keels. This is a pelagic shark found all over the planet’s inter-tropical belt and reaching into some temperate zones. Entirely harmless for humans, its square snout has a capacious terminal mouth which enables it to filter zooplankton*, crustaceans and small pelagic fish. The female can carry up to 300 embryos at various stages of maturity. At birth they are 70 cm long and little is known about how they grow. This shark is rare, especially considering its size at adulthood. However, they fall victim to ships and fishermen’s nets, killer whales and large carnivorous sharks. They often travel accompanied by live sharksuckers, cobias and jacks.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

In the Indian Ocean, whale sharks migrate and, depending on the season, may be sighted in large numbers in north-western Australian waters, at Djibouti, in the Mozambique Channel, the Seychelles, the Maldives, etc. They sometimes gather in groups of several individuals to more efficiently hunt shoals of small fish.

Size 12 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-980 m

Deep-sea and coastal pelagic environments

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Sharks

◗◗

Family Hexanchidae

Sevengill cowshark Requin platnez Notorynchus cepedianus This large shark can be recognised by the absence of the first dorsal fin, a massive head with huge jaws and its seven gill slits. Its back is greyish or brown, scattered with black spots and white dots. The belly is a creamy grey colour. It lives in kelp forests where it is safe from great white sharks and where it can find fish to feed on. It attacks sea lions (sometimes in coordinated teams). Peacefully zigzagging through the giant Laminaria, it comes close to divers, then turns away and swims off, indifferent to them. Remains, bones and skin from mammals can be seen on the seabed, but there have been only very few unprovoked attacks by them (5 or 6 known attacks, some of them in public aquariums). The Pyramid Rock site in False Bay, on the eastern coast of the Cape of Good Hope, is the easiest place to dive in order to admire them, all year round.

◗◗

Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3m

+

1-140 m

Benthic

Family Stegostomatidae

Zebra shark Requin léopard

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Stegostoma fasciatum Its slender body has four longitudinal keels running from its short snout to its very long tail, which extends outwards along the axis of the body. It is yellow-grey in colour, scattered with black spots. Being oviparous*, the female leaves two to four eggs in a brown egg case anchored to the bottom by filaments. The juveniles are black with zebra-like white stripes, and are rarely seen because they live at depths around 50 m. Zebra sharks drowse on coral or sandy bottoms, between five and thirty metres deep. They go hunting at night, exploring the seabed to discover their prey of fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Size 2m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Coral reef area, estuaries, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

31

Sharks

◗◗

Family Orectolobidae

Ornate wobbegong Requin tapis paste Orectolobus ornatus This is a rather flat-bodied and massive shark, whose dorsal fins are set very far back. The snout is hidden by a dozen fleshy buds or lobes of varying sizes, complementing its camouflage of dark brown with lighter patches and black spots. The female is ovoviviparous*, giving birth to a dozen baby sharks that are twenty centimetres in length. They are ambush predators, hunting fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. When attacked or threatened, they are potentially dangerous. Size

Zone

3m

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Benthic

Family Ginglymostomatidae

Tawny nurse shark Requin nourrice fauve

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Nebrius ferrugineus This large nurse shark has two dorsal fins with straight posterior edges, set well to the rear of its back. Its colouration is plain, between sandy grey and brown. Inactive by day, in a fault or a cave (often facing the current), it is found in lagoons, in passes and outside of reefs. At night, it forages on the seabed using its nasal barbels, sucking up its prey with the sand. It is present in the Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea. Size 3m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-70 m

Mixed coral areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 32 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sharks

◗◗

Family Heterodontidae

Port Jackson shark Requin de Port Jackson Heterodontus portusjacksoni It has a massive head and slender body. The two dorsal fins are each armed with a short, strong spine which protects it from attacks like those by wobbegongs. It is beige or grey, with darker bands running over its flanks. This benthic and coastal species is capable of long migrations. The females lay eggs in capsules in coastal zones and the young grow in calm areas near shore. It is present along Australian coasts, except in the north. Size

Zone

1.50 m

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

0-275 m

Rocky areas, caves

Family Parascylliidae

Necklace carpetshark Requin carpette à collier

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Parascyllium variolatum This is a small, slender shark with a short snout sporting nasal barbels. From grey to mottled brown, it can be recognised by a wide black collar spotted with white. There are black spots on its fins. They are frequently found near the coasts of Western Australia. They hide in crevices and under seaweed, coming out at night to hunt on the seabed. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

90 cm

Australia

0-180 m

Rocky or sandy areas, seagrass beds or mixed bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

33

Sharks

◗◗

Family Lamnidae

Sand tiger shark Requin taureau Carcharias taurus This shark is stocky, with a short snout. Its two dorsal fins are practically identical in size. The colouration is dusky brown with a few dark spots on the flanks. Its powerful jaws are equipped with very sharp and conspicuous protruding teeth, giving it a ferocious appearance. It is a benthic shark which lives in coastal areas. Its range of distribution broadly covers tropical and temperate waters in most of the world’s oceans and seas, with the exception of the East Pacific. They often live and migrate in a group. The ovoviviparous female only gives birth to one or two pups at at time, since a drastic selection process of intrauterine cannibalism takes place, where eggs or siblings are eaten in the womb. Its maximum size is around 3.20 m. Size

Zone

2m

Depth

Habitat

0-220 m

Various habitats in tropical and temperate coastal zones

Great white shark Grand requin blanc

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Carcharodon carcharias It is big and massive, but with a streamlined, fusiform shape. The snout is conical and the tail symmetrical. It is slate grey to dusky brown on its back and the upper part of the flanks and white on the underside. The eye is black and its powerful jaws are armed with flat, wedge-shaped serrated teeth. The great white is present in temperate waters and is common in Australia and South Africa, especially around sea lion colonies. It was filmed in Mauritius in 2004, caught in Madagascar and can appear all over this zone of the south-western Indian Ocean. It has the ability to attack large prey, like marine mammals, sea turtles, tuna and squid. It is also capable of looking above the surface and leaping out of the water to catch sea birds. They prowl around schools or pods of dolphins in the hope of finding a weaker individual. They swim along the coasts during migration. At that time, they

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Sharks

can attack surfers or swimmers, or even small craft, but often this is a case of mistaken identity (notably, surfers can be confused with sea turtles). They are not particularly looking for this type of food! The species has been subjected to strong pressure from fishing, due to its reputation as a man-eater. It is now endangered and many countries are beginning to protect it. The team at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the United States, performed the technical feat of keeping a great white shark alive in captivity for several months. The specimen, which continued to grow exceptionally fast during its stay at the Aquarium, was finally released back into the wild, equipped with an Argos tracking tag which enabled its migration along the American coasts to be tracked for several months.

Size

Zone

7m

Depth

Habitats

0-1280 m

Deep-sea and coastal pelagic environments

Shortfin mako Requin mako Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Isurus oxyrinchus The mako is from the same family as the great white shark, and is midnight blue on the back and sides and white on the belly. The two colours are clearly separated on the body. Its body is hydrodynamically streamlined, with a conical head and sharp, curved, pointy teeth. Its crescent-shaped tail can propel it at speeds of eighty kilometres an hour. Its high-performance swimming ability is also due to its capacity for thermoregulation which enables it to maintain its body temperature ten degrees higher than that of the ambient environment. Size 4m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-740 m

Deep-sea, and sometimes coastal, pelagic environments

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

35

Sharks

◗◗

Family Alopiidae

Pelagic thresher shark Requin renard pélagique Alopias pelagicus This is a pelagic shark with a deep blue colouration and a white belly. The upper lobe of its tail is shaped like a long, narrow scythe whose length is equal to that of its body. It has a pointed snout, small eyes and straight pectoral fins. These details enable it to be differentiated from the other two species of thresher sharks. The pelagic thresher hunts at the surface, where it joins up with conspecifics. It stuns its prey by knocking them with its tail, or swims deep in pursuit of small shoals of fish or squid. It comes to cleaning stations close to coral drop-offs to have its parasites removed. The females are ovoviviparous and the young are cannibals before they are even born. At birth, the two offspring, called “pups”, are already over a metre in length. Size

Zone

3.30 m

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Pelagic

Family Scyliorhinidae

Puffadder shyshark Roussette vipérine

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Haploblepharus edwardsii This very common shyshark has large pectoral fins and a short, massive nose. It is a sandy brown to cream colour and displays seven irregular brown bands. It lives on rocky or sandy bottoms from the tidal zone outwards. It feeds on bottom-dwelling animals. The oviparous females lay their eggs two by two. The young measure ten centimetres at birth. Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-130 m

Benthic

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Sharks

Brown shyshark Roussette brune Haploblepharus fuscus Its plain colouration ranges from sandy yellow to brown, bearing darker saddles with blurred contours which are very hard to see. Like other African shysharks, it coils up and hides its eyes under its tail to “escape” from danger. It is endemic from the Cape to the Natal region, and hunts for its prey amongst pebbles and on the sand. Size

Zone

75 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-100 m

Benthic

Dark shyshark Roussette sombre Haploblepharus pictus It is generally yellowish brown with seven dark brown saddles on the back, dotted with white spots. Endemic to South Africa, it moves about near sandy bottoms and in seaweed. It is more active at night. It can be seen from the first metres below the surface. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-100 m

Benthic

Striped catshark Roussette rubanée Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poroderma africanum This shark has a massive and short snout with long nasal barbels. The first dorsal fin is located well to the rear. Its colouration is grey-beige with seven black bands running lengthwise on the body. Tending to be nocturnal, it feeds on cephalopods, crustaceans and molluscs. The closely related species P. pantherinum called the leopard catshark is identical in shape, habitat and distribution range. But the leopard catshark’s beige colouring differs by the blackish broken rings or small spots that it displays. In the breeding period, the female lays two eggs every three days which will hatch 170 days later. It is endemic* to South Africa, and former reports of P. africanum in Madagascar require further confirmation. Size 1m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Rocky bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

37

Sharks

Leopard catshark Roussette panthère Poroderma pantherinum It has exactly the same shape as P. africanum. However, it has three different colourations: one with a grey to beige base, studded with spots and broken-ringed ocelli arranged in lines, another densely speckled with small black spots and the variant called « marleyi » exhibiting large black patches. The belly is lighter in colour. The leopard catshark is a bit smaller than P. africanum, and goes deeper. Primarily active at night, it begins moving when it detects olfactory stimuli. It can easily be approached and it even lets itself be picked up by hand. Size

Zone

85 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

1-250 m

Benthic

Family Triakidae

Gummy shark Émissole gommée

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Mustelus antarcticus It has an elongate body, with fairly short pectoral and pelvic fins. Its grey-brown colour base is scattered with small white dots and its belly is whitish. This benthic shark is endemic to the Australian coasts. They are ovoviviparous and litters can contain up to sixteen pups. Above all active at night, it finds its food (small fish and benthic invertebrates) on or in the sediment. Size 1.75 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-200 m

Mixed bottoms: rocks and sand

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Sharks

◗◗

Family Carcharhinidae

Silvertip shark Requin pointes blanches de récif Carcharhinus albimarginatus It has a yellow-grey base, the posterior edges of the fins are white and the belly is a whitish colour. This shark lives in reef areas or along rocky drop-offs, often in groups. Its vertical distribution seems quite extensive, since catches at depths reaching 800 m have been cited. The juveniles live in shallow water of lagoons. During mating, the male grasps the female by biting her on the pectoral or dorsal fin. This behaviour leaves deep and visible traces on his mate. The viviparous* female carries up to eleven young during the gestation period which lasts one year. This species is widely distributed in coastal reef zones of the Indo-Pacific region. Its maximum size reaches 3 m. Size

Zone

1.70 m

Depth

Habitat

0-800 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, rocky drop-offs

Grey reef shark Requin gris de récif

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos It is also known by the name of the Dagsit shark. Its colouration is greybronze, with a whitish belly. The posterior edge of the caudal fin is black. It most often lives in groups, in reef areas, in passes or along rocky drop-offs. The female is viviparous and bears up to six pups after the gestation period which lasts one year. Especially active at night, it feeds on various fish, crustaceans or cephalopods. This species is broadly distributed over the entire range of the Indo-Pacific. Its maximum size is around 2.60 m. Size 1.70 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-275 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

39

Sharks

Blacktip shark Requin bordé Carcharhinus limbatus The blacktip has the typical shape of a pelagic shark. Its grey-bronze colouring becomes white at the bottom of its flanks. All of the fins, except for the anal fin, are edged in black, which is more or less visible from a distance. It is semipelagic, occurring in lagoons and mangroves and it can swim up rivers. An opportunistic feeder, it hunts for fish, small sharks, cephalopods, crustaceans and even molluscs. It can jump out of the water to nearly two metres above the surface. They are present in all tropical seas as well as in the Mediterranean. Indifferent to divers during “shark feeding” sessions, they can become aggressive towards spear-fishers. A few fatal attacks have been recorded in the Tuamotu Islands and in Florida. Size

Zone

3.40 m

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Semi-pelagic

Blacktail reef shark Requin à queue noire

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Carcharhinus wheeleri This shark greatly resembles C. amblyrhynchos described above, but can be distinguished from it by the white posterior edge of its first dorsal fin. On the second dorsal, anal and caudal fins, the posterior edges are black. It is a coastal shark which occurs in coral beds and rocky areas. They sometimes become sedentary in a group staying in a given reef area. This is the case around an islet to the north of Mauritius where some twenty individuals live in the shelter of a large rocky fault. Their specific behaviour in this fault, which seems to be a favoured place for sharks to come and be cleaned of their parasites, has been studied by a team of Reunion Island scientists from the Ifremer marine research institute and the university. The female is viviparous and bears up to four pups, after a gestation period of about a year. The maximum size is close to two metres. Their geographical range of distribution seems to be limited to the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Size 1.50 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-140 m

Lagoons,coral and rocky areas, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 40 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sharks

Silky shark Requin soyeux Carcharhinus falciformis It has grey-brown colouring on the back with a whitish belly. The first dorsal fin is fairly rounded in shape, especially in young individuals. The tips of its pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins have a light dusting of coalblack. It is particularly keen-eyed. This is a deep-sea pelagic shark which is present everywhere in the intertropical belt. They aggregate around natural drifting flotsam or objects and FADs. In the framework of a European research programme called Fadio*, we observed and filmed aggregations of over a hundred individuals under the same FAD, adrift far offshore from the Seychelles. This species is viviparous and the female carries up to 14 pups. It is a highly active top predator which feeds on pelagic fish and cephalopods. Its maximum size reaches 3.50 m. Size

Zone

2m

Depth

Habitat

0-200 m

Deep-sea oceanic environment, drifting wrecks and FADs

Bull shark Requin bouledogue

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Carcharhinus leucas This is a large, stocky-bodied shark with a particularly round and short snout. Along with its high first dorsal fin, these morphological features make it easy to identify. It shares the same grey-brown colouring on the back and white on the underside as many of the species in this family. It is a circumtropical* semi-pelagic shark occurring in inshore waters, bays and murky waters of estuaries as far as the freshened waters of rivers, which it can swim up over very long distances. Its diet is highly diversified, since it is both a carnivore and a carrion eater. Seeing its behaviour and its habitats, the bull shark is considered to be one of the most dangerous sharks on earth. It is responsible for most fatal accidents which have taken place in Reunion Island over the past few decades. Its maximum size is around 3.50 m. Size 2m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Coastal areas, bays, estuaries, rivers

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

41

Sharks

Oceanic whitetip shark Requin océanique Carcharhinus longimanus This large shark, with its grey-brown colouration, is easily recognised thanks to its long pectoral fins and its first dorsal fin, with their rounded, whitish tips. There are often a few black spots on the second dorsal and the anal fin, as well as occasionally on the pectoral and first dorsal fins, set a bit back from the whitish tips. This is a circumtropical oceanic pelagic species. They aggregate around floating objects and around drifting or moored FADs where we have very often seen them on our dives. The viviparous female bears up to fifteen pups during a gestation period which lasts one year. Its carnivorous diet is highly diversified and it sometimes feeds on carrion. Its behaviour with respect to divers is relatively specific, it is not at all intimidated by the presence of humans and does not hesitate to come close and even make direct contact. Seeing its size, it is preferable to give it wide berth. We have noticed that when large numbers of silky sharks aggregate around a FAD, the arrival of an oceanic whitetip shark makes them all move away and keep their distance, only returning near the FAD once the lord of the seas has departed. Its maximum size is close to 4 m. Size

Zone

2.50 m

Depth

Habitat

0-180 m

Deep-sea oceanic environment, drifting wrecks and FADs

Blacktip reef shark Requin pointes noires

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Carcharhinus melanopterus This is a medium-sized shark with a relatively short snout. It has beige colouring on the back and a whitish underside. The tips of its fins are black. It lives in coastal zones which are rich in coral, in lagoons, passes and on outer slopes. The viviparous female carries up to five pups during the gestation period which lasts from eight to nine months. This species has a very wide range of distribution all over the IndoPacific. Its maximum size reaches 2 m. Size 1.50 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, passes, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 42 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sharks

Tiger shark Requin tigre Galeocerdo cuvier This large-sized shark owes its n a m e t o i t s c o l o u ra t i o n a n d patterning, which is tiger-striped, although only when it is young. Effectively, big adult individuals are a grey colour which is practically uniform over the back and flanks and they are whitish on the underside. It is easily recognised by the square shape of its wide snout. Its caudal peduncle is armed with a strongly prominent lateral keel. Its jaws are set with large symmetrical teeth. This is a coastal shark which likes areas of shallow waters with corals. It sometimes becomes sedentary, staying for long periods in one place in reef areas which are full of prey. However, it can be sighted far offshore from coasts, particularly around oceanic islands. We have encountered them twice under moored FADs off the coast of Reunion Island. Its range is circumtropical, but it can also sometimes be found in temperate zones. The female is ovoviviparous and can bear numerous offspring reaching up to 82 pups. Analysis of the stomach contents of caught individuals holds many surprises for scientists in terms of the odd assortment of objects they can find there. Their diet as a top predator can indeed be supplemented by just about anything they may find at a given moment in their surroundings. They represent a true danger for humans, and particularly for surfers, which the sharks can easily confuse with one of their favourite preys, i.e. sea turtles. The maximum size reaches 7.40 m. Size

Zone

4m

Depth

Habitat

0-300 m

Deep lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Sicklefin lemon shark Requin limon faucille

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Negaprion acutidens Its colouration is beige or yellowish, being lighter on the belly. Its two dorsal fins are practically identical in size. Its pectoral fins are sickle- or scythe-shaped. This is a benthic shark which lives in shallow tropical waters in mixed coral zones which include spits of sand or mud. It is sedentary and also likes sheltered bays and estuaries. They are sometimes found resting on the sand on the seabed. The female is viviparous and bears up to 18 pups after a gestation period which lasts about ten months. Their diet is varied, made up of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. They are widely present all over the Indo-Pacific region. The maximum size is close to 3.40 m. Size 2m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, bays, mixed coral areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

43

Sharks

Blue shark Requin peau bleu Prionace glauca This big shark is very easily identified, firstly by its slender shape and the majestic way it swims, and secondly by its deep blue colouring. This blue is darker on the back, getting progressively lighter on the flanks, with electric blue glints which are magnificent when seen in its natural setting. Its belly is white. It has relatively big, black eyes. A deep-sea pelagic species, its geographical range of distribution is very wide. It can be found in the three oceans, in tropical or temperate waters as well as in cold waters. It can tolerate very large differences in temperature. They are capable of great migrations over several thousand kilometres. Luckily, the viviparous female is quite prolific, since she can carry up to 135 pups during the gestation period which lasts from nine to twelve months. In fact, this shark is unfortunately one of the by-catch species in intensive industrial long-line fisheries. Due to this, it is subjected to significant fishing pressure over its entire range of distribution. Its maximum size reaches 6 m. Size

Zone

3m

Depth

Habitat

0-400 m

Deep-sea pelagic environment

Whitetip reef shark Requin corail

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Triaenodon obesus The whitetip reef shark has a slender, fairly cylindrical body. Its short, square snout has quite visible nasal barbels. The first dorsal fin is set well back, almost midway down the body. The tips of its two dorsal fins are white. This is a benthic shark which mainly lives in rich coral areas in shallow waters. It is sedentary and often rests on the bottom, in caves. The female is viviparous and bears up to five pups after gestation which lasts about thirteen months. This species is broadly distributed all over the Indo-Pacific region. Its maximum size is 2.20 m.

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Sharks

Size

Zone

1m

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Deep lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Family Sphyrnidae

Scalloped hammerhead Requin marteau halicorne

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Sphyrna lewini Th e r e a r e e i g h t s p e c i e s o f hammerhead shark which all have a very particularly-shaped, wide and flattened head, providing them with eyes and nostrils set very far apart. Evolution may have favoured the development of this morphological characteristic in order to improve the visual and olfactory performances of this family of sharks. Although the outline of the head is very useful for distinguishing between species in animals which have been caught, these criteria are more difficult to observe while diving, where it is often impossible to compare the different shapes. The scalloped hammerhead has a rather high first dorsal fin and a greyish or brown colouration. It is a coastal pelagic shark which occurs in both tropical and temperate waters of the three oceans. Large gatherings of them can sometimes be observed along rocky drop-offs or around seamounts. The female is viviparous and carries up to 31 pups during gestation. Its maximum size is around 4.20 m. Size 2.50 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-300 m

Various coastal habitats, rocky drop-offs, seamounts

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Description of groups

45

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Taeniura lymna (family Dasyatidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rays Les raies

Rays have the same origin as sharks and have adapted to live on the seabed. Generally, their body is flattened, and the pectoral fins are better developed than is the tail, enabling them to swim using these fins. The mouth and the gill slits have moved onto the underside of the body. The eyes are located on the coloured upper side of the body, in front of the spiracles which bring water to the gills. As in sharks, the males have two sexual organs called claspers and internal fertilisation is achieved via copulation. Some families have stings on their tails which can cause severe and even fatal injuries. These barbed stings can bring on pain that can lead to loss of consciousness and inflammations that can persist several months. Some species, like torpedo rays, use electrical discharges to defend themselves, still others, like the manta rays, have become pelagic. ■

◗◗

Family Rhinobatidae

Bowmouth guitarfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Raie guitare à bouche arquée Rhina ancylostoma Similar to sharks in shape and the way they swim, the bowmouth guitarfish can be distinguished from them by its large pectoral fins and the spiny crests on the front of its body and above the eyes. Its dusky colouration is spotted with white patches that are more or less visible. The nose is rounded and massive, hiding the mouth which is capable of grinding up shellfish and crustaceans. A reclusive fish, it prefers to move away from divers. Size 2.70 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-90 m

Mixed coral beds, sandy-muddy bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rays

Giant guitarfish Grande raie guitare Rhynchobatus djiddensis In profile it looks like a shark, having the body shape, long dorsal fins and swimming style, but its nose is sharply pointed, its pectoral fins more developed and the gill slits are on the underside. Its sandy-coloured base is dotted with white on the wings and the hindpart of the body. Most often, it rests on the sand and rarely lets itself be approached. It feeds on fish, crabs, echinoderms* which it hunts out in shallow water. Size

Zone

3.50 m

Depth

Habitat

2-50 m

Estuaries, sandy-muddy bottoms

Lesser guitarfish Raie guitare à taches blanches Rhinobatos annulatus Its blunt nose has a rather obtuse angle and its circular pectoral fins are not very large. Its colour adapts to that of the seabed. Its back is often covered with white spots which are ringed with a darker colour and have dark dots at their centre. Staying on the bottom, often in murky water of beaches and estuaries, the lesser guitarfish feeds on small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. This species is endemic to the southern tip of Africa. Size

Zone

1.50 m

Depth

Habitat

5-75 m

Benthic

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Sharpnose guitarfish Raie guitare épineuse Rhinobatos granulatus Grey-brown in colour, the middle part of the back is covered with spiny bands. The sides of its snout are translucent. These rays are found resting on sandy-muddy bottoms, ranging from estuaries and mangroves to seabeds over one hundred metres deep. Their diet is composed of crustaceans and small benthic fish. Size 2.80 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-120 m

Estuaries, sandy-muddy bottoms

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Rays

Grayspotted guitarfish Raie guitare à taches bleues Rhinobatos leucospilus Their tan-coloured body is scattered with blue-grey spots on the triangularshaped nose and the rounded pectoral fins. Resting on shallow seabeds, this ray crushes the crustaceans, molluscs and small fish it catches under cover of the night. Females are ovoviviparous and bear from two to four young each time they breed. Size

Zone

1.20 m

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Sandy-muddy bottoms

Southern fiddler Raie guitare australienne Trygonorrhina fasciata This ray has a rounder shape than the one described just above, and its body and tail are fleshy. Its back is embellished with symmetrical bands which are either dark or light in colour and rimmed with dark. Often present near shores, the southern fiddler is endemic to Australia and likes estuaries or seagrass meadows where it can find molluscs and crustaceans. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-180 m

Estuaries, seagrass meadows, sandy-muddy bottoms, rocky bottoms

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

1.25 m

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Description of groups

49

Rays

◗◗

Family Torpedinidae

Torpedo or electric rays are round-shaped. They have gelatinous organs on either side of the body, which can deliver electrical discharges of over 200 volts. These shocks keep most predators at bay and are used to stun their prey of fish and crustaceans. They live buried in the sand and hunt at night. When disturbed, they will turn on the intruder and come up close in order to electrocute it. Divers must be careful to avoid their powerful electrical shocks.

Black-spotted torpedo Torpille tachetée Torpedo fuscomaculata Its body is round and flattened, with two large dorsal fins and a vertical “paddle-shaped” caudal fin. This ray is brown, marbled with light colours. It hides under a film of sand, with only its eyes and spiracles protruding. Confident in its system of defence, it can also be seen resting on a rock, but still may find itself an item on the menu of sharks. Size

Zone

65 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-400 m

Estuaries, sandy and rocky bottoms

Panther electric ray Torpille panthère

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Torpedo panthera It is speckled with light-coloured spots on a beige background. It lives alongside reefs. When disturbed, it calmly swims off to bury itself a bit further away. Common in summer, it migrates to greater depths in winter.

Size 1m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-110 m

Estuaries, sandy and rocky bottoms

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Rays

Marbled electric ray Torpille auréolée Torpedo sinuspersici Larger than the other torpedo rays, it can also be recognised by its pattern of light-coloured, close-set reticulations on a brown base. It is found in detrital or rubble areas and under the sand near reefs. These rays only form groups at breeding time, giving birth to a litter of nine to twenty young. They most often hunt at night, by immobilising their prey (fish, worms and crustaceans) before grinding them up. Size

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

1.30 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-200 m

Lagoons, sandy and rocky bottoms, coral beds

Manta alfredi (see p. 59)

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Description of groups

51

Rays

◗◗

Family Dasyatidae

For this family, the size refers to the diameter of the disc (D), without taking account of the length of the tail, which in some cases can be longer than the body itself.

Shorttail stingray Pastenague à queue courte Dasyatis brevicaudata This is a large, massive stingray with a short tail generally bearing two stings. Its back is a plain grey, with a line of light-coloured dots on either side of the front part of the body. They hunt on the seabed and gather in large numbers, coming up closer to the coasts in the breeding period. Size

Zone

D=2m

Depth

Habitat

1-450 m

Sand

Blue stingray Pastenague bleue sud-africaine

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Dasyatis chrysonota The marbled blue blotches on its golden brown back enable this stingray to be recognised. It moves around from the edge of beaches, under the breaking waves, to depths of over one hundred metres for its winter migration. The female gives birth to several (from one to four) offspring after nine months of incubation. They feed on prey found on the seabed. They are endemic to South Africa, Angola and Mozambique and the Mascarene Islands.

Size D = 75 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Lagoons, sandy and rocky bottoms, coral beds

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Rays

Bluespotted stingray Pastenague à points bleus Dasyatis kuhlii Its body is beige and diamondshaped, with blue ocellated spots. Its long tail, armed with stings, displays alternating dusky and white rings at its tip. Hidden in the sand, this stingray makes a rapid getaway when divers come close. It is sighted on shallow sandy bottoms to depths reaching 90 m. It mostly eats crabs and shrimp. Size

Zone

D = 50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-90 m

Lagoons, sandy and rocky bottoms, coral beds

Pelagic stingray Pastenague violacée Dasyatis violacea Its disc is marked by a small pointed tip at its nose. Its long, powerful tail has a large sting. Although its belly is white, its back is a purplish brown when it is in open water or deep water and becomes lighter when it is patrolling over the sand in shallow water. It is the only stingray to live in open water most of the time, feeding on jellyfish, squid and small fish. Along the coast, it behaves likes other rays, foraging in the sand and using its wings to skilfully direct its prey towards its mouth. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size D = 80 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Pelagic

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Description of groups

53

Rays

Pink whipray Raie fouet Himantura fai Its disc can measure one metre. Its tail, covered with dermal denticles and armed with a 30 cm long sting, can be twice as long as the size of the body. The sting is barbed like a harpoon and is held erect at a right angle when the ray is in its defensive position. It buries itself under the sand using rapid movements of its pectoral fins. Often in groups, they are active at night to hunt for their prey. Size

Zone

D=1m

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, sandy and rocky bottoms, coral beds

Pointed-nose stingray Raie de Jenkin Himantura jenkinsii Its plain beige varies depending on the seabed. There is a white line on the edge of its disc-shaped body. It looks like H. fai, but is not as big and its tail is shorter. It likes shallow sandy bottoms where it forages, seeking invertebrates, urchins, crabs and shellfish. Size

Zone

D=1m

Depth

Habitat

5-60 m

Lagoons, sandy bottoms, coral beds

Honeycomb stingray Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Raie alvéolée Himantura uarnak Its whip-like tail is almost twice as long as the length of its body. Its sandy-coloured base is entirely speckled with black reticulations which fade with age. Generally buried in the sand, it occupies sandy and muddy banks in estuaries and mangroves, but can also be sighted in clear water. To supplement the prey it finds on the seabed, it feeds on jellyfish. They have begun to colonise the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Size D=2m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

20-50 m

Lagoons, sandy and rocky bottoms, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 54 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rays

Bluespotted ribbontail ray Pastenague à taches bleues Taeniura lymna Its rounded body is beige, or sometimes orangey in colour, with large, bright blue spots. It has one or two stings on the middle of its whiplike tail. During daytime, it hides in shallow places under overhangs or in caves, where it is rarely buried in the sand and only moves around in the evening or at night. Size

Zone

D = 30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, sandy and rocky bottoms, coral beds

Black-blotched stingray Pastenague à taches noires Taeniura meyeni

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With a rounded and very thick body, this stingray is grey, covered with a dense web of black spots. Its tail is equipped with one or two stings and has a small fin fold along it. It burrows deep in the sand, leaving craters behind, to extract crabs and shellfish, attracting other predators like trevallies and jacks, goatfishes or cobias, for instance. It prefers dark, quiet areas to spend the day.

Size D = 1.60 m

Zone

Depth 0-500 m

Habitat Lagoons, estuaries, coral beds, outer slopes, deep sandy and rocky seafloors

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Description of groups

55

Rays

◗◗

Family Myliobatidae

Spotted eagle ray Raie aigle Aetobatus narinari

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Its head is quite distinct from its two large, pointed wings. Its back is purple-grey or brown and is spotted with white dots. The long whip-like tail has from two to six defensive harpoons at its base. It flaps its wings, glides in the current, or comes to skim the seabed in order to snap up echinoderms and crustaceans. It may also sometimes burrow in the sand, but it favours passes and large lagoons. The female is ovoviviparous and gives birth to four pups from the same incubation, by leaping out of the water to whelp.

Size D = 3.50 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

In open water, above mixed coral seabeds

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Rays

Common eagle ray Raie aigle commune, mourine Myliobatis aquila Its colouring ranges from uniform bronze to black. The head is massive and prominent. Its well-developed upper lip protects its jaws armed with grinding plates which easily crush crustaceans and shellfish. Its long, thin tail is equipped with one or two stings. It feeds by foraging in sandy-muddy bottoms, which attracts opportunistic wrasses and goatfishes. The common eagle ray is present in the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic as far as Scotland, and in the Mediterranean. Its flesh is not held in much esteem. Size

Zone

D = 1.80 m

Depth

Habitat

1-100 m

Benthic

Southern eagle ray Raie aigle australe

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Myliobatis australis Its massive head sticks out from the curve of its wings. Its round snout, covering the mouth, is highly mobile. Dark purple, olive green or mottled, it adapts its colour morph to the territories where it occurs. The thin tail has a venomous sting. The female is ovoviviparous and gives birth to three to seven pups. Sometimes in groups, they burrow in soft substrate to find crustaceans and shellfish, which attracts opportunistic fish in turn. The southern eagle ray is present from south-western Australia as far as Sydney. Size D = 1.20 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-85 m

Sand, seagrass beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

57

Rays

◗◗

Family Mobulidae

Smoothtail mobula Diable de mer Mobula thurstoni Smaller than the big manta ray, it has a grey back, with a broad dark band in front of its pectoral fins. There is a white spot at the tip of the dorsal fin. Fished in some places, this ray is very vulnerable to fishing nets. As for the large manta, very little is known about the way it lives and its behaviour, and these two species are frequently confused. Size

Zone

D = 2.20 m

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Deep-sea and coastal pelagic environments

Giant manta Raie manta

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Manta birostris With a wing span of 6.70 m and weighing 1.5 t, this is the biggest of the rays. A pelagic species, it has two large appendages on either side of its gape, increasing the surface area for it to catch the plankton it feeds on. Only its lower jaw is set with tiny teeth. It is often found in murky surface water which is full of plankton. Its migrations remain poorly known. The giant manta has a powerful and graceful swimming style. Capable of spectacular leaps out of the water, it is mostly likely trying to rid itself of the sharksuckers which live on it as parasites. Size D = 6.70 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Deep-sea and coastal pelagic environments

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Rays

Reef manta ray Petite manta de récif Manta alfredi

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Beyond the fact that it is smaller than the giant manta, it is the absence of a calcified mass (remains of a small embedded spine) at the back of the caudal fin which makes it possible to distinguish between these two species. The black spots on the ventral surface of the reef manta ray are also present on the middle part of the body between the gills. Smaller than Manta birostris (maximum wing span of 5 m), this is a tropical, coastal and sedentary ray. They form groups that can comprise a few dozen individuals. They have a broad tropical range of distribution, which excludes however, the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the American continent. Its easternmost presence in the Pacific Ocean was very recently reported by Johann Mourier in the Marquise Islands (Pakahiti i moana research cruise).

Size D 40 m

Deep drop-offs

Coral hawkfish Épervier lutin Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus From head to tail, its light-coloured body is spotted with red-brown patches. It hides at the foot of the coral, and returns to the same place after attacking its prey.

Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds or rocky bottoms, outer slopes

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of groups

239

Hawkfishes

Redbarred hawkfish Épervier rayé Cirrhitops fasciatus There are wide red bands, sometimes becoming darker, running down its sides. Lines converge from the snout to the eye (more numerous than for C. oxycephalus). It has a large black spot at the base of the tail, with another less distinct spot marking the operculum. It forms a harem with a specific territory, often one male for five to seven females, hunting from the bottom of the coral. The Indian Ocean population appears to be present only in the Mascarene Islands. In the Pacific, the population occupies the islands of Hawaii and southern Japan. Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Stocky hawkfish Épervier de corail Cirrhitus pinnulatus The stocky hawkfish has a massive, greenish beige body, with white spots superposed by small brown dots. It hides in the coral in wavebeaten areas. A reclusive fish, it takes advantage of cracks and crevices to lie in wait and pounce on small crustaceans and fish disturbed by the swell. Its maximum size reaches 30 cm at most. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-5 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Swallowtail hawkfish Épervier à queue d’hirondelle Cyprinocirrhites polyactis A plain orangey brown colour, its height seems greater than that of the other hawkfishes. It has a forked tail. The first soft ray of its dorsal fin is very long. It is found either huddling motionless on

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Hawkfishes

the seabed or swimming in open water, facing the current alongside anthias and intercepting any passing zooplankton. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-130 m

Coral or rocky bottoms, outer reef slopes

Longnose hawkfish Bécasse à carreaux Oxycirrhites typus Its elongate form is extended by a large snout with a protractile mouth. Its pinkish white colouring has a webbing of red lines forming a checked pattern all over its body. The longnose hawkfish hides in gorgonians and black coral stands, “pouncing” on small fish and zooplankton passing nearby. It immediately returns to its former position. Reputed to be monogamous, it is highly territorial. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-100 m

Gorgonians and black coral

Arc-eye hawkfish Épervier strié

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Paracirrhites arcatus From olive-green to reddish brown, its colour pattern adapts to match its surroundings. A rainbow mark behind the eye and multicoloured chevrons at the bottom of the operculum make it easy to distinguish from other species. It generally also has a white band on the hindpart of the body. It hunts from its position in ramified coral heads.

Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-90 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

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of groups

241

Hawkfishes

Blackside hawkfish Épervier à tête ponctuée Paracirrhites forsteri Its colour pattern varies considerably, but generally its back is reddish brown, getting duskier towards the tail. One band runs along the dorsal fin and another goes from the gill cover to the tail. It has very characteristic “freckles” on its head. This is the most common of hawkfishes, easy to see on acropora.

Size

Zone

22 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-35 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Whitespot hawkfish Épervier tacheté

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Paracirrhites hemistictus Its greenish beige colouring is spotted with black dots. A white longitudinal strip running from the operculum to the tail separates the yellow belly from the back. There is a grey variant which exists; however its name of P. polystictus no longer seems to be valid. With its robust appearance, this hawkfish is well adapted to the surf zone. It often conceals itself in the coral. This is a fairly rare species. Its maximum size is around 30 cm. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

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Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Cirrhitops http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

fasciatus (family Cirrhitidae)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Cheilodipterus macrodon (family Apogonidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Cardinalfishes Les apogons

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Apogonidae

These fishes are small in size, with two separate dorsal fins. The first of them is armed with 6 to 8 spines, and the second has 8 to 14 soft rays. Their large mouth and big eyes contribute to their somewhat aggressive appearance. Many of the species have longitudinal red stripes. This large family comprises 22 genera, holding over 200 species in all. A few cardinalfishes are found in fresh water and others in brackish water, but the majority of them are marine species. They are distributed over the tropical and subtropical areas of three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian). Although the largest cardinalfish can measure up to twenty centimetres in length, most species do not exceed ten centimetres when adult. They are demersal, sedentary fish which usually live alone, or even in pairs or small groups. However, some species form large aggregations around a stand of branching coral or at the entrance of a deep sea cave. They are above all active at night, hunting zooplankton in open water or small invertebrates on the seabed. In daytime, they most often maintain a wakeful watch in front of or near their hole. Their bathymetric range is quite small, limited to the upper ten metres for some species which stay in lagoons, mangroves and sheltered bays. For species living on outer reef slopes or on rocky drop-offs, the distribution range can go as deep as 60 m. The males and females are different. The males are mouthbrooders, incubating the eggs spawned by females in their mouths until they hatch. Seeing their small size, these species have no value as foodfish. However, several of them do interest aquarium keepers and are marketed for that use. For the most part, cardinalfishes are not timid; they simply move aside to let a diver swimming across their domain go past. Amongst the cardinalfishes which can be sighted in the Indian Ocean, 30 species belonging to 7 genera are presented in this guidebook.

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Cardinalfishes

Short-tooth cardinal Apogon à ventre doré Apogon apogonoides Its orangey coloured body has a yellow belly. A dark band covers the snout back to the eye. Behind the eye is a blue line, which separates after the operculum or gill cover. The short-tooth cardinal lives in mated pairs, in small groups or sometimes even in shoals, under the shelter of an overhang or a cave, in reef or rocky zones. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-60 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, caves

Broadstriped cardinalfish Apogon rayé Apogon angustatus Amongst the species of striped cardinalfish, this one stands out for its five thin stripes and a black dot at the end of the central black line. It prefers dark caves in reefs, where it lives in pairs and feeds on benthic invertebrates. Size

Zone

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10 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-65 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, deep caves

Ring-tailed cardinalfish Apogon doré Apogon aureus The ring-tailed cardinalfish can be distinguished from A. apogonoides by the wide black ring at the base of its tail. It likes to join its conspecifics at the entrance to caves, where they live in mated pairs or in shoals. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, caves

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Cardinalfishes

Blue-eyed cardinalfish Apogon à rayons ocre Apogon compressus It has pink fins, and fairly wide stripes which are red-ochre, sometimes dusky, running from the eye to the tail. Its eyes are big and blue. They live in small colonies under branching coral near the surface, but in calm water. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

0.5-7 m

Branching coral

Yellowstriped cardinalfish Apogon à rayures jaunes Apogon cyanosoma It sports six yellow longitudinal stripes which are very dark towards the head and its fins are transparent. It is found in clear waters, beneath overhangs and in faults, even in quite deep water. The juveniles hide amidst sea urchins. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Redspot cardinalfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Apogon spot rouge Apogon dispar The redspot is pinkish in colour, partially transparent, with a bright silver cheek and belly. On the tail, the red dot at the end of the longitudinal stripe has a blueish white dot above it. It occurs in coral reefs, principally at drop-offs, taking refuge in the gorgonians and alcyonarians. Size 5.5 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Corals

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of groups

247

Cardinalfishes

Doederlein’s cardinalfish Apogon de Doederlein Apogon doederleini It has a light beige body with four long, thin stripes which stop before a large black dot at the base of the tail. Fairly common, they live in pairs and often share their shelter with other cardinalfishes in calm bays. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

6-9 m

Crevices

Fleurieu’s cardinalfish Apogon de Fleurieu Apogon fleurieu The juvenile sports a spot at the base of its tail which becomes a black ring encircling the caudal peduncle in the adult. On its coppery yellow body, the lateral line is marked by alternating light- and dark-coloured dots. There are two white lines running alongside the dark band going from the nose to the operculum. A blue line descends along its mouth. It lives in pairs, in small groups, near the coral, in passes and on drop-offs. Size

Zone

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10 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Corals

Spiny-eye cardinalfish Apogon à bride Apogon fraenatus Most likely synonymous with Apogon melanorhynchus. It is pinkish in colour with a black band running from the nose to the base of the caudal fin. This band is accented with black. It is found in small groups under overhangs ranging from reef flats to the outer slope. Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Corals

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Cardinalfishes

Hartzfeld’s cardinalfish Apogon de Hartzfeld Apogon hartzfeldii This cardinalfish is purplish beige. A black band, edged in white, covers its snout and eye. There is a white line which follows the top of the back. A black spot marks the middle of the caudal peduncle. They establish themselves in groups in the coral rubble of lagoons and quiet bays, or between the long spines of black sea urchins. They come out mostly at night to hunt around their shelter. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-28 m

Corals

Iridescent cardinalfish Apogon irisé Apogon kallopterus Juveniles have a longitudinal black stripe, edged in white, separating the golden grey back from the pinkish white belly. As adults, they grow stockier and lose their black stripe. The first dorsal fin is yellow. At dusk, when they begin to hunt, they become an iridescent blue-green colour. Size

Zone

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15 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-150 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Black-striped cardinalfish Apogon à rayures noires Apogon nigrofasciatus These fish are black with four thin white to yellowish stripes. Living in pairs, they stay close to the entrance of caves at the foot of drop-offs. They prefer calm waters, from the Red Sea to the south of Japan. Size 10 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

5-50 m

Drop-offs

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of groups

249

Cardinalfishes

Bluespot cardinalfish Apogon à points bleus Apogon nitidus With its yellow-brown colouration and lengthwise stripes, the bluespot cardinalfish is remarkable for the black line separating its tail in two. A rare species, with sightings reported in branching coral, this specimen was photographed in Reunion Island (La Possession) on a wreck at a depth of around fifteen metres. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, coral beds, wrecks

Two-bar cardinalfish Apogon à deux barres Apogon rhodopterus Grey-beige in colour, the rims of the scales are dark and two black bars come down its sides, one from the front of the first dorsal and the other from behind the second dorsal fin. There is a small black spot on the caudal peduncle. This cardinalfish hides in the coral of calm, well-lit reefs or along drop-offs. It tends to be solitary. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-35 m

Corals

Gobbleguts Apogon glouton Apogon rueppelli Its grey base has a series of dark dots along the lateral line. It prefers seagrass meadows, the shelter of jetties and small rocks in shallow water at the back of bays and estuaries where it forms small groups. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0.5-10 m

Coastal zones

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Cardinalfishes

Ghost cardinalfish Apogon fantôme Apogon savayensis Grey-pink, it sports a saddle at the base of its tail, a dark triangle under the eye and in front of its two darkcoloured dorsal fins. They stay concealed in the acropora in daytime, and can go out at night, sometimes by the hundreds, to take the place of damselfishes above the fields of coral. Several species are similar in terms of their shape, changing appearance, behaviour and their not clearly delimited ranges of distribution. They include A. annularis, A. fuscus, A. bandanensis, A. zebrinus and so on, making it difficult to accurately determine them while diving. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Corals

Reef-flat cardinalfish Apogon de platier Apogon taeniophorus Its whitish colouration is accented by five or six black stripes. The central stripe gets thinner going back and it has a spot at the base of the tail. Primarily nocturnal, this fish hides in holes and under coral, most often close to shore in very shallow water. Size

Zone

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10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-10 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Bandfin cardinalfish Apogon à nageoires rayées Apogon taeniopterus Its colouring goes from pink to bronze. It is easy to recognise, owing to the black bands edged in light yellow on the fringes of its fins. Often alone or in mated pairs, they live in the shade of reefs in coralline areas and on the outer slope. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

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Description of groups

251

Cardinalfishes

Victorian cardinalfish Apogon de Victoria Apogon victoriae Its body is covered with wide, yellow to brown, longitudinal bands separated by white lines. With age, its fins turn red. There is one black spot marking the tail and another at the base of the pectoral fin. Active at night, they hide during the day around small rocks in shallow water and in coastal rip-rap zones. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-10 m

Rocks

Zebra cardinalfish Apogon zèbre Apogon zebrinus It is grey-brown on the back with a silvery white belly. Seven blurry stripes run down its sides. The gill cover and a triangle under the eye are darker. It has a black saddle fading off towards the base of the caudal fin. The zebra cardinalfish comes out of the coral on reef flats or of lagoons at nightfall, always staying in shallow water. Although its presence has been confirmed in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, it may also be present from the Maldives to Mozambique. Size

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7.5 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

+ Aden

1-10 m

Corals

Cardinalfish Apogon Apogon sp. There are many of these little cardinalfishes, exhibiting a bar under the eye and a more or less marked saddle on the caudal peduncle. Their colour pattern is variable, so they are hard to identify with certainty. Moreover, the geographical ranges of distribution for these species (A. fuscus, A. annularis, A. zebrinus, A. bandanensis, A. savayensis, A. guamensis, etc.) are not very clear-cut. They are all inconspicuous, not often seen in daytime, concealed in branching corals or in cavities on the outer slope, with a preference for calm waters.

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Cardinalfishes

Orangelined cardinalfish Apogon à stries orange Archamia fucata With colouring similar to A. aureus, it can be distinguished from it by the 23 vertical orange bands covering its sides, and by the fact that it is smaller. During the day, individuals gather together in compact shoals under the coral and at the entrance to caves. At night, they become active to go and hunt for plankton. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-60 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, deep caves

Wolf cardinalfish Apogon strié Cheilodipterus artus There are seven to eight dark bronze lines running lengthwise along the flanks, ending in a dark spot at the base of the tail in the adults. The wide spaces between them are lighter in colour. The fins are transparent. Groups of adults like to take refuge around stands of acropora. As for the juveniles, they are more attracted by the hiding places offered by long-spined black urchins. They go out to hunt in the evening. Size

Zone

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18 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-20 m

Lagoons, bays, coral beds in sheltered areas

Tiger cardinalfish Apogon tigre Cheilodipterus lineatus ex caninus It has a dozen brown stripes, of varying widths, which are broader than the silvery spaces between them. The front of the dorsal and caudal fins is black. This species is common along African coasts. In daytime, it lives at the entrance to small caves in the coral and goes hunting nearby at night. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-20 m

Corals

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Description of groups

253

Cardinalfishes

Five-lined cardinalfish Apogon à cinq lignes Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Silvery grey with five horizontal black lines, it has a black spot in the middle of a yellow patch at the base of its tail. The two dorsal fins are dark-coloured, and the other fins are transparent. This is a common species in lagoons, living in coral from shallow depths of a few metres down to crevices around 40 m deep. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Large-toothed cardinalfish Apogon à grandes dents Cheilodipterus macrodon

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The wide horizontal bands become more numerous with age, leaving thin, light-coloured lines. The base of its tail is ringed with white. Its gape is set with large canine-like teeth. The large-toothed cardinalfish lives in caves and beneath overhangs. The male incubates 3,000 eggs in his mouth during eight days after the spawn. Once hatched, the planktonic larvae scatter.

Adult

Juvenile Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, caves

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Cardinalfishes

Mottled cardinalfish Apogon camouflé Fowleria vaiulae This is a drab-coloured cardinalfish with six to eight duskier bars on its sides and three to four dark stripes radiating out from the eye. Night softens the details of its colouring, as seen in the photo. There is a white spot covering the operculum. It lives concealed in the coral and only comes out at twilight. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Corals

Paddlefish cardinalfish Apogon à pagaie Pseudamia zonata The elongate body ends in a large, fan-shaped tail. All its fins are very well developed. There are darkbarred areas on its flanks. Being a cave-dweller and not easily seen, they can only be surprised in the dark of night, at the interior of large caves. These very reclusive fish are only known in Indonesia and in the western Pacific, and yet their range of distribution must be larger, because we sighted a specimen in Reunion Island. Size

Zone

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20 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-30 m

Caves

Banggai cardinalfish Apogon de Banggai Pterapogon kauderni Its ovate, pearly grey body has large fins and a forked tail. Three black bars, covered in places by white dots, accent its bi-coloured body. It lives in small, compact groups near the branches of acropora or between the spines of black sea urchins, or even in symbiosis with sea anemones. The males keep the eggs (only about

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Description of groups

255

Cardinalfishes

twenty) and then the fingerlings which hatch from them for a few days in their mouths. Their life span is five years. Heavily preyed upon to supply aquarists, its population, already limited in terms of its geographical range, was showing a declining trend. Originally from the Banggai Islands to the north of Manado, groups of them were successfully introduced in Lembeh Strait and Secret Bay to the north of Bali, where they took up residence in artificial structures. This cardinalfish adapts easily to life in the aquarium and breeds in captivity (which should, we hope, diminish its being collected on sites in the wild). Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

7 cm

Indonesia

0.5-6 m

Calm bays

Swallowtail cardinalfish Apogon à queue d’hirondelle Rhabdamia cypselura Its elongate body is a transparent pink. Its head is yellow and sports an oblong black spot in front of the eye. During the day, these small individuals form very large shoals, in the shelter of large gorgonians or above wrecks. At night, they hunt, assisted by a luminescent organ under their gill covers. Size 6 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

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A. nematophora

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(family Apogonidae)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Caranx ignobilis (family Carangidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Jacks and trevallies Les carangues

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◗◗

Family Carangidae

The jacks and trevallies all have a silvery grey colour base, generally covered with small scales, in common. Their body is often laterally compressed, but the shape varies greatly depending on the genus, going from the very high-profiled, deep body of the African pompano (Alectis ciliaris) to the streamlined fusiform outline of the scads (Decapterus spp.). For the most part, jacks have an arched lateral line displaying shield-shaped scales called “scutes” along the posterior part of it towards the tail. The family can be broken down into 33 genera which comprise 140 species in all. Trevallies and jacks are found in tropical and temperate waters of the three oceans, as well as in the Mediterranean. Their range is generally pelagic and coastal. However, a few of them can also be sighted in the deep sea, far offshore from the coast. This is notably the case for several species of scads (genus Decapterus), rainbow runners (Elagatis bipinnulata), amberjacks (Seriola rivoliana) or the pilotfish (Naucrates ductor) which is able to remain associated with an oceanic shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), in the middle of the ocean at hundreds of kilometres from any piece of land. All of the small species and most jack and trevally juveniles are gregarious. The jacks are also highly susceptible to the aggregating phenomenon and are often present in large numbers around floating objects, in coastal areas or offshore, as well as around moored and floating FADs. Some species, like Seriola dumerili, change from a pelagic lifestyle in the juvenile phase to a demersal lifestyle when adult. Jacks and trevallies are very active predators. As such, they are often toxic in zones affected by ciguatera fish poisoning. In reef areas, the adults hunt alone or in small groups, around coral banks or in rocky zones, above the drop-offs. They easily dodge in and out of faults, crevices and deep caves. They also like wrecks, where they can hunt and easily hide. In rich, protected waters, some individuals may become sedentary. Thus, it is possible to always encounter the same group of jacks on a regular diving site. If no one disturbs them and the food source remains abundant, they can stay there for several years. With the exception of some species, like amberjacks or scads, which can be caught at depths exceeding one hundred metres, their bathymetric range of distribution is generally limited to the first sixty metres below the surface. The small, gregarious species, like various types of scad, are targeted in beach-seine fisheries in sheltered sandy bays of several zones in the Indian Ocean (e.g., in the bay of Saint-Paul on Reunion Island, for instance).

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Jacks and trevallies

Larger-sized species are mainly caught using hand-lines or bottom set long-lines. This family of fish is mainly of interest to small scale local fishing fleets. Catches (including all species) amount to approximately 350,000 t per year in the Indian Ocean. Thus, they are one of the most important families, in economic terms, for small scale tropical fisheries in this ocean. Like many predators, the jacks and trevallies are very curious. They quickly arrive to see the intruder who has come into their territory and immediately read his intentions. When they see a spear-fisherman, they flee in an instant, but when it is a question of a peaceful diver, they can frequently fraternize with him and accompany him during his entire dive. When on studies to establish an underwater census beneath experimental drifting FADs, in the framework of the European research programmed called Dorade*, it very often happened that almaco jacks (Seriola rivoliana) in aggregations, became friendly with us, to the extent that they would not leave us for the entire duration of the observation dives (each lasting 60 minutes). This was repeated daily during the two weeks of the research cruise. Amongst the most common jacks and trevallies in the Indian Ocean, 35 species belonging to 16 genera are presented in this guidebook.

African pompano Cordonnier fil ou carangue à plumes Alectis ciliaris Its colouration is silvery, with tiny scales encrusted in its skin. The profile of its body is very high. In juveniles, the dorsal and anal fins have very long filaments trailing out from them. The largest specimens measure up to 1.50 m. Size

Zone

90 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Coral beds, rocky drops, caves and wrecks

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Herring scad Selar harengule Alepes vari This scad is an oval-shaped, elongate, silvery-coloured member of the Carangidae. There is a black, often indistinct, patch over the gill cover. They form large, dense shoals which pursue clusters of small fish and the large planktonic crustaceans above coral reef drop-offs. Size 56 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-50 m

Coastal pelagic environment, coral drop-offs

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Jacks and trevallies

Longfin trevally Carangue sap-sap Carangoides armatus It has blue-grey colouring on the back and a silvery underside. There is a black spot on the upper edge of the operculum. The soft rays of the second dorsal fin are filamentous. The ventral area, located behind the gills, has no scales. The biggest specimens reach 50 cm. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Coral beds, estuaries

Orange spotted trevally Carangue Bajad or lentigine Carangoides bajad Its coppery yellow base, scattered with numerous small, orangey yellow dots, makes it easy to identify. Its distribution in the Indian Ocean is limited to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, Oman and the Persian Gulf. It lives alone or in small groups, hunting around large, rocky underwater rises, called secs* in French. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-70 m

Coral beds, rocky drops

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Longnose trevally Carangue tapir Carangoides chrysophrys Its silvery base is rather greenish on the head and the front part of the body, with yellow-green tints on the belly. There is a black spot on the upper edge of the operculum. The ventral area located behind the gills has no scales. The largest specimens measure up to 70 cm. Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Coral beds, bays and estuaries

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

261

Jacks and trevallies

Blue trevally Carangue tachetée Carangoides ferdau Its silvery colour morph displays five to six darker-coloured vertical bands. Many small golden dots are often visible on the dorsal part of the body. There are two distinct areas on the body which are scaleless: one at the base of the pectoral fin and the other on the underside, between the gills and the pelvic fins. The largest specimens measure 70 cm. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Coral beds, sandy bottoms

Yellow spotted trevally Carangue pailletée Carangoides fulvoguttatus Its silvery-coloured body is dotted with small coppery or golden spots. The adults often display three or four large dark patches, aligned lengthwise along the flanks. The yellow spotted trevally preferentially occurs on outer reef slopes and along rock faces of drop-offs. The biggest specimens are over a metre long. Size

Zone

80 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Outer reef slopes, rocky drops

Bludger trevally Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Carangue à poitrine nue Carangoides gymnostethus Its grey elongate body is duskier when in deeper water. It is sprinkled with small gold to brown dots on the flanks. Similar in appearance to C. fulvoguttatus, it can be differentiated from it by its shorter, rounder snout. Juveniles move around in groups at the top of drop-offs or under floating objects. Adults are more solitary and occur at the foot of drop-offs. Size 90 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-70 m

Rocky drop-offs and FADs

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Jacks and trevallies

Island trevally Carangues des îles Carangoides orthogrammus Its silvery base sports a few goldencoloured, ellipse-shaped patches on the flanks. Its fins are blueish in colour. A coastal pelagic species, it is nevertheless occasionally found in the deep-sea environment, aggregating under flotsam or under a drifting FAD, far from the coast. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Outer reef slopes, offshore under flotsam

Blacktip trevally Carangue à pointe noire Caranx heberi This trevally has a fairly slender profile and its colouration is silvery grey, with yellow fins. The upper lobe of the caudal fin is black. It tends to occur in the coastal waters of continental shelves, and is rarely sighted around oceanic islands. The largest specimen reportedly measured 85 cm in length. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Giant trevally Carangue grosse tête Caranx ignobilis It has silvery colouring which is greyish on the back and paler on the underside. In some big males, the colour morph can become dusky grey and almost black. The straight posterior part of the lateral line has large scutes on it. The profile of the head is highly convex. Often found in dark holes, this very voracious species also occurs in shallow waters, along the edge of beaches, on major spawning sites for sea turtles (islands of Europa, Glorieuses, Tromelin, etc.), to gorge themselves there on the newly hatched baby turtles leaving the beach to swim out

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

263

Jacks and trevallies

to sea. In reef areas, the giant trevally occasionally lives in association with tiger sharks. The biggest specimen was reportedly 1.70 m long and weighed 80 kg. Size

Zone

1m

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Black jack Carangue noire Caranx lugubris This jack can easily be identified thanks to its dusky grey or black colouration. The scutes on its lateral line are prominent and black in colour. A circumtropical species, it is above all present around oceanic islands and is rare on continental shelves. It often stays close to caves where it can hide. On Reunion Island, it is called by a name meaning “hog jack”, because of the grunting noises it makes that are perfectly audible to divers. It is often toxic in waters infested by ciguatera. Its maximum size is around one metre. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Bluefin trevally Carangue bleue Caranx melampygus

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Its silvery grey base is spotted, on the dorsal part of the body, with small blue and black dots and spots. The fins are an electric blue. They prefer to hunt above reef zones which are full of prey, often in very shallow water where they can sometimes settle over long periods. The maximum size is over one metre. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-190 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Brassy trevally Carangue cuivrée Caranx papuensis In shape, it resembles C. melampygus. More commonly seen, it can be distinguished from the the former by the absence of blue, a caudal fin which is black at the top and light-coloured at the bottom, and by a white spot

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Jacks and trevallies

at the top of the gill cover. A fast swimmer, it hunts in small groups, both under the surf and at the foot of drop-offs. Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Bigeye trevally Carangue vorace Caranx sexfasciatus The bigeye trevally’s colouration is silvery grey, with a small black spot present just at the upper angle of the operculum. The profile of its body is rather slender. The upper tip of the lobe of the second dorsal fin is white and this detail enables it to be easily identified. Juveniles have different colouring, being golden yellow with six or seven darker vertical bands. This species is frequently found aggregating under moored FADs, around oceanic islands, as well as offshore far from land, around drifting FADs. The juveniles gather in schools of several dozen or hundred individuals, whereas adults are quite solitary or live in small groups. The maximum size is close to 1.20 m. Juveniles Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Tille trevally Carangue tille Caranx tille It has a silvery grey colouration and its profile is very slender. There is a round black spot in the upper corner of the operculum. Its pectoral fin is arched and very long, going well back to the first scutes on the straight part of the lateral line. The adipose membrane on its eye is quite developed. This is a fairly rare species in the Indian Ocean, where its range of distribution is not well known. Its maximum size is around 70 cm. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

265

Jacks and trevallies

Mackerel scad Comète maquereau ou bancloche Decapterus macarellus The various Decapterus species are very hard to distinguish from each other. The only way to identify them with certainty is though meticulous examination in the laboratory. They have fusiform bodies and relatively big eyes. They all have a black spot along the upper edge of the operculum. Scads aggregate in large numbers under moored FADs, but also in the deep ocean environment, under natural flotsam and drifting FADs. Their bathymetric range is broad, reaching 360 m for the roughear scad (Decapterus tabl). Size

Zone

Depth 0-200 m

20 cm

Habitat Coral beds, sandy bays, estuaries, offshore under flotsam

Rainbow runner Coureur arc-en-ciel Elagatis bipinnulata The name of rainbow runner is derived from its colouration which is blue-green on the back and silver on the underside, with two electric-blue longitudinal bands running from the snout to the tail. It is present in the intertropical belt all over the world. They aggregate in large numbers under objects floating offshore (drifting FADs or natural flotsam). They can occasionally be encountered in a small group above coastal reefs. Although the largest specimens can reach a length of 1.20 m, the most commonly seen sizes remain close to 60 cm. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Offshore under flotsam, above coastal reefs

Golden trevally Carangue royale jaune Gnathanodon speciosus Juveniles have a golden yellow colour morph with seven to eleven black vertical bars running from the back to the belly. The first bar runs through the eye. This colouration partially disappears in the adult, where the

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Jacks and trevallies

black bars fade and are replaced by round or elliptical dark spots, which are more or less diffuse. The largest specimens could exceed 1.20 m. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, estuaries

Torpedo scad Comère torpille Megalaspis cordyla The torpedo-shaped profile and the very large scutes along its lateral line make the torpedo scad easy to identify. A series of seven to nine finlets continue behind the second dorsal fin and the anal fin. Its maximum size is 80 cm. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Pilotfish Poisson pilote Naucrates ductor With its black and white striped convict’s uniform, this species is easily recognised. Its caudal peduncle has a long, fleshy lateral keel. A circumtropical species, the pilotfish almost always lives in association with large pelagic sharks or with sea turtles in the deep sea. They are also found aggregating under natural flotsam and drifting FADs.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-200 m

Deep sea environment, associated with big pelagic sharks and sea turtles, aggregating under flotsam and drifting FADs

White trevally Carangue dentue Pseudocaranx dentex It has blue-grey colouring on the back with a silvery underside. There is a yellow line present on the middle part of the body, running back to the tail. A yellow border can also be seen at the base of the dorsal and anal fins. A black spot marks the upper edge

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

267

Jacks and trevallies

of the gill cover. This species is fairly rare in the Indian Ocean and is also present in the Mediterranean and in temperate waters of the South African coast. Juveniles aggregated under drifting FADs have occasionally been sighted offshore from the Seychelles. Size

Zone

Depth 0-200 m

40 cm

Habitat Coral beds, outer reef slopes, deep-sea environment, aggregating under drifting FADs

Talang queenfish Sauteur talang Scomberoides commersonnianus Its oblong body is strongly laterally compressed. Its silvery grey colouration is marked by five to eight large round dark spots located above the lateral line. This fish often occurs in turbulent coastal waters and in zones of currents. The largest specimens reach a length of 1.20 m. Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Coral and rocky bottoms, estuaries

Doublespotted queenfish Sauteur sabre Scomberoides lysan

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Very close to the Talang queenfish, it can be distinguished from it by a double series of dark circular spots on either side of the lateral line (contrary to S. commersonnianus which displays only one series of spots, located above the lateral line). Its profile is more elongated and not as high, and it is also smaller in size, rarely exceeding 60 cm. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Oxeye scad Sélar ligne jaune Selar boops Its silvery grey colour base exhibits a lengthwise yellow band which runs down the middle of the body from the eye to the tail. There are scutes on the lateral line, from the mid-body to the

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 268 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Jacks and trevallies

tail. This is a gregarious species which forms large shoals in coastal and lagoon areas as well as above outer reef slopes, at depths reaching 170 m. Size

Zone

22 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-170 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Bigeye scad Sélar coulisson or pêche cavale Selar crumenophthalmus It has a slightly higher profile than that of the mackerel scads (Decapterus spp.). The eye is large in diameter and is almost entirely covered by a fatty membrane. It has blue-green colouring on the back with a silvery underside. The tip of the snout is darker in colour. They live in shoals and very easily aggregate in both coastal and offshore areas, around moored or drifting FADs. Their lifespan generally does not exceed two years. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-170 m

Sandy bays, coral beds, outer reef slopes, deep-sea environment, aggregating under flotsam and drifting FADs

Yellowtail amberjack Sériole chicard

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Seriola lalandi Their colouration is blue or olivegreen on the back, becoming silvery white on the flanks and belly. The body is slender. A bronze yellow band extends over the middle of the flanks, from the snout to the tail. Their caudal fin is yellow. We have occasionally observed juveniles aggregating beneath drifting FADs, far offshore from any coastline. The biggest specimen reported for this species was said to be 1.93 m long, weighing 58 kg. Size 70 cm

Zone

Depth 0-110 m

Juveniles

Habitat Coral beds, outer reef slopes, deep-sea environment, aggregating under flotsam and drifting FADs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

269

Jacks and trevallies

Blackbanded trevally Sériole amoureuse Seriola nigrofasciata Its colouration is blue-grey on the back and lighter on the belly. Juveniles have from five to seven diagonal bars and darker patches which extend from the upper back towards the underside. These bars and patches become less marked in adults. A solitary fish, it preferentially occurs on outer reef slopes at depths between 20 and 150 m. Its maximum size is close to 70 cm and it can weigh about 5 kg. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-150 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Almaco jack Sériole limon Seriola rivoliana It has an olive-brown colour with a brassy tint and the underside is lighter. A duskier brown band goes from the upper jaw, crosses the eye and reaches the top of the back just in front of the first dorsal fin. This is a pelagic species principally found in the deep sea, very often sighted aggregating around natural flotsam or under drifting FADs. They are not at all shy and rapidly become accustomed to the presence of divers, even coming close enough to touch them. Although the largest reported specimens were more than one metre long, the most usual size is around 50 cm. Size

Zone

0-160 m

50 cm Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Depth

Habitat Deep sea environment, aggregating under flotsam and drifting FADs

Smallspotted dart Pompaneau muscadin Trachinotus baillonii It has a silvery blue colouring on the back and a silvery grey underside. On its flanks there are five round, black spots of varying sizes, positioned along the lateral line. Its second dorsal and anal fins are falcate, or sickle-shaped. It preferentially occurs in wave-battered coastal waters and surf zones. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Coral and rocky bottoms, surf zone

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 270 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Jacks and trevallies

Snubnose pompano Pompaneau lune Trachinotus blochii Its colouring has a silvery bronze base which is lighter on the belly. It has a high, deep body which is laterally compressed, and the head has a highly distinctive convex (very rounded) profile. They are found mostly in inshore waters, very close to the coast. They also especially like wrecks, where they can hunt for food and easily hide. Its maximum size is close to 1.10 m. Size

Zone

Depth 0-50 m

60 cm

Habitat Coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks

Southern yellowtail scad Chinchard à queue jaune Trachurus novaezelandiae Its slender silhouette is silvery in colour. There is a line of raised scales ending on its yellow tail. A black spot marks the top of the operculum. They form large shoals in the southern half of Australia, swimming along bays and gathering under jetties, coming up to the surface to catch plankton. They themselves are hunted by tunas. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

20-500 m

Bays, estuaries, coastal pelagic environment

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

35 cm

Caranx sexfasciatus Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

271

Jacks and trevallies

Horse mackerel Chinchard commun Trachurus trachurus Similar in shape to the bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus), it is larger and can be recognised by the black spot at the back of the gill cover and by its long pectoral fins. Its back is blue green. These are gregarious pelagic fish which form large shoals in the open sea and near the seafloor. They feed on small fish, like sardines, sprats, sand eels and on crustaceans and squid. They are hunted in turn by tunas, sharks and other predators. They are present in the cool waters in of the south of Africa and in the Atlantic as far as Europe. Their flesh is rather dry and not much appreciated. Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-500 m

Pelagic

Whitemouth jack Carangue à bouche blanche

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Uraspis helvola In young individuals, the silvery grey colouration displays six to seven darker vertical bands. The main distinctive feature of jacks in the Uraspis genus is that their tongue and a great part of their oral cavity is a cottony white colour. This specificity can be noticed even in fish in their natural environment where, seen face on, a small white spot can be clearly perceived via their slightly open jaws. It has been described as a demersal or benthic species, however, we have only observed it in oceanic environments, aggregating underneath drifting FADs right in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth 0-130 m

Habitat Deep sea oceanic environment, aggregating under drifting FADs

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Jacks and trevallies

Whitetongue jack Carangue langue blanche inconnue Uraspis sp. In spite of its truly distinctive colour pattern, we were not able to identify this species of jack from the Uraspis genus, seen aggregating under a drifting FAD in the middle of the Indian Ocean, far offshore from the Seychelles. Its tongue and the inside of its mouth are cottony white and its fins are much higher than those of other species in the genus.

◗◗

Family Arripidae

Ruff Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Saumon australien Arripis georgianus This silvery-coloured fish has a rather stocky body. Long or short thin bars alternate on its back. The tips of its tail are black. The ruffs form schools which hunt for forage-fish.

Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Bays, estuaries, coastal pelagic environment

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

273

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Lutjanus lutjanus (family Lutjanidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers Les vivaneaux

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Lutjanidae

Worldwide, this family comprises a hundred species belonging to 17 genera. Their general appearance varies considerably depending on the genus in question. Numerous species (67) which belong to the genus Lutjanus have the classic characteristics of the perciform fishes. As far as looks go, these fish greatly resemble the groupers (family Serranidae) and for the most part are only distinguished from them by the absence of the opercular spines which characterise the grouper family. They are often brightly coloured and inhabit coral reef areas, in lagoons and on outer reef slopes, and for some of them, over a wide range of depths (going from 0 to 260 m for L. kasmira). Demersal and sedentary fish, many of them are gregarious. At adulthood, their size varies from about fifteen centimetres for the smallest (L. biguttatus) to over a metre for the biggest (L. argentimaculatus, whose maximum size is 1.20 m and life expectancy about 18 years). They are predators which feed on small fish and crustaceans. Large-sized species like L. Bohar and L. argentimaculatus are top predators and as such are affected by ciguatera in areas where this toxic microalgae is prevalent. Unlike the groupers, snappers are not hermaphrodites and the males and females are always distinct genders. Species in the genera of Pristipomoides and Etelis include fish which have a more elongate shape and grey or pink colouring, which are generally not accessible to divers because they mostly live in very deep water at depths between 70 and 450 m. They are predators which occur in areas with rough terrain on the edge of slopes. In particular, they are very numerous around the sharp slopes of seamounts. They come up at night to hunt in higher layers of water. The latter species are not presented in this guide, as they cannot be photographed by our underwater cameras. Snappers are greatly prized for their delicious flesh, and are mostly caught on hand-lines or on bottom long-lines by small local fishing fleets. With an annual catch of nearly 40,000 t for the Indian Ocean, this is one of the largest families of fishes found in landings by commercial fishing fleets in the intertropical zone. The gregarious snappers are usually not timid, and unobtrusive divers can often get very close to their shoals. This is particularly the case in wrecks, where shoals will move apart and then calmly close ranks again, without panicking, to let the visitor pass. Individuals living alone or in small groups, such as L. rivulatus or L. bohar are much more wary and therefore, harder to approach. In this guidebook we present 30 species, belonging to 6 genera, amongst those which can potentially be seen when diving in the Indian Ocean.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers

Small toothed jobfish Lantanier ou vivaneau tidents Aphareus furca Its lavender-coloured base exhibits a very conspicuous lateral line. The body is slender, with a triangular head and a big mouth, whose jaw reaches back to behind the vertical of the eye. Its tail is forked and it has long pectoral fins. A dark oblique bar marks the operculum. The small toothed jobfish lives alone, in open water, above coralline areas and reef slopes. A very curious fish, it will approach by swimming wide around divers entering its territory and reconnoitre the situation before quickly moving off again to find its prey. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-120 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Rusty jobfish Vivaneau rouille Aphareus rutilans This species greatly resembles the small toothed jobfish. However, its body is more slender and its tail much more forked. Its colouration is rusty or rosy-hued. There is a darker line along the edge of its upper jaw. It is highly exceptional to sight them while diving, since they usually live between 100 and 300 m deep; nonetheless, we have photographed it in the Seychelles at a depth of 25 m. The largest specimens can measure up to 1.10 m. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

50-330 m

Outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs edge of scarp

Green jobfish Vivaneau Job Aprion virescens It is greenish grey in colour, with rows of conspicuous scales. Its body is slender and cylindrical, with a robust head and a forked tail. The canine teeth set in its jaw can be clearly seen. There is a black spot at

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 276 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers

the base of the dorsal fin (between the 6th and the 10th spines). A deep groove located just in front of the eye goes towards its snout, passing just under the nare, or nostrils. An especially curious fish, it lives alone or in small groups above reef areas. Its also likes large sandy plains between coral reefs. As a major predator, it is often toxic in zones affected by ciguatera fish poisoning. The biggest specimens can reach one metre in length. Size

Zone

Depth 0-180 m

65 cm

Habitat Coral and sandy bottoms, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Mangrove red snapper Vivaneau des mangroves Lutjanus argentimaculatus Th e c o l o u ra t i o n ra n g e s f r o m dusky pink to a coppery red; some specimens reared in fish farms become black. The centre of each scale is marked with a darkercoloured dot. The profile of its body is relatively high and the canines on its upper jaw are often visible. In the Indian Ocean, this is the species in the Lutjanus genus which reaches the largest size, up to 1.20 m. It likes the brackish waters of mangroves, dark caves and wrecks. Because they show good growth performance, they are farmed. Size

Zone

Depth 0-120 m

75 cm

Habitat Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks

Two-spot banded snapper Vivaneau à bandes blanches Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Lutjanus biguttatus The very characteristic colouring of this little snapper is light brown on the back, followed by a darker brown band, then a white band, and finally an orangey pink band on the belly. The posterior part of its dorsal and anal fins is yellow, as is its caudal fin. Two or three small circular white spots are easily seen on its back. It lives in groups, sometimes made up of numerous individuals, in lagoons and shallow reef areas. It is not found in the western and central zones of the Indian Ocean. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

277

Snappers

Two-spot red snapper Vivaneau chien rouge or vara vara Lutjanus bohar It is red or orangey pink in colour. The edge of the fins is often darker and has a thin white border. A deep groove runs from the eye as far as the nostril. Juveniles display white patches spreading out more or less on their backs. These snappers are highly active predators that can grow to 90 cm. The big adults tend to be solitary and the juveniles live in small groups. They will mix quite naturally with sharks when the latter are hunting and there are scraps to be gleaned. They are sometimes toxic in areas where ciguatera is rife.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-180 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes, wrecks

Bengal snapper Vivaneau bengalais

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Lutjanus bengalensis The bengal snapper is yellow on the dorsal part of the body and silvery white on the underside, and marked with four horizontal blue lines. The last of these blue stripes forms the border between the yellow and white. The third blue stripe, starting from the top, ends at the level of the gill cover, whilst the others continue on the head. This small (maximum 30 cm) fish is not very shy, and most often lives in small groups above coral beds or in caves. It is present in the Indian Ocean and in Indonesia, and its range of distribution in the Pacific is limited to the area of Asia. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Mangroves, lagoons, coral beds, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 278 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers

Spanishflag snapper Vivaneau drapeau Lutjanus carponotatus It is blue-grey on the back, growing lighter on the underside. There are eight or nine orangey yellow lines on its flanks, with yellow fins and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. They live in discreet groups of twenty to thirty individuals, both inside and outside of lagoons and at the top of reefs or on the edges of drop-offs. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-80 m

Lagoon, outer slopes

Blueline snapper Vivaneau strié Lutjanus coeruleolineatus Its yellow colouration covering the body becomes white in the ventral area. It exhibits from six to eight longitudinal electric blue stripes that continue to the top of the head. On the flank, there is a large black patch tangential to the lateral line. This species is limited to the Red Sea and the northern part of the Indian Ocean. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Checkered snapper Vivaneau damier Lutjanus decussatus On its back, the criss-crossed horizontal and vertical dark brown lines form a very distinctive chequered pattern. There is a small round black spot on the caudal peduncle. Its special colour and small size make it an interesting species for aquarists. In the natural environment, it lives alone or in small groups, in lagoons and on outer reef slopes. It is not found in the western zone of the Indian Ocean. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

279

Snappers

Blackspot snapper Vivaneau carpe Lutjanus ehrenbergii Its silvery grey base has five horizontal thin yellow bands, below the lateral line. Its tail and fins are yellow. There is a large round black spot centred on the lateral line. It lives alone or in shoals, in shallow coral reef areas and in estuaries. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, estuaries

Dory snapper Vivaneau gibelot Lutjanus fulviflamma Very similar to the blackspot snapper, the dory snapper can be distinguished from it by the larger width of its yellow bands, located under the lateral line. The black spot on its flank is either oval or rectangular instead of round like in L. ehrenbergii. They most often live in shoals in lagoons, estuaries and shallow reef areas. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, estuaries

Blacktail snapper Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Vivaneau à queue noir Lutjanus fulvus Against a silvery grey background, its colouration displays thin horizontal yellow lines. Its pectoral, ventral and anal fins are yellow, while the dorsal and caudal fins are black with a thin white border. Either solitary or in small groups, they often frequent caves and hide in deep crevices and cracks. The largest specimens can measure up to 50 cm. Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth 0-80 m

Habitat Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 280 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers

Humpback red snapper Vivaneau pagaie Lutjanus gibbus In French, the common name of the humpback red snapper is the paddle snapper, owing to the highly distinctive shape of its tail, whose upper lobe is longer and quite rounded. Its colouration is a pinky grey and displays an orange patch at the base of the pectoral fin. The forehead is high and concave. The juvenile’s colour pattern differs from that of the adult, having a grey base, black dorsal fin and caudal peduncle and a yellow tail. Most often living in groups or dense shoals, it moves about in a leisurely manner above the seabed. The bathymetric range of distribution of this snapper is quite broad, going from lagoons and coral passes to deep zones on the outer slopes of reefs and on rocky drop-offs. Its maximum size is around 50 cm. Size

Zone

40 cm

Adult

Juvenile

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Yellowstreaked snapper Vivaneau à raies jaunes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Lutjanus lemniscatus From the snout to the tail, the juvenile sports a wide black stripe which progressively disappears. The adult is fairly elongate in shape. Its colour morph varies with the environment, and can be silvery or sallow olive, reddish or grey-brown. The tail is a dusky colour. It has small yellow lines on its face. When young, they hunt in shallow water on muddy or rocky bottoms. As they grow older, they live in deeper areas. Size 65 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-80 m

Lagoons, coral beds and rocky bottoms, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

281

Snappers

Bigeye snapper Vivaneau gros yeux Lutjanus lutjanus It has a yellowish grey colouration with thin yellow stripes following along the rows of scales on the back and sides. A thicker line of deeper yellow runs from the snout, through the eyes and all the way back to the tail. These snappers form large aggregations around coral banks and above reef slopes or rocky slopes. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-90 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Onespot snapper Vivaneau églefin Lutjanus monostigma Its colouring is a slightly reddish, silvery grey and the fins are yellow. A dark, oval-shaped patch can often be seen on the flanks. Often solitary or in small groups, they occur in coral reef areas at depths reaching 60 m. The largest specimens can measure up to 60 cm. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Bluestripped snapper Vivaneau à raies bleues Lutjanus notatus This snapper is yellow, lighter on the underside, with three horizontal blue stripes and three diagonal lines from the nape to the dorsal fin, differentiating it from the fivelined snapper. There is a more or less distinct black spot located behind the pectoral fin. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-50 m

Reefs

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Snappers

Common bluestripe snapper Vivaneau à raies bleues Lutjanus kasmira Its bright yellow base is striped with four longitudinal electric blue lines and the belly is silvery white with a few diffuse grey lines. Contrary to L. bengalensis, none of the blue stripes stop at the gill cover. These snappers sometimes form large aggregations in coral reef areas, near caves or in wrecks. Size

Zone

Depth 0-265 m

25 cm

Habitat Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes, caves and wrecks, rocky drop-offs

Five-lined snapper Vivaneau à cinq raies bleues Lutjanus quinquelineatus With an entirely yellow colour base down to the underside, it displays five horizontal electric blue lines. Its snout is often reddish. A dusky, very diffuse patch can sometimes be seen on its back. It lives in small groups in coral reef areas, at depths down to 40 m. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Blubberlip snapper

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Vivaneau maori Lutjanus rivulatus Its colouration is olive brown on the back and sides, silvery pink on the underside, and is dotted with small silvery blue spots. Its head is covered with small blue and yellow wavelike patterns. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are edged in yellow. The blubberlip snapper can be solitary or be found in small groups of a dozen individuals, and is more active at night than during the day. Very timid, it occurs in coral zones with a very rough relief and seeks out wide, deep faults where it can bolt and hide at the slightest alarm. The largest specimens can measure up to 80 cm. Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

283

Snappers

Russell’s snapper Vivaneau hublot Lutjanus russellii The colouration is silvery grey, showing from seven to eight orangey yellow stripes. On the back, there is a large oval black patch tangential to the lateral line. Adults live in rocky or coral reef areas reaching 80 m in depth, while juveniles preferentially occur in the shallow waters of mangroves or estuaries. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Lagoons, mangroves, estuaries, coral beds, outer slopes

Emperor red snapper Vivaneau bourgeois Lutjanus sebae Its high and laterally compressed body and its very characteristic colouring and profile make this snapper very easy to recognise in the juvenile phase. Once adult, its bicoloured base disappears to be replaced by a plain red colouration. Small juveniles seek protection amongst the spines of sea urchins in very shallow water, and go deeper as they grow older. This highly attractive red snapper, whose maximum size can reach one metre, is in great demand for the excellent quality of its flesh. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Depth 0-180 m

60 cm

Habitat Lagoons, mangroves, estuaries, coral beds, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Brownstripe red snapper Jaunet Lutjanus vitta A brown band runs along the body, from the nose to the caudal peduncle. Like the dorsal fin, the tail is yellow. The juveniles live in shallow waters, whilst the adults range over detritic areas going down along the outer slope. They may be contaminated with ciguatoxin. Voracious feeders, they move around in small groups at the foot of coral reefs hunting for small fish and crustaceans. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-70 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 284 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers

Midnight snapper Vivaneau minuit Macolor macularis The midnight snapper can be distinguished from M. niger by the yellow colouring on the lower part of the body and particularly on the cheeks. The colour pattern of the juvenile is close to that of the young M. niger. Therefore, it too mimics Plectorhinchus picus. When young, they are solitary and hide amidst crinoids and urchins. The adults gather in small shoals above the edges of drop-offs and reefs to catch zooplankton in the current.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-90 m

Passes, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Black and white snapper Vivaneau plate

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Macolor niger Its body and fins are dusky grey. It has big eyes with a golden iris. The juveniles are black and white and they mimic Plectorhinchus picus which secretes a toxic mucus. They are solitary and very timid. As for adults, they live in small groups, most often in passes with strong currents, on rocky areas with rough terrains or along drop-offs. The largest specimens measure up to 70 cm.

Adult

Juvenile Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-90 m

Passes, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

285

Snappers

False fusilier Vivanette bleue Paracaesio sordida The colouration is a blueish grey. Its forked tail is dark-coloured, sometimes with a reddish lower lobe. The false fusilier is a gregarious fish, living in the open sea where it hunts for plankton in currents. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-200 m

Outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Yellowtail blue snapper Vivanette queue jaune Paracaesio xanthura The yellowtail blue snapper is fairly stocky, with a blueish colouring, and is bright yellow all along the back to its forked tail. They look like fusiliers but are indeed members of the snapper family (Lutjanidae). In shoals, they hunt for plankton in open water. They occur on rocky and coral seabeds. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-150 m

Passes, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Chinamanfish Vivaneau diable Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Symphorus nematophorus Its brown colouration is marked by vertical bands, alternating in lighter and darker tones. Lengthwise on the body, thin blue lines sometimes run from the snout to the caudal peduncle. Several soft rays of the dorsal fin have filaments extending from them. Generally alone or in mated pairs, these snappers can also gather in their hundreds on spawning grounds. Since they are very often toxic in areas infested with ciguatera, sale of this fish is prohibited in Australia. The biggest specimens can measure up to 80 cm. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Lagoons, reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 286 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Snappers

Lunartail snapper Vivaneau à queue en croissant Lutjanus lunulatus Its colouration is pink on the back, silvery on the sides and bright yellow over the entire underside, from the snout back to the caudal peduncle. Along with this very specific colouring, there is another distinctive feature: a black crescent-moon shaped mark on its tail. It lives alone or in small groups in shallow coral reef areas. Its geographical range of distribution is mainly Indo-Asian. It was photographed here for the first time in the Seychelles Islands in the western Indian Ocean. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Reef areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

30 cm

Lutjanus sebae

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

287

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Pterocaesio tile (family Caesionidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fusiliers Les fusiliers

◗◗

Family Caesionidae

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Their bodies are elongate, fusiform and slightly laterally compressed. The fairly big eye is aligned with the median axis of the body which runs from the mouth, extending to the caudal fork. Their small terminal mouths are protractile. The single dorsal fin has from 10 to 15 spiny rays and from 8 to 22 soft rays. The lobes of the forked tail have pointed tips. The scales are small. Colouration can vary with the species, but generally blue is the dominant colour. The family comprises 20 species belonging to 5 genera which occur in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. For the most part, these fish are small in size, measuring 25 cm on average, however the biggest of them, Caesio cuning, can reach 60 cm in length. They are active swimmers and gregarious, moving in large shoals in the open sea, above reefs, often near the surface to catch plankton. Sometimes the shoals are made up of different species. At night, fusiliers go close to the seabed and use faults and coral caves as their hiding places. They also go to the parasite-removal stations operated by cleaner wrasses in reef zones. Breeding takes place in the open sea and the eggs and larvae are pelagic, drifting along with the currents. They represent a significant resource for fisheries, with world catches exceeding 55,000 t per year, of which 6,300 t come from the Indian Ocean (almost exclusively from the eastern part). The techniques used to fish them are numerous and varied, going from hand-lines to trawling, not to mention fish traps, beach seines and various set nets. Fusiliers are also used as bait in tuna fisheries. Their feeding mode and their need for a lot of space limit their interest for aquarium keepers. When they are active in open water, the presence of divers does not bother them at all. Amongst the fusilier species frequently sighted in the Indian Ocean, 14 species belonging to 2 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fusiliers

Blue and gold fusilier Fusilier bleu et or Caesio caerulaurea Its silvery blue-grey colouration is crossed by a longitudinal golden stripe edged on both sides in blue. This stripe, located just above the lateral line, joins up with the darkcoloured diagonal bar which stamps the upper lobe of the tail. The tail’s lower lobe also displays a dark band. A conspicuous black spot is present at the base of the pectoral fins. These fusiliers form large aggregations, hunting for plankton in open water, above coral reef areas. Its maximum size is close to 35 cm. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Blue and gold fusilier Fusilier bleu et or Caesio cf. caerulaurea This fusilier is a geographical variant of the previous species. It is found in the warm waters of South Africa and Mozambique. It can be differentiated from the Indo-Pacific species by the presence of black borders on either side of the yellow stripe. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-50 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Redbelly yellowtail fusilier Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Caesio à ventre rouge Caesio cuning Its body is much higher than that of the other species in this family. Its colour morph is blue or sometimes greenish, the tail is yellow and its belly has more or less reddish tints, depending on the place where it is and on its “mood”. They form large aggregations. Because of its size, this is the species which holds the most interest for fisheries. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 290 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fusiliers

Giant fusilier Caesio géant Caesio erythrogaster Although it is currently presented as a species synonymous with Casio cuning, some authors consider that Casio erythrogaster is a separate species in the Indian Ocean.

Size

Zone

48 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Lunar fusilier Caesio à croissant Caesio lunaris Its colouration is silvery blue-green, and sometimes a thin yellow border highlights the lateral line. The tips of the lobes of its tail are black. It is gregarious, forming large shoals above the outer slope of reefs to catch plankton in open water. Its maximum size reaches 40 cm at most. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Striated fusilier Fusilier strié Caesio striata This blueish grey-coloured fish stands out for the four black lines that can be clearly seen on its back. The outer edges of its tail are black. They form shoals in open water, near reefs where currents create a concentration of plankton. This species is endemic to the Red Sea. Size 18 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Open sea

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

291

Fusiliers

Suez fusilier Fusilier de Suez Caesio suevica It is blueish with a light-coloured underside. A yellow line goes down the back to the upper lobe of the caudal fin. The tail ends in black tips underlined in white. In large shoals, they swim along drop-offs or hunt in open water, without being overly wary of divers. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Coastal pelagic zones

Yellow and blueback fusilier Fusilier à dos jaune et bleu Caesio teres Against its blue base, some rows of scales form darker horizontal lines. A wide yellow ribbon starts on the back in front of the dorsal fin and extends over the entire caudal peduncle and the tail. This fusilier forms large shoals to feed on plankton in open water, above the reef slope and close to passes. These aggregations also occur in the spawning period. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-50 m

Deep lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Variable-lined fusilier Fusilier à bandes variées Caesio varilineata Its silvery blue-green colouring is marked by two to six horizontal yellow lines, whose thickness and intensity vary. There are also dusky lines on the tips of the lobes of the tail. This fish forms large shoals, often mixed with other species, swimming in open water above reefs and outer slopes. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Deep lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 292 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fusiliers

Yellowback fusilier Fusilier à dos jaune Caesio xanthonota The colouration is blue on the flanks and belly and yellow on the back and back to the tail. The yellow colouring starts in front of the eyes, which is further forward than in another closely related species, Caesio teres. It has the same gregarious behaviour as the other species in the family, hunting for plankton in large shoals above reef slopes and coral beds. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Deep lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Double-lined fusilier Fusilier à deux bandes jaunes Pterocaesio digramma Two thin yellow lines extend lengthwise along its blueish body. The first is located high on the back, while the second runs practically along the central axis of the body. The tips of the lobes of its tail are black. There is a conspicuous black spot at the base of the pectoral fins. This fish’s behaviour is similar to that of the other species in the family. It is absent from the Indian Ocean and present starting from Indonesia and Malaysia. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Deep lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Marr’s fusilier Fusilier de Marr Pterocaesio marri Very similar in appearance to the previous fusilier, P. digramma, it is difficult to distinguish between them on dives. It is present in most of the Indo-Pacific, but absent from the Red Sea, and displays exactly the same behaviour as the other species in this family. Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

293

Fusiliers

Dark-banded fusilier Caesio tricolore Pterocaesio tile A thick black band covering the lateral line separates its blue back from its red underside. A black bar imprinted on each lobe of the caudal fin, accentuates the V shape of the tail. There is also a black spot at the base of the pectoral fins. The juveniles sometimes live in shallow lagoons or near passes and the adults form large shoals, preferring to be above the outer slope. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Three-stripe fusilier Fusilier à trois bandes Pterocaesio trilineata Its grey blue colouration is striped on the back with dark and light bands. The tip of the snout is illuminated by a golden yellow mark. The base of the pectoral fins is dotted with black. This species forms shoals in open water, above coral reef areas and outer slopes. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

20 cm

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 294 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Pterocaesio tile

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Plectorhinchus pictus (family Haemulidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sweetlips and grunts Les gaterins

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Families Haemulidae

With their high profiles and laterally compressed bodies, sweetlips and grunts greatly resemble snappers, but differ from them by their smaller mouths and very fleshy lips. The single continuous dorsal fin is made up of two parts, the first presenting 9 to 14 spines and the second 11 to 26 soft rays. The dorsal and anal fin spines are robust and the second anal spine in particular is both long and very thick. Their tail can be either truncated or slightly crescentshaped. Colour patterns can vary greatly depending on the species. The juveniles have shapes and colours that are very different from those of adults. The fins are often highly developed and undulate in a characteristic manner when moving. Sweetlips and grunts are present in the tropical waters of three oceans. In all, the family comprises 150 species belonging to 17 genera. The great majority of them are marine species, however a few of them live in brackish water and a very few live in fresh water. They are all coastal, demersal fish living in coral environments, generally at depths no greater than sixty metres. They are bottom feeders, mainly feeding on small benthic invertebrates. By day they are not very active, staying hidden in caves or under banks of coral. They come out at night to search for their food. These are medium-sized fish, with the largest of them hardly exceeding 80 cm when adult. Juveniles are solitary and adults are either solitary or live in small groups of a few individuals. Spawning takes place in the open sea and the eggs and larvae are dispersed by marine currents. The juveniles are highly prized by aquarists, but their size when they become adults creates problems for the home aquarium. In terms of fisheries, it is above all small-scale tropical fisheries fleets that target this family. They are caught using hand-lines, nets or fish traps. Worldwide, annual landings represent 110,000 t, of which about 25,000 t are caught in the Indian Ocean. Sweetlips and grunts tend to be docile fish which let themselves be approached by divers easily. The name of “grunts”, whose French equivalent is also used in some regions, refers to the characteristic grunting sounds they make when disturbed, which are quite audible. These grunting noises are made by rubbing their pharyngeal teeth together and are amplified by their swim bladder. Amongst the species present in the Indian Ocean, 23 species belonging to 3 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sweetlips and grunts

Sailfin rubberlip Diagramme voilier Diagramma centurio Its silvery grey base is scattered with small round orangey spots on the head and back. There is an orangecoloured border along the edge of the gill cover. Another orange line marks the base of the pectoral fin. The juvenile has black and white stripes at first, then becomes grey, studded with yellow dots and dark spots on the fins. Often solitary, the sailfin rubberlip is found on sandy-muddy bottoms on the outskirts of coral reef areas. By day, it hides at the back of caves resting on a bed of sand. The maximum size reported for this species is one metre. Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Sandy-muddy bottoms, reef areas, caves

Slate sweetlips Diagramme ardoise Diagramma labiosum The juvenile is yellow and white with black bands. It conceals itself in the coral. It becomes silvery grey with orange spots, then plain silver in adulthood. These fish gather on sandymuddy bottoms at the foot of reefs which also provide them with shelter. They disperse at night to hunt for their food. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

100 cm

Juvenile

Depth

Habitat

5-40 m

Sandy-muddy

Blackfin sweetlips Diagramme ailes noires Diagramma melanacrum Its pale grey colouring is covered with dark spots. The dorsal fin and the top of the tail are yellow, whereas the base of the tail seen from the front, as well as the ventral and anal fins, are dusky grey. Calm and often solitary, the blackfin is not very active in daytime, choosing to stay in the shelter of a vault or archway until dusk. Size 45 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 298 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sweetlips and grunts

Silver sweetlips Diagramme peint Diagramma pictum Juveniles are light-coloured with broad black bands. The front of the dorsal fin is high, and black and white in colour. When the fish reaches 25 cm in length, the bands become patchy and then disappear, to be replaced (once it has reached 40 cm) by a grey base with small orangey spots (arranged in rows on specimens from the Indian Ocean). When they grow bigger than 50 cm, individuals in the Western Indian Ocean become silvery grey tinted with purple and have small black dots on the dorsal fin and tail. They feed on worms and molluscs that they suck up from the sediment. In daytime, they move around in groups in the shelter of reefs or in the shadows of caves. Size

Zone

90 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Reefs, sand

Giant thicklip Gaterin commun Plectorhinchus albovittatus Adult giant thicklips have an irregularly speckled colouration. The upper half of the dorsal fin is black, as are the tips of the caudal and anal fins. When young, their colouration is a plain brown with pinkish tints. They spend the day under a rocky canopy or overhang, generally in a group, sometimes mixed with other species, and then swim off alone at night to hunt on the sand. Sometimes juveniles follow sargassum weeds on the surface. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

100 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-80 m

Rocky bottoms

Lemon sweetlips Gaterin citron Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus Its colouration is blueish grey, sometimes displaying light grey areas, and is dotted with small orange spots. On its cheeks, these spots turn into horizontal lines. This sweetlips lives alone or in little groups in coral reef areas, always ready to hide in a clump of coral or a crevice.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

299

Sweetlips and grunts

Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Harlequin sweetlips Gaterin arlequin

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Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides There are large, round black spots scattered over its beige base, including on the tail. On the snout, these spots disappear and are replaced by a dusky grey colouring. There are no spots on the underside. The colouration of juveniles is a subtle harmony of pink and white, later becoming black and white. When very young, it swims with a wriggling motion, probably trying to imitate the appearance of a toxic marine worm in order to keep predators at bay. The adults are solitary and live near banks of coral.

Juvenile (phase 1) Size 70 cm

Zone

Adult

Juvenile (phase 2) Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 300 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sweetlips and grunts

Blackspotted rubberlip Gaterin moucheté Plectorhinchus gaterinus Its body is silvery grey in the middle and yellow, dotted with black spots, on the back, the tail and the dorsal and anal fins. The head is dark grey, with the exception of the lips, which are yellow. In juveniles, it is not yet spots, but stripes that form the pattern. They most often live in groups in mixed coral areas, and sometimes in mangroves and estuaries. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, mangroves, estuaries, coral reef areas

Harry hotlips Gaterin noir

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Plectorhinchus gibbosus Its colouring ranges from dusky grey to black. There is a black mark accentuating the edge of the preopercle and another on the rim of the operculum. In large adults, the snout and dorsal fins become even darker than the rest of the body. Juveniles often live in estuaries and mangroves where they let themselves sway with the movement of the water in underwater currents, rather like a dead leaf. This strategy lets them elude predators. Adults live either alone or in small groups in sheltered coral reef areas, as well as sometimes on outer reef slopes.

Adult

Sub-adult Size 75 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, mangroves, estuaries, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

301

Sweetlips and grunts

Yellowbanded sweetlips Gaterin à bandes diagonales Plectorhinchus lineatus Its back is streaked with oblique black stripes which begin mid-body with a series of spots forming dotted lines. Its underside is silvery grey. The snout, lips and pectoral and pelvic fins are yellow. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins are yellow with round black spots. These sweetlips occur in mixed coral areas. In some regions, they form large aggregations in the spawning period. Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-35 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Lesson’s thicklip Gaterin de Lesson Plectorhinchus lessonii Its colour pattern has longitudinal broad dark bands running from the snout to the caudal peduncle. The ventral part of the body is silvery grey and has no stripes at all. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are yellow with large, round black spots. It occurs in reef zones and rocky areas, seeking refuge in caves and deep faults.

Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves

Many-lined sweetlips Gaterin strié Plectorhinchus multivittatus Its light-based colour pattern is covered with yellow stripes all over its body. Its fins are also plain yellow, which distinguishes it from P. flavomaculatus which has orangey spots and dotted fins. With age, these lines become dots, except on the head. Size 50 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 302 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sweetlips and grunts

Oriental sweetlips Gaterin bagnard Plectorhinchus orientalis Its colour pattern looks very much like that of Lesson’s thicklip (P. lessonii) however, conversely to its close relative, the bands are also present on its underside. The snout and the outline of the head are more yellowy in colour. Juveniles display a black base, ringed by large white patches rimmed in bright yellow. The young oriental sweetlips is solitary and finds hiding places in banks of coral. Adults occur in reef or rocky areas, either alone or in small groups. The largest individuals can measure up to 86 cm.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves

Painted sweetlip Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Gaterin noir et blanc Plectorhinchus pictus Its silvery grey colouring is covered with small black spots which spread over the dorsal, caudal and anal fins. There are no spots on the belly. A black border accentuates the edge of the gill cover. The colour pattern of juveniles shows alternating black and white areas and black spots. This fish occurs on mixed coral seabeds. The largest individuals can measure up to 80 cm. Juveniles are sold for use in aquariums.

Adult

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

303

Sweetlips and grunts

Juvenile Size

Zone

60 cm

Sub-adult Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves

Barred rubberlip Gaterin rayé Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus Its silvery grey colouring is striped with dusky diagonal lines. These stripes are alternately thick or thin. It has bulging, fleshy lips. The snout and the preopercular zone are yellow. Often living in mated pairs, they occur in shallow coral reef areas, sometimes in murky water. Size

Zone

90 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Whitebarred rubberlip Gaterin à barres blanches Plectorhinchus playfairi Th i s r u b b e r l i p c a n b e e a s i l y recognised thanks to the oblique white lines which divide its blackcoloured back into several equal parts. The lower half of the body is silvery white. Its fins are black. A rather solitary species, it occurs in coral reef areas, sometimes very close to shore. The biggest individuals can measure up to 90 cm. Size 70 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 304 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sweetlips and grunts

Ribboned sweetlips Gaterin ruban Plectorhinchus polytaenia Its yellow colour base is longitudinally striped with sky blue ribbons, edged in black. All of the fins are yellow. Juveniles stay in the protection of coral banks in shallow waters. Adults live either alone or in small groups in coral reef areas, outside of lagoons or on outer reef slopes. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Minstrel sweetlip Gaterin ménestrel Plectorhinchus schotaf It is grey with brassy or pinkish tints. The gills are rimmed with a pink colour. Its colour pattern is close to that of P. macrospilus, but this identification remains uncertain. The juveniles live near the shore, in residual tidal pools, estuaries and even in streams. Adults can be found both in the surf zone and deeper, around banks of coral. They form calm groups at the entrance to caves there. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

80 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Estuaries, lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Sordid rubberlip Gaterin gueule rouge Plectorhinchus sordidus This rubberlip’s colouring is plain brown. The inside of its mouth is scarlet red, but this detail is not always easy to see on a fish swimming in its natural environment in the wild. It occurs both in rocky and coral reef areas and on sandy-muddy bottoms on the outskirts of reefs. It often hides at the back of caves.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

305

Sweetlips and grunts

Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral and rocky areas, outer reef slopes, caves

Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips Gaterin bagnard de l’océan Indien Plectorhinchus vittatus

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Th i s I n d i a n O c e a n s p e c i e s corresponds exactly to P. orientalis, whose range of distribution is rather in the Pacific Ocean. However, we are not sure that the status of these two species has been well established. Its behaviour is the same in every way as that of its close relative.

Juvenile Size 70 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 306 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sweetlips and grunts

Andaman sweetlips Gaterin à gros pois Plectorhinchus macrospilus This attractive sweetlips is covered with large black spots, including on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins, and is probably in an intermediate phase, between juvenile and adult.

Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Outer slopes

Olive grunt Grogneur olive Pomadasys olivaceus Its silvery colour base becomes a golden bronze colour on the back. There is a dark spot at the top of the operculum. It lives in large shoals near the seabed, on the sand between rocks. A highly prolific species which breeds all year round, it is a prime prey fish for predators. When frightened, it can emit grunting sounds by contracting its swim bladder. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Outer slopes

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Striped grunter Grogneur rayé Pomadasys striatus Its brassy yellow colouring striped with horizontal gold lines, enables it to be easily identified. This species is small in size, and lives in groups or in shoals above fringing reefs.

Size 22 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, fringing reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

307

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Rabdosargus sarba (family Sparidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Seabreams Les pagres

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Sparidae

Their oblong bodies are slightly laterally compressed. Some species have a particularly high profile of their backs. Seabreams have a single continuous dorsal fin, comprising 10 to 13 spines and 8 to 16 soft rays. The posterior edge of their caudal fin is either forked or slightly concave. The scales can be small or medium sized and in most cases are quite conspicuous. These fish have a powerful dentition, made up for most species of incisors or conical teeth in the front part of the jaws and of large molars in the rear part. This is a large family which is represented in the tropical and temperate waters of every ocean. The family comprises 112 species in all, belonging to 35 genera. Most of them are marine species, however there are a few rare exceptions of fresh and brackish water species. For the Indian Ocean, it is the waters of South Africa that the greatest diversity in this family is found. The adult size varies considerably depending on the species, going from about thirty centimetres for the smallest to two metres for the biggest one (Petrus rupestris), which is endemic to South Africa. This species has a long life span, which is estimated to be over thirty years. Sparids are demersal fish and many of them are gregarious. Their diet also varies depending on the species. Some of them feed on crustaceans and bivalve molluscs which their powerful molars can easily crush. Others, whose teeth include incisors, are herbivorous instead. As for all fish, the type of teeth they have supplies information about what predominates in their diet. Many of the Sparidae family are hermaphrodites and some can even possess both male and female organs simultaneously. The great majority of these species breed and spawn their eggs in the open sea. With fisheries production worldwide amounting to 360,000 t per year, the family has significant economic importance. Landings in the Indian Ocean represent approximately ten percent of global production, with the major part of this (30,000 t) coming from the western zone. Several species of sparids, particularly the largest of them, are sought after by game fishermen. The smaller ones are of interest for aquarists to stock temperate water aquariums. A few rare species in this family have been reported to be toxic in zones affected by ciguatera. Their behaviour with respect to divers varies greatly depending on the species and the region.

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Seabreams

Seabreams are always much less shy and more easily approached by underwater photographers in marine protected areas and reserves. Amongst the species present in the Indian Ocean, 24 species belonging to 15 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Twobar seabream Sar à deux bandes Acanthopagrus bifasciatus The outline of its profile is high, particularly in big adults. Its silvery colouration is marked by two vertical black bars. The first runs across the eye and the second marks the limit between the head and body, running down over the gill cover. Its pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins are yellow. The pelvic fins and half of the anal fin are black. The range of distribution of twobar seabreams includes the Western and Northern Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. They occur in coral reef or rocky areas, either alone or in small groups. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

50 cm

+

15-30 m

Coralline and rocky areas

Fransmadam Fransmadam

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Boopsoidea inornata This is a small silvery grey bream with brassy tints. The lateral line, tail and pectoral fins are dusky. It has a big eye in a zone of dark colouring. There is a black crescent covering the operculum. The orange-coloured juveniles are sighted in seagrass beds, whilst adults prefer rocky bottoms. They are omnivorous and often are the first to steal bait from hooks. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 310 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Seabreams

Englishman seabream Spare du Natal Chrysoblephus anglicus It has a distinctive high profile with a snout which is practically vertical, from the mouth to the eye. Its red or pinkish colour base displays several wide vertical white bands. The scales on its back have blue dots on them. Endemic to the South African coasts (on the Indian Ocean side), is geographical range appears to be limited to the Southern Mozambique Channel. Its maximum size reaches 90 cm at most. Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

15-120 m

Coralline and rocky areas

Red stumpnose Spare gibbeux

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Chrysoblephus gibbiceps This robust, elongate seabream develops a characteristic hump above its eyes as it grows older. It has large lips protecting its strong canines. In colouring, it is silvery pink with redder bars dotted with small dark spots. It mainly feeds on crustaceans and shellfish which it crushes with no problem. Becoming mature when it is around 30 cm in length, it is female before changing sex. They inhabit coastal waters and have a tendency to progressively go deeper. They are present from Cape Town to the Natal region and their numbers are dwindling. Size 75 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

20-50 m

Rocks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

311

Seabreams

Roman seabream Spare à selle blanche Chrysoblephus laticeps Its orangey red colour base is embellished with large, white patches saddling the body and head. On these white patches are some silvery scales which seem to be more luminous. There is a blue line linking the eyes. Its distribution range is limited to the southern part of the African continent, from Namibia (on the Atlantic side) to Port St Johns, South Africa (on the Indian Ocean side). Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Rocky areas

Slinger seabream Spare élégant Chrysoblephus puniceus It is pink with silvery areas or silver with wide orangey pink bars. Its colouration is very changeable. The very high, straight forehead and the blue line underneath its eye enable this species to be easily determined. These fish live in large shoals on rocky bottoms in coastal waters, feeding on the seabed. They are very prolific breeders and the females turn into territorial males when they reach about 35 cm. However abundant they may be, overfishing has reduced their stocks, since this species alone makes up nearly one third of commercial fishery catches in the Natal region. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

85 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Rocks

Black musselcracker Spare nasique Cymatoceps nasutus Juveniles have elongate, green brown bodies which are marbled with bands of pale patches. Its nose gets rounder and lighter in colour and becomes very marked with age. Its colouration is then brownish grey. It grows slowly, becoming mature at ten years of age

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Seabreams

(55 cm), changes from female to male when it is about 70 cm long and can live for 45 years (34 kg). Although the juveniles occur in fields of seaweed near the shore, the adults go down to deep rocky beds, staking out their territory. Their diet is made up of crustaceans and urchins that they can easily crush. Their prized flesh and the fact that they are late-maturing make this an endangered species. Size

Zone

150 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Rocks

Cape white seabream Sar commun du Cap Diplodus capensis Its silvery grey colouration displays a black saddle on the caudal peduncle. Several dusky vertical bars are more or less visible on the bodies of the juveniles in particular. A black spot can be made out behind the axis of the pectoral fins. As adults, they most often swim in small groups in the open sea in rocky areas where they can retreat in the case of danger. The juveniles live closer to the coast, including in sandy areas or estuaries. Their range of distribution goes from Angola to Mozambique. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-130 m

Coralline and rocky areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Zebra Sar à grosses lèvres Diplodus hottentatus Its silvery colouration is marked by six broad vertical black stripes. Running up from the belly, small, short, thin lines come between these stripes. The underside is often yellow. This species is endemic to South Africa.

Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-120 m

Rocky areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

313

Seabreams

Janbruin Janbruin Gymnocrotaphus curvidens Robust, with a high body, its colouring varies from brown-green to orangey brown. The lobes of the tail are rounded and its curved incisors protrude from its lips. There is a blue ring around the eye. An omnivore, it feeds from rocks which are generally in fairly shallow areas. It is rarely seen in large numbers and tends to be solitary. Its flesh is in great demand. It lives between Cape Town and Durban. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-80 m

Rocks

White steenbras Marbré du Cap Lithognathus lithognathus Its elongate body is silvery, with dusky, diffuse bars going down the sides. When young, it lives in estuaries and along beaches, forming small shoals. Once adult, it moves away from the coast, foraging for its small prey on the seabed and expelling the sand taken with them through its gills. Present along every South African coast, it is also found to the south of Madagascar.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

1m

Depth

Habitat

10-150 m

Bentho-pelagic

Sand steenbras Marbré Lithognathus mormyrus Its oval-shaped, elongate body has shiny scales which are golden on its back. There are from twelve to fourteen bars running down to midflank. They favour sandy areas and seagrass meadows, under waves

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Seabreams

breaking near beaches and to depths reaching 30 m. They also occur in deeper water. The sand steenbras explores the seafloor looking for small worms or crustaceans. It is found on both sides of the African headland as far as Mozambique, as well as in the Red Sea and on the southern coast of Oman. Size

Zone +

50 cm

+ Oman

Depth

Habitat

1-150 m

Sand, seagrass beds

Hottentot Hottentot Pachymetopon blochii This is a silvery grey-coloured seabream. Its back can become bronze, the underside remains pale and the fins are darker in colour. It lives above the rocky rises called secs and in the churning water of surf zones. An omnivore, it carefully chooses its food items of seaweed, small crustaceans, echinoderms and molluscs. Shoals are scattered, but often remain in the same area. Endemic to the tip of the Cape, it mostly lives on the western coast of South Africa. Two closely related species, but which are larger in size, are present in the same zones. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

46 cm

Cape point

1-20 m

Rocks

Red steenbras Denté du Cap

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Petrus rupestris Reaching 80 kg, this is a powerful fish with silvery scales of changing pink, golden or brassy tints. Its pectoral fins are orangey in hue. There is a dusky spot on the top of the caudal peduncle which fades with age. Its powerful jaws set with large canines enable it to crush crabs, octopus and fish. It lives near coasts and estuaries, then moves away, becoming solitary and territorial in a rocky bottomed area. It is prized by game fishermen and for its excellent flesh, but beware! Its liver is poisoned by excessive amounts of vitamin A. Size 2m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-160 m

Rocks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

315

Seabreams

German seabream Sar germain du Natal Polyamblyodon germanum The concave profile of this fish’s snout gives it a very distinctive look which makes it easy to distinguish from other sparids. Its colouring is silvery grey or brassy grey. The geographical distribution of this species is limited to the south-western zone of the Indian Ocean. This extends only from Maputo (Mozambique) to Port Elisabeth in South Africa. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

15-50 m

Rocky areas

Knife-back seabream Sar couteau Polyamblyodon gibbosum It has a high profile, with a humped front part of its back. The colouration is uniformly blueish grey. There is a blue line around the eye socket. A black spot can be made out at the axis of the pectoral fins. Its range of distribution is limited to the South African coasts and the southern parts of Madagascar and the Mozambique Channel. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Rocky areas

Seventy-four Denté maculé Polysteganus undulosus This large seabream has an elongated silhouette, shiny scales tinged with pink and four to six iridescent blue stripes on its sides. A big black patch spreads out above the pectoral fin. They can reach a weight of 14 kg, and these large fish feed on squid

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Seabreams

and fish above rocky reefs. Gathering in large shoals in springtime to spawn near the Natal coasts, they are highly vulnerable to fisheries, all the more so in that their flesh is excellent. They are now covered by measures to protect them. They are endemic between Cape Town and Maputo. Size

Zone

1m

Depth

Habitat

5-200 m

Rocks

Panga Spare panga Pterogymnus laniarius This small red panga has thin blue stripes on its flanks and under the eye. They live in shoals on sandymuddy bottoms where they feed on small worms, small fish and squid, on either side of the tip of Africa and as far as Mozambique.

Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-200 m

Soft bottoms

White strumpnose Sar austral

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Rhabdosargus globiceps This silvery seabream sports six or seven subdued, dusky bars. Its massive head and strong jaws enable it to crush its prey. The juveniles form small groups under the waves, along beaches and in the murky waters of estuaries. This fish are present in the cool waters of South Africa, as well as on the western coast of Namibia and Angola. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-80 m

Sandy bays, rocks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

317

Seabreams

Cape stumpnose Sargue du Cap Rhabdosargus holubi A silvery colour like R. globiceps, but it is stockier with a sharper snout, its jaw armed with big incisors and powerful molars. It can be recognised by the yellow band running from the gill cover to the tail. They prefer sandy areas and rocks where they hunt for small invertebrates. The juveniles find food and shelter in the seagrass meadows of estuaries. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-80 m

Sand

Goldlined seabream Sargue doré Rhabdosargus sarba Each of its scales is adorned with a gold spot at the centre, forming longitudinal lines against its silvery grey base. A yellow line, going from the pelvic fins to the anal fin, is sometimes visible on the belly. Juveniles occur in coastal waters and estuaries, whereas adults show a preference for reef areas. This fast-growing, gregarious species has a fairly large range of distribution in the Indian Ocean and is also reared in fish farms. The largest specimens can reach 80 cm and weigh up to 12 kg. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, passes, estuaries, reef areas

Bigeye stumpnose Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Sargue à gros yeux Rhabdosargus thorpei Very close in shape and colouring to the goldlined seabream (R. sarba), the bigeye stumpnose differs from it by the bright yellow colouration of its underside, which makes it easily identifiable. Its range of distribution is limited to the South African coast (on the Indian Ocean side) and to the Mozambique Channel, and it occurs in sandy and rocky coastal zones reaching as far as estuaries for the juveniles. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-70 m

Lagoons, passes, estuaries, reef areas

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Seabreams

Salema Saupe Sarpa salpa There are about ten thin golden lines on its silvery grey base. Its eyes also have a golden iris around the black pupil. It has a black spot at the base of the pectoral fins. It is a gregarious, essentially herbivorous species. They are protandrous hermaphrodites (first male, then female) that are also found in the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic. They are present in the south-western Indian Ocean, along South African coasts up to the south of Mozambique. Their maximum size is around 50 cm. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-70 m

Lagoons, seagrass meadows, estuaries, reef areas

Musselcracker Spare broyeuse Sparodon durbanensis It has a robust, but slender, body, with a massive head and powerful grinding jaws. It is silvery in colour, having lost the juvenile’s orangey colouration of its fins. Young musselcrackers grow in very shallow water, feeding in seagrass meadows until their molars develop enough to crush shellfish and crustaceans. The adults become solitary and can reach a weight of 23 kg. Size

Zone

1.10 m

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◗◗

Depth

Habitat

10-70 m

Rocks

Family Clinidae

Super klipfish Klipfish Clinus superciliosus This is a big blenny with large pelvic fins. Its mimetic colour pattern varies from brown-green to red, and large dusky patches run down its sides. The first three rays of the dorsal fin are very long. It is endemic to cool South African waters, living in the top layer a few metres under the waves, devouring small invertebrates. Its flesh is excellent. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Rocks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

319

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Gymnocranius grandoculis (family Lethrinidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Emperors and large-eye breams Les capitaines

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◗◗

Family Lethrinidae

These fish usually have a high profile, a body covered with large scales in conspicuous rows, quite big eyes and fleshy lips. The distance separating the eye from the jaw, which is called the suborbital distance, is large in most of these species. For those in the genus Lethrinus, this area of the head is scaleless. Emperors and large-eye breams have a single continuous dorsal fin, made up of 10 spines and 9 to 10 soft rays. Their general colouring is silvery grey, with variants ranging from greenish, olive brown, beige to brown depending on the species. Their translucent fins are often lightly tinged on the margin with red, blue or yellow. This family, comprising a total of 39 species belonging to 5 genera, inhabits the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, with the exception of one species, i.e. Lethrinus atlanticus, which is found on the West African coasts. They are coastal-dwelling demersal fish, which are not territorial, swimming above mixed seabeds in reef areas. Their mean size at adulthood is about 45 cm, but several species exceed 60 cm in length. The largest of the emperors, Lethrinus olivaceus, can reach one metre long and weigh up to 14 kg. Emperors prefer to feed at night and hunt for small fish and benthic invertebrates on the seafloor. Some species, equipped with strong molars, feed on various shellfish and crabs that they are able to crush with their powerful jaws. With the exception of Gnathodentex aureolineatus which lives in shoals (often of more than 50 individuals), the other species usually live in small groups but become gregarious in the spawning period. Many of the species are protogynous hermaphrodites (first female, then male). The lifespan of emperors is quite long, since it can reach or even exceed twenty years for several members of this family. This characteristic means that stringent management of fishery stocks is required. All of these species have commercial value for fisheries. The catches declared worldwide for this family amount to about 100,000 t per year, 70,000 t of which come from the Indian Ocean. The gear used to catch them in small scale fisheries are mainly hand-lines and nets in inshore areas. There are industrial fisheries targeting the emperor in the south-western Indian Ocean, to the north of Mauritius and on coral reefs of Nazareth and Saya de Malha. This exploitation is done using “mother vessels” carrying several small nested fishing craft or dories. They are deployed to fish all day long around the main collector vessel and come back on board at night. Unfortunately, several species are sensitive to ciguatera in zones infested by this toxin, particularly the largest and most voracious of them, like Lethrinus microdon, L. olivaceus, L. mashena, Monotaxis grandoculis.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Emperors and large-eye breams

Emperors are not very shy, they are often curious and come close to divers who have come to visit them, before continuing on their way to hunt for food. Amongst the most common emperors and large-eye breams in the Indian Ocean, 19 species belonging to 4 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Striped large-eye bream Capitaine strié Gnathodentex aureolineatus With its gold-coloured lines on a silvery grey base, this small bream is very easy to recognise. The edge of its upper jaw, the snout and the base of the pectoral fin are also golden-hued. It is gregarious and lives in shoals (which can reach up to a hundred individuals), above areas of coral. The largest specimens measure 30 cm at most. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Blue-lined large-eye bream Capitaine tatoué

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Gymnocranius grandoculis The undulating blue lines on its cheeks just below the eye make it easy to identify. Its clear fins have a bit of yellow on the edges. In the juvenile phase, its colour pattern has dark brown patches and vertical bands, similar to those of G. griseus, which can lead these two species to be confused. Solitary or in small groups, these fish occur on sandy-muddy bottoms, on the outskirts of coral reef areas. The largest specimens can reach 80 cm. Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

20-170 m

Sandy-muddy bottoms, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 322 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Emperors and large-eye breams

Grey large-eye bream Capitaine gris Gymnocranius griseus Its silvery grey body is marked with spots and oblique brown bands. The first band passes across the eye. It can be distinguished from G. grandoculis by the absence of wavy blue lines on its cheeks. They occur in sandy areas on the edge of reefs. Juveniles preferentially live in shallow water, in sheltered bays and in mangroves. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Sandy-muddy bottoms, outer reef slopes

Yellow-tailed emperor Bec de cane du Pacifique Lethrinus atkinsoni It has a fairly dusky head and a yellow band, often diffuse, running from the operculum to the tail. The edges of its lips and of the dorsal fin are lined in red. Like the other emperors, its skin can instantly take on a dark, mottled colouration on occasions. It patrols over seagrass meadows and sandy bottoms, both in and outside of lagoons. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Seagrass meadows, sand

Snubnose emperor Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Bec de cane à nez retroussé Lethrinus borbonicus Its nose is shorter than that of the other emperors, the head is often a sallow olive colour and the eye and edge of the gills are yellow. Swimming over the sand, they can be light-coloured, taking on a smudged or olive-tinged appearance when excited. In daytime, they move around reefs and at night go up onto reef flats to hunt more actively. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Reef flats

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

323

Emperors and large-eye breams

Yellowtail emperor Capitaine à queue jaune Lethrinus crocineus It has a high profile. The head and body are a brassy bronze. The margin of each scale is darker, which creates a highly visible mesh pattern, particularly on the part of the body located above the lateral line. The tail is yellowish. It occurs in coastal reef areas and on outer slopes to depths reaching 150 m. Its maximum size is 60 cm. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Orange-spotted emperor Capitaine empereur Lethrinus erythracanthus The orange-spotted emperor is a relatively large-sized fish. The bright colour of its fins, which are yellow or orangey, stands out clearly from its dusky grey body colour. Above all active at night in zones of soft substrate surrounding coral reefs, it remains hidden at the back of caves or deep cracks for most of the day.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Adult

Juvenile Size 70 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

18-120 m

Coral reef areas, sandy areas, outer reef slopes

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Emperors and large-eye breams

Thumbprint emperor Capitaine saint-pierre Lethrinus harak The thumbprint mark is a black and yellow ocellus on its flanks. The similarity with that of the John Dory, also called St Pierre fish (Zeus faber) well-known in Europe, led to its French name of St Pierre emperor. The thumbprint feature makes it easy to identify. Solitary or in small groups, they occur in shallow areas of lagoons, mangroves, sheltered bays and passes. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, mangroves, sandy areas

Blue-lined emperor Capitaine d’herbiers Lethrinus laticaudis Its body is higher and its snout shorter than those of L. nebulosus. It also has blue scribbles around the eye, but they are not as long. The juveniles grow in the shelter of seagrass meadows and mangroves, the adults feed on fish and crustaceans. They are sighted to the east of India and on the northern coasts of Australia. Size

Zone

55 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Mangroves, seagrass meadows

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Pink ear emperor Capitaine lentilles Lethrinus lentjan Its colour base is lighter on the underside and is silvery grey with dusky pink to mauve tints on its back. The posterior edge of the operculum has a bright red border. When young, they live in sparse, scattered groups in mangroves, sandy areas or around seagrass meadows. The adults tend to be solitary and live in reef areas or even deeper. The maximum size reported for this species is 52 cm. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth 0-90 m

Habitat Lagoons, mangroves, sandy areas, reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

325

Emperors and large-eye breams

Sky emperor Capitaine mashena Lethrinus mashena Its silvery grey colour base has tints of olive green, sporting eight to ten darker vertical bars which are more or less visible depending on the circumstances and the fish’s state of excitement. The translucent membranes of its dorsal and anal fins are frequently tinted with yellow or pale red (depending on regions and individuals), whose edges are often red or even a very bright yellow. This species is targeted by industrial fisheries using the system of a “mother vessel” deploying smaller dories, in practice on large coral reefs in the south-western Indian Ocean to the north of Mauritius. Its favourite habitats are mixed coral zones. Their maximum size is around 65 cm.

Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-100 m

Coral beds, reef areas, outer slopes

Smalltooth emperor Capitaine tidents Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Lethrinus microdon Its colouration is olive-brown, being lighter on the belly. Darker brown lines start at the eye and radiate out towards the snout. Like most emperors, it can adopt a specific colour pattern which rather looks like military camouflage gear. Often in small groups, they occur in sandy areas located in the vicinity of coral reefs. The biggest individuals reach 80 cm. Size 70 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Sandy bottoms, reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 326 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Emperors and large-eye breams

Sweetlip emperor Bec de cane malbar Lethrinus miniatus They have a very long snout, with three olive-coloured bands between the eye and the mouth. The zone around the eye, the lips, the dorsal fin and the top of the gill cover are red. The anal and caudal fins are rather dusky. They live in small groups during the day around coral patch reefs and disperse at night to hunt their prey on and under the sand. In some regions, this species can cause ciguatera poisoning. Its maximum size is around 90 cm. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Coral reefs

Spangled emperor Capitaine blanc Lethrinus nebulosus

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It has olive-green colouring on the back and a silvery underside. The centre of each scale on its body is pale blue. Two or three blue lines radiate out from the eye and cross the cheeks, running towards the edge of the upper jaw. The juveniles live in shallow water and the adults live deeper, in reef zones. The biggest individuals reach 80 cm.

Size 70 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-75 m

Reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

327

Emperors and large-eye breams

Longface emperor Capitaine olive Lethrinus olivaceus Its olive green colour base sometimes displays scattered darker patches. Similar to L. microdon, it can be distinguished from it by two or three darker lines undulating in waves on the cheeks and extending outward from the eye toward the upper jaw. The edge of the upper jaw has a thin red line along it. This is the largest of the emperors and the biggest specimens can reach a metre in length and weigh up to 14 kg. Size

Zone

80 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-185 m

Lagoons, reef areas, outer slopes

Orange-striped emperor Capitaine à bandes orange Lethrinus obsoletus

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This emperor is easily identifiable thanks to its longitudinal orange band which starts at the jaw and goes back over the caudal peduncle, crossing the base of the pectoral fin. It has a penchant for shallow mixed areas of coral and seagrass beds. Their maximum size is around 60 cm.

Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, reef areas, outer slopes

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Emperors and large-eye breams

Spotcheek emperor Capitaine honteux Lethrinus rubrioperculatus It colouration is generally grey green, but varies considerably depending on its state of excitement. Indeed, it often takes on a pattern resembling that of soldiers’ camouflage gear. The red spot located on the edge of the gill cover is what enables it to be identified. They are often in groups, occurring in a range of habitats in reef areas (sand, seagrass beds, corals) and have a large vertical distribution range which can extend down to 160 m.

Size

Zone

Depth 10-160 m

40 cm

Habitat Lagoons, reef areas, sandy-muddy areas, deep outer slopes

Slender emperor Capitaine baxou

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Lethrinus variegatus Its yellowish or grey-green colour base sports numerous multicoloured spots when it takes on its camouflage colour pattern. This fish is hard to identify formally. However, the distinctive profile of its head, which has a marked concave area in front of the eyes at the level of the nare, enables it to be differentiated from other emperors with similar colouring. It is also one of the smallest in its family. Most often, they move around in groups of several dozen individuals and occur in sandy-muddy soft substrate zones and coral reef areas. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth 0-150 m

Habitat Lagoons, reef areas, sandy-muddy areas, deep outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

329

Emperors and large-eye breams

Humpnose big-eye bream Capitaine bossu ou gueule pavée Monotaxis grandoculis

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

The highly characteristic profile of this bream makes it easy to identify. There is a very convex area above and in front of the eye, particularly in big individuals. The juveniles have silvery bellies and black backs with vertical bars formed by two or three white bands. This specific colour pattern sometimes persists in adults, but in a much fainter version. Its special set of teeth, with strong canines in front and big molars at the back, enable it to feed on gastropods, brittle stars or crabs.

Adult

Juvenile Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Lagoons, reef areas, deep outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 330 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Monotaxis grandoculis

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Scolopsis frenata (family Némiptéridae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Coral breams Les scolopsis

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Nemipteridae

These are perciform fishes whose bodies are more or less elongate depending on the species, with a single, long, unnotched dorsal fin made up of 10 spines and 9 soft rays. Their tails are most usually forked, and in some species of the genus Nemipterus, have a long filament prolonging the upper lobe. They have a terminal mouth. The colour pattern generally alternates between light- and dark-coloured (yellow, grey and black) longitudinal bands on the dorsal part of the body. In all, the family comprises 62 species (belonging to 5 genera) which are distributed in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. These mediumsized (from 20 to 35 cm) demersal fish tend to be solitary. Generally, they are carnivorous, feeding on a wide range of benthic invertebrates, but some species feed mostly on plankton. The coral breams live in shallow water in mixed coral areas, which include parts that are sandy, detritic or even muddy. Some species of the genus Scolopsis, whose reproduction has been studied, have proved to be protogynous hermaphrodites (first female, then male). Breeding takes place in open water and the eggs are left to drift. With annual production declared to be 500,000 t in the Pacific and 60,000 t in the Indian Ocean, this family is a highly significant resource for fisheries. The techniques used to catch them are bottom trawls, gill nets, set bottom lines and fish traps. They are not too hard to approach on dives.

Double whiptail Pentapode à lignes jaunes Pentapodus emeryii The body is blueish and elongate, with a white underside. Two bright yellow lines run from the nose to the tail. The lobes of the caudal fin are prolonged by long filaments. A solitary fish, it hunts in open water, but keeps an eye on the seabed to catch small fish, crustaceans and marine worms there. At night, it hides to sleep. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Coastal reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Coral breams

Butterfly whiptail Pentapode papillon Pentapodus setosus Its slender body is grey blue on the top and white underneath. A yellow line starting at the nose runs though the eye and fades at the top of the caudal fin. There is a small black spot marking the base of the tail. It is almost identical to P. paradiseus which lives further east in the Indian Ocean. It lives above sandy-muddy bottoms near reefs, forming small groups that often attentively monitor the work of foraging fish like rays in order to take part in catching small prey. Its flesh is not appreciated and is often used for animal feed or pet food. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-100 m

Coastal reefs

Striped whiptail Pentapode marbré Pentapodus trivittatus The colour base is grey with three dark bands from the snout to the tail. A yellow patch spreads over the middle of the flank. At night, its colour pattern grows duskier. It sleeps on the seabed against a stone. Tending to be solitary, it hunts for plankton above the sand and prefers calm waters. Size

Zone

22 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-15 m

Coastal reefs

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Peters’ monocle bream Scolopsis de Peter Scolopsis affinis This bream is silvery in colour with a yellow tail and a blueish band between the eyes. Another dark band, which can almost disappear, tapers off from the eye to the tail. It can look like S. aurata, which has the same golden brown band and shares some zones of the Indian Ocean with it. They are sighted in sandy, muddy and detritic areas in lagoons and on calm outer slopes. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 334 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Coral breams

Yellowstripe monocle bream Scolopsis doré Scolopsis aurata A dark band runs back from the snout, covering the eye. This stripe gets more yellowy towards the tail and becomes more or less difficult to see. Its silvery colouring lets it conceal itself on the sand in sunny lagoons as well as on deeper sand banks. Often motionless, just above the seabed, it sorts through the sand for the small invertebrates hiding there, then spits the sand out. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Two-lined monocle bream Scolopsis à deux lignes Scolopsis bilineata The body is often blue-grey in colour. Two curved parallel lines go from the bottom of the eye to the middle of the back, in a more or less marked pattern. Commonly found, the juvenile protects itself by mimicking the poisonous fang blennies (Meiacanthus spp.). Tending to live alone, often staying motionless, the adults can be sighted in sandy areas. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Thumbprint monocle bream Scolopsis saint-pierre Scolopsis bimaculatus The juveniles have adopted the colour pattern of venomous blennies for protection. The adult is silvery in colour with an elongate patch to the rear on its back. The closely related species S. taeniatus has identical colouring, with a longer patch towards the front. It is present from the Red Sea to Sri Lanka. These two species forage in the sand, often in the company of goatfishes (Mullidae), searching for invertebrate prey. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

335

Coral breams

Saw-jawed monocle bream Scolopsis à taches orange Scolopsis ciliata Th i s m o n o c l e b r e a m c a n b e distinguished by a white line edged with black on the upper part of the back, and by its yellow eye. Often moving around in small groups, they remain stationary in areas over sandy bottoms near sheltered reefs. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, mangroves, coral beds

Bridled monocle bream Scolopsis des Seychelles Scolopsis frenata The adult has a dusky back with a yellow band stretching from the snout to the back of the dorsal fin. The juvenile is silvery blue in colour with two yellow stripes on its back. Although the juveniles do not tend to form groups, the adults, on the contrary, form shoals in detritic rubble areas. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Arabian monocle bream Scolopsis arabe Scolopsis ghanam Closely related to S. frenatus, it exhibits three white lines which divide the dusky surface of its back. There is often a brown dot on the scales on its sides. Very common around the Arabian peninsula, mated pairs sometimes join up in shoals which are easy to approach. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 336 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Coral breams

Striped monocle bream Scolopsis rayé Scolopsis lineatus It is silvery in colour with three dark stripes on its back. The lines between these stripes can be white or yellow. The juveniles are protected by their mimicry of the poison fang blenny. Swimming in scattered groups 30 cm above the seabed, these monocle breams stay motionless, scanning the bottom and gulping up any prey they detect, along with a mouthful of sand. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Outer slopes

Pearly monocle bream Scolopsis nacré Scolopsis margaritifera The pearly monocle bream, similar to S. ciliata, can be differentiated from it by the absence of the black and white scratch-mark pattern on its back, and the presence of a blueish line going from the nose to the operculum. The juveniles are present in the same zones as the adults, and imitate the colour patterns of poisonous blennies (Meiacanthus spp.). Size

Zone

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20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Monogrammed monocle bream Scolopsis masqué Scolopsis monogramma Blueish grey or silvery, it has a dark, diffuse patch under the lateral line. Yellow and light blue bands alternate on its face. The sail area of its yellow tail edged in blue ends in filaments. Solitary or in small groups, its preferential habitat is sandy bottoms scattered with coral banks.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

337

Coral breams

Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Whitecheek monocle bream Scolopsis à joues blanches

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Scolopsis vosmeri On its dusky pink colour base, each scale has a small dark spot at the centre. A wide white collar goes round its head, passing between the preopercle and the operculum. Another broad white band covers its caudal peduncle. Rather solitary, it occurs in sandy-muddy areas with scattered coral reefs. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 338 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Coral breams

Oblique-barred monocle bream Scolopsis à barre oblique Scolopsis xenochrous It is blueish grey, more or less dusky in tone, with a sky blue stripe running along the dorsal fin. An oblique band of the same colour, with black dots aligned around it, marks the top of the pectoral fin. The rear of the back is yellow, sporting a white patch. The adults form small aggregations just above sandy and detritic seabeds at the foot of reefs. Juveniles are solitary and live in shallower areas. Size

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Scolopsis temporalis

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

339

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Mulloidichthys mimicus (family Mullidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Goatfishes Les capucins ou rougets

◗◗

Family Mullidae

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Goatfish are easily recognised thanks to having a pair of barbels located under the chin and by their two clearly separated dorsal fins. The family can be broken down into 5 genera which comprise 35 species in all. Goatfishes are found in tropical and warm temperate waters of the three oceans, as well as in the Mediterranean, with two species: Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus. Their adult size varies, depending on the species, from 15 to 50 cm. More or less gregarious, they have different life styles, with some species preferring sandy-muddy bottoms and others coral reefs or rocky sectors. Although most of them occur in shallow reef areas, others have a habitat which extends down to several hundred metres in depth. Using their barbels, the goatfish forage in sediment looking for small invertebrates, crustaceans or buried worms which are their favourite food item. In the temperate waters of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the two species of goatfish there are caught with trawls or gill nets. In tropical waters, goatfish are fished using hand-lines or nets, or by spear-fishing for big specimens. This family is important, economically speaking, with over 40,000 t caught annually in the Indian Ocean, principally by Indian, Indonesian and Malaysian fleets. Juveniles of the Mulloidichthys flavolineatus species which are called “dwarf goatfish” in Reunion Island, are targeted by specific seasonal fisheries using beach seines at the moment when, following their pelagic phase, the post-larvae come back to lagoons and shallow waters. The same type of fishery also exists in Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific. In that archipelago, adult goatfish (M. flavolineatus) monitored using electronic tags have shown that this species is very sedentary, moving no more than a few hundred metres away from the zone where they live, in order to spawn. The (pelagic) larval phase generally lasts a long time (several weeks), fostering dispersion in the oceanic environment and limiting the return of post-larvae to their original area. Goatfishes are generally not timid and very curious, so spear-fishers and divers can easily arouse their curiosity by releasing strings of bubbles or by rapidly moving their fingers. Some species use mimicry to conceal themselves. Amongst the most common goatfishes in the Indian Ocean, 22 species belonging to 4 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Goatfishes

Yellowstripe goatfish Capucin nain ou capucin carême Mulloidichthys flavolineatus Its silvery white colour base is crossed by a narrow yellow band running from the eye to the tail. There is often a blurry, dusky spot present on this yellow band at the level of the first dorsal fin. After a long pelagic phase, the post-larvae return to the lagoon to progressively settle into their new benthic territory. This species is still targeted by beach seine fisheries, including in certain so-called marine “protected” areas in Reunion Island. Its maximum size is in the neighbourhood of 40 cm, but this goatfish is caught when it is much smaller (under 10 cm), well before reaching adulthood.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-10 m

Lagoons, sheltered coral beds

Mimic goatfish Capucin mimique

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Mulloidichthys mimicus Its colouration is yellow, with three or four electric blue horizontal stripes running lengthwise along its entire body, making a very good imitation of the colour pattern of Lutjanus kasmira (Lutjanidae) which it mixes with in coral caves. This species is very rare in the Indian Ocean. We photographed it on Bird Island in the Seychelles, in a cave at the foot of a drop-off at a depth of 30 m, as well as in Sri Lanka where it had not been previously reported. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

30 cm

Seychelles

5-35 m

Coral reef areas, drop-offs, caves

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 342 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Goatfishes

Orange goatfish Capucin orange Mulloidichthys pfluegeri Its plain colour morph is orangey red. When it is hunting, four duskier vertical bars can appear on its sides. Rather diurnal, it most often lives alone or in mated pairs on mixed reef zones that are quite deep, rarely above 20 m. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

15-110 m

Mixed coral beds, sandy-muddy bottoms

Yellowfin goatfish Capucin à nageoires jaunes Mulloidichthys vanicolensis The silvery underside is separated from the yellow back by a brighter golden band. It is sighted in large shoals near a shelter, often in the company of yellow snappers.

Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-110 m

Rich coral reef areas, drop-offs, caves

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Swarthy-headed goatfish Rouget bicolore Parupeneus barberinoides This is the smallest of the goatfishes. The front of its body is dark reddish brown and the rear is white, then yellow. A light-coloured band comes up from the chin, passing under the eye. It forages in sand and turns over gravel at the foot of reefs. It is seen to the north of Exmouth and in the Western Pacific. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Detritic bottoms, seaweed

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

343

Goatfishes

Dash-and-dot goatfish Capucin barberin Parupeneus barberinus This big goatfish with its long snout has a light pink colouring that turns red at night. A dark reddish band stretches from the tip of the snout to the beginning of the caudal peduncle. This stripe runs through the eye and is located on the upper third of the body. There also is a round reddish spot in the centre of the caudal peduncle. They move around mixed coral areas, tirelessly foraging in the sand and sediment to find small prey buried there. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-100 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Whitesaddle goatfish Capucin à lignes blanches Parupeneus ciliatus Two white bands starting at the nose frame the eye and fade away on the back. There is a white saddle placed under the sail of the second dorsal fin. Its light-coloured scales have dark edges. This goatfish mixes easily with other species from the same family in coral reef areas. It explores seagrass meadows and sandy areas. Confusion is possible with P. porphyreus (Hawaii), P. rubescens (Red Sea), P. spilurus (Australian coasts), but they all have a more clearly marked black patch on the caudal peduncle. Its maximum size is close to 38 cm. Size

Zone

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30 cm

Depth

Habitat

2- 90 m

Lagoons, seagrass meadows, outer slopes

Yellow striped goatfish Capucin à bandes jaunes Parupeneus chrysopleuron Its colour base is striped with several longitudinal yellow bands, on the back and onto the tail. When dead, these fish are red and only the lowest of the yellow stripes remains. Its head is studded with numerous purple dots or dashes, some of them radiating

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 344 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Goatfishes

outward from the eye. They are only known in the Indian Ocean along Australian coasts, where they live at fairly large depths. It was photographed here in the Seychelles, for the first time in this part of the Indian Ocean. Its maximum size is 55 cm. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-220 m

Mixed coral areas, outer slopes

Threespot goatfish Capucin trois taches Parupeneus crassilabris The base is light-coloured, with scales edged in yellow, and its head is often mauve. Three large patches spread out behind the eyes, above the pectoral fin and at the beginning of the second dorsal fin. It greatly resembles P. trifasciatus, the latter being present everywhere in the Indian Ocean. The threespot goatfish is calm by day and becomes active at night on detritic and coral beds, detecting its prey using its barbels. Size 28 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

2-80 m

Sand, corals

Goldsaddle goatfish Capucin barbet doré

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Parupeneus cyclostomus Its colouration is generally purplish blue, displaying a bright yellow saddle on the caudal peduncle. The area around the eye is yellow, with purple lines. Juveniles and some adults are entirely yellow. Their barbels are very long. These goatfish often move quickly just above the bottom, alone, in mated pairs or small groups, in clear reef waters. It is one of the species that also detect their prey on rocky bottoms or in nooks and crannies in the coral. Juveniles take advantage of food uncovered by the wrasses that they mix with. The maximum size is around 50 cm.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

345

Goatfishes

Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Diagonal goatfish Capucin de Guezé

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Parupeneus diagonalis A dusky band runs from the eye to the back of the second dorsal fin. It can be easily distinguished from P. macronemus, which it resembles, by the absence of a black spot on the tail. No sightings of it had been reported since it was discovered in 1967, in Reunion Island at over 100 m in depth, then caught once in Mauritius in 1973. It appears to be endemic to the Mascarene Islands. However, it occurs frequently on detritic bottoms in passes and in sandy-muddy areas of Reunion where we took its photo here for the first time in its natural surroundings. Size 17 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Mixed coral areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 346 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Goatfishes

Longbarbel goatfish Capucin à longs barbillons Parupeneus macronemus Light pink or red-grey in colour, it has a black band running from the eye back to a white saddle behind the second dorsal fin. A round black spot marks the caudal peduncle. The base of the second dorsal fin is black. They move about, alone or in small groups, both inside and outside of lagoons, around coral reefs. The species is present in the Red Sea and in the entire Indian Ocean. Its maximum size is 40 cm. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Red Sea goatfish Capucin à bande noire Parupeneus forsskali Against its white colouration, on the top third of its body, a black band extends from the tip of the snout to the end of the second dorsal fin. A round black spot, also slightly offcentre towards the top, can be seen on the caudal peduncle. A diffuse yellow patch is often visible on the upper rear part of the body, on the caudal peduncle and sometimes even extending onto the tail. This goatfish is endemic to the Red Sea, occurring in mixed coral zones where, in groups, they forage in the sand looking for small crustaceans and invertebrates buried there. Its maximum size is close to 30 cm.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Cinnabar goatfish Capucin à tache rouge Parupeneus heptacanthus The body is quite stocky, with yellowbrown to pink scales which are darker towards the edges. A more or less clearly marked red dot is located on the lateral line above the pectoral fin.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

347

Goatfishes

It occurs in seagrass meadows and the sandy-muddy bottoms of lagoons and outer slopes. This species is present all over the Indo-Pacific area and in the Red Sea. Its maximum size is 36 cm. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

12-350 m

Mixed coral areas, sandy-muddy bottoms, outer slopes

Indian goatfish Capucin indien Parupeneus indicus Its scales are edged in yellow and each one is spotted with a smudge of sky blue. A broad, oval, golden patch spreads over the upper flanks between the two dorsal fins. Another black spot, is located offcentre, towards the top of the caudal peduncle. Solitary or in small groups, it tirelessly scouts over the coral zone where it lives, searching for buried prey. Its maximum size is 45 cm. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Manybar goatfish Capucin à trois selles

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Parupeneus multifasciatus Like the Indian goatfish, the scales have yellow edges and are spotted with a diffuse blue colour, but its general hue is more a purple-red colour. It has two or three saddles on its back, one on the caudal peduncle, the other at the base of the second dorsal fin and the last one, thinner and less conspicuous, between the two dorsal fins. They are only present in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, in the Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas islands and along the north-western coasts of Australia. However, they are widely distributed in the Pacific. Its maximum size is 35 cm. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-160 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 348 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Goatfishes

Sidespot goatfish Capucin barbet pastille Parupeneus pleurostigma It has a light-coloured body with a black spot on the flanks followed by a white oval. The base of the second dorsal fin is black. It hunts in clear waters around reefs, in lagoons and on the outer slope. It is common all over the Indo-Pacific, except in the Red Sea and on Arabian coasts of the Indian Ocean. Its maximum size is 33 cm. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-75 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Blackspot goatfish Rouget barbet à tache noire Parupeneus spilurus Its body sports three red-brown median bands with thinner, lightercoloured lines edging them. There is a black spot at the top of its white and yellow caudal peduncle. Several local variants exist in the area. Frequently seen in lagoons, they swim along fringing reefs and small drop-offs. Their maximum size is 47 cm. Size

Zone

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30 cm

+

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Detritic bottoms

Doublebar goatfish Capucin manuel Parupeneus trifasciatus Depending on its mood, its colour morph varies from silvery white to bright red. There are two large black saddles beginning at the dorsal fins and going down to the belly, remaining conspicuous at all times. Another dusky spot which is fainter spreads over its face, encompassing

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

349

Goatfishes

the eye. This goatfish often rests on coral during the day. However, it is more active at night, when it hunts for its prey in the sediment and in nooks and crannies of rocks and corals. Its maximum size is 35 cm. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-80 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Freckled goatfish Capucin souris à bande sombre Upeneus tragula Its silvery colour base is dotted with small russet-coloured spots, which are more numerous on the back than on the underside. A longitudinal russet band runs from the snout, passing through the eye, to the base of the tail. Its fins are also striped with diagonal russet lines. It generally occurs in shallow water over corals or in estuaries. Its maximum size is 30 cm. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Lagoons, bays, mixed coral seafloors

Finstripe goatfish Barbet rayé

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Upeneus taeniopterus This goatfish has an elongate body bearing several reddish-coloured horizontal lines. There are five or six brown bands on each of the tail’s two lobes. Its dorsal fins are also striped. It makes itself part of groups of other species which rapidly move forward together over sandy-muddy seabeds. It can be located from a distance due to the cloud of sediment it raises with its barbels. Its maximum size is around 30 cm. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Lagoons, bays, mixed coral seafloors

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 350 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Goatfishes

Southern goatfish Capucin du Sud australien Upeneichthys vlamingii

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A dark band, running from the nose to the tail, separates the grey back from the white belly. The eye is highlighted by two blue lines. At night under artificial light, the colour pattern becomes a light mottled red and the dark median band disappears. Juveniles move around in small shoals and disperse as they get older. Adults stay at the foot of rocks or mingle with other foraging fish species.

Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

30 cm

Australia

2-100 m

Sandy and rocky bottoms, estuaries

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

351

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Kyphosus vaigiensis (family Kyphosidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Chubs Les calicagères et saupes tropicales

◗◗

Family Girellidae

Zebra fish Girelle-zèbre Girella zebra Its ovate body is light-coloured with wide dark bands. The fins are yellow. They live in small groups in rocky areas and seagrass meadows on the south coast of Australia as far as Perth in western Australia.

Size

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50 cm

◗◗

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Rocks, seagrass meadows

Family Kyphosidae

The chubs are characterised by an oval-shaped body which is laterally compressed and a small head. Their colour pattern, covered with quite conspicuous scales, is silvery grey, sometimes with a few lighter-coloured patches or stripes. Their single dorsal fin is made up of 6 to 12 spines, followed by 11 to 22 soft rays. The pectoral fins are short. In all, this family comprises 42 species belonging to 15 genera. Their members can be found in the tropical waters of three oceans. Some species, such as Kyphosus cinerascens, are demersal and coastal, while others, like K. vaigiensis, aggregate in large numbers around floating objects and drifting FADs in the deep-sea pelagic environment. These fish are medium-sized, from 30 to 70 cm in length. They tend to be active in daytime and although their diet is mainly herbivorous, it can also include in part, for some species, small invertebrates. Spawning takes place in the open

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Chubs

water, sometimes creating big aggregations. The eggs and larvae are pelagic. Their flesh has a strong taste and is generally not much appreciated. Therefore, they have no particular interest for fisheries, but form part of the by-catches of species used for self-consumption in some small local tropical fisheries. Their drab colouring and their need for space and white water also limit the interest they could present for the aquarium trade. They are not very shy and hold no particular danger for divers. However, the coastal species quickly dart away into large deep caves or in mazes of coral, when spear-fishermen draw near.

Sub-family Microcanthinae Western footballeur Footballer à diagonales Neatypus obliquus Its yellow colouration stands out with seven oblique white bars rimmed with dusky lines. They are found in groups, on rocky areas which are more or less deep. They have already been reported as deep as 200 m. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-200 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Moonlighter Clair de lune rayé

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Tilodon sexfasciatus The moonlighter looks like a big butterflyfish with six wide black bars. Juveniles sport an ocellus at the rear of the back. The flanks are streaked with black and white stripes. Juveniles go it alone, around rocks in shallow areas. As for the adults, they form mated pairs which go deeper, although some remain under jetties along the south-western coast of Australia. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-120 m

Rocky coasts

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 354 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Chubs

Sub-family Kyphosinae Brassy chub Saupe grise à lignes jaunes Kyphosus vaigiensis The aspect of its silvery grey colouring, striped with thin, brasscoloured lines, can rapidly change to exhibit numerous round white spots against a dusky grey base. There is often a brassy bronze-coloured line around the eye. Better known for its behaviour as a coastal, demersal fish, we have, all the same, sighted them under most flotsam or drifting FADs that we worked around and which are in deep-sea areas, very far from the coasts, in the Indian Ocean. Its maximum size is around 70 cm.

Size

Zone

Depth 0-30 m

40 cm

Habitat Coral beds and rocky bottoms, caves, deep-sea pelagic environment around FADs

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Blue seachub Calicagère bleu Kyphosus cinerascens Its blue-grey colouring is marked by a darker horizontal line between each row of scales. The posterior part of the dorsal (soft part) and anal fins is noticeably higher than the anterior part. The blue seachub likes to spend time in coral or rocky areas, often in turbulent water near the shore, where they sometimes form large shoals. It is always close to caves or rocky labyrinths where it can hide at the slightest alert. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral beds, rocky bottoms, rocky drop-offs, caves

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

355

Chubs

Southern silver drummer Calicagère argenté Kyphosus sydneyanus Sometimes covered with lightcoloured spots, its more or less dusky grey base adapts to its surrounding in turbulent water around rocky mazes. Its dark-edged fins and the small black spot at the base of the pectoral fin enable it to be distinguished from other chubs. They occur in rough waters around reefs and at the foot of cliffs, tearing off bits of seaweed or rushing to grab bits of debris tossed about by the waves. They are present in the southern half of Australia. Size

Zone

75 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Rocky reefs

Family Oplegnathidae

The members of this family are not really chubs, but we are presenting them here because they have some similarities with that group.

Cape knifejaw Oplegnathe du Cap

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Oplegnathus conwayi This fish has a massive, elongate body which is grey with a duskier mask. Although it looks like a parrot’s beak, its dentition is made up of separate incisors and changes with age. Juveniles are bright yellow with two black bars, one on the eye and the other to the rear of the back. It can be sighted under flotsam. They feed on sponges, urchins, shellfish and seaweed on rocky reefs. They are prized for their flesh. This species is endemic to South Africa. Its maximum size is 90 cm.

Juvenile Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-150 m

Rocky bottoms, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 356 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Chubs

Natal knifejaw Oplegnathe du Natal Oplegnathus robinsoni It is green-brown, with more yellow towards the rear of the body. The Natal knifejaw has a stockier body and a more forked tail than O. conwayi. It only reaches 3 kg in weight, though, compared to its close cousin which reaches 7 kg. Its incisors seem to form a parrot-like beak. The juveniles are bright yellow, with five regularly positioned black bars. They are omnivores which rasp the rocks and pull off any organisms they find there, sponges, crustaceans and shellfish in places mixed by the waves. They are curious fish that come to see divers easily, but which rarely bite a hook on a line. Its maximum size is close to 60 cm.

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Juvenile

Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-100 m

Rocks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

357

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Platax pinnatus (family Ephippidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Spadefishes and batfishes Les platax

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◗◗

Family Ephippidae

With their very high, disc-shaped, laterally compressed bodies and large fins, the batfishes and spadefishes are magnificent fish that are easy to identify. Their majestic way of swimming delights divers and aquarists alike. Adults have a silvery or brassy colour base, often displaying darker-coloured wide vertical bars. The scales are very small (except in Tripterodon orbis). Juveniles have different shapes than those of the adults, with even higher bodies and fins. At this stage, the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are disproportionally long in most species. The family Ephippidae comprises 7 genera including the genus Platax which is also the common name most used in French by divers and aquarium keepers. French fishermen use other common names which vary greatly from one region to another. Amongst the five species of the genus Platax, we have presented four here, seen in the Indian Ocean. We have supplemented the presentation of this family by a fifth species called T. orbis, whose range of distribution appears to be limited to the East African, Indian and Sri Lankan coasts. The largest adult specimens can measure up to 75 cm for T. orbis and between 50 and 70 cm for the species in genus Platax. Although all of these species are described as being demersal, we have frequently observed one of them, i.e. P. teira, in the deep-sea pelagic environment, aggregating under natural floating objects or around drifting FADs deployed by ocean-going tuna seinenetters. This flotsam acts as a substitute habitat, providing refuge from predators and food sources for juveniles of several species of reef fish, lost offshore after their larval phase. Once adult, batfish can be sighted alone, in small groups, or even in large shoals in many different habitats, ranging from shallow and potentially turbid lagoon areas to coral reef areas in clear water, along rocky drop-offs, in deep caves and in wrecks. They are active in the daytime and their varied omnivorous diet includes seaweed, zooplankton, jellyfish, small invertebrates and even small fish. Although their flesh is excellent, these species hold no commercial interest for fisheries and are not targeted by any large specific fisheries in the Indian Ocean. Following research studies conducted by the Ifremer centre there and the French Polynesian marine resource service, Platax orbicularis has been the subject of recent developments in fish farming in French Polynesia where its flesh is greatly appreciated. The aquarium trade shows great interest in these fishes and particularly the juveniles for their shapes, colours and graceful swimming style. Nevertheless, their fast growth curbs the interest for aquarists, since their size in adulthood greatly reduces the possibility of keeping

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Spadefishes and batfishes

them in tanks, except in very large volumes of water. Since they are not shy, batfish are always wonderful companions on dives. As they are usually sedentary, they get accustomed very easily to the presence of divers and don’t hesitate to come very close in order to play in the air bubbles.

Boer’s batfish Platax de Boër Platax boersii The silhouette of juveniles looks like that of P. teira and gets rounder as they grow older. The body becomes silvery with tints of gold, displaying three large bars: one over the eye, the other behind the gills and the last towards the rear of the back. The paired fins are black and the others are yellow. Juveniles seem to live in deep water, near the seabed. Adults swim along drop-offs at depths around 30 m and are more pelagic. They can form large shoals. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-50 m

Outer slopes

Orbicular batfish Platax rond

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Platax orbicularis Two vertical dark bars stand out from its bronze base colour. The first runs over the eye, the second begins on the back just in front of the dorsal fin, along and slightly covering the gill cover, and ends at the back of the pelvic fins. Contrary to P. teira, this batfish has no round black spot behind the pelvic fins. It can be solitary or live in groups, as well as forming large shoals in open water, above sandy-muddy bottoms. Juveniles develop in estuaries and mangroves where their camouflage resembling dead leaves protects them from predators. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth 0-30 m

Habitat Lagoons, sandy-muddy areas, coral beds, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 360 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Spadefishes and batfishes

Dusky batfish Platax ombré à nageoires jaunes Platax pinnatus

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This species can be recognised by its protuberant snout and its yellow fins. With its black colour morph, outlined in bright orange, the juvenile has a highly characteristic appearance. This makes it look like a toxic flat worm and thus protects it from its predators. The adults favour coral beds and rocky drop-offs.

Juvenile

Size 45 cm

Zone

Depth 0-30 m

Habitat Lagoons, sandy-muddy areas, coral beds, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

361

Spadefishes and batfishes

Tiera batfish Platax à longues nageoires Platax teira With their very high body and fin profiles and their rusty yellow colouring, the juveniles mimic dead leaves on the bottom of estuaries. However, those which did not manage to get to the coast following their larval phase find protection under flotsam and various forms of debris, often very far offshore from any land. The adults are silvery in colour with three vertical dusky bars. The first bar runs through the eye and the third is lighter in colour. It differs from P. orbicularis, by the presence of a large, round, black patch behind the pelvic fins. It is the most common of the batfish, fond of clear waters and often aggregates with its conspecifics around a reef or a wreck. It is curious and approaches divers readily. The biggest specimens can measure up to 70 cm. Size

Zone

50 cm

Adult

Pre-adult phase

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, estuaries, coral beds, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks, FADs and flotsam (in deep-sea environment)

African spadefish Poisson bêche africain

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Tripterodon orbis Against its brassy bronze colouring, the scales can be very clearly seen (contrary to the species in the genus Platax). Its body can have faint vertical bars of a darker colour. The front of the dorsal fin is made up of long yellow feathery appendages. Living alone or in small groups, it takes up residence around a shallow reef where it feeds on small invertebrates and zooplankton. The biggest specimens can measure up to 75 cm. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral beds, rocky bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 362 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Platax teira

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Heniochus acuminatus (family Chaetodontidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes Les poissons-papillons

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◗◗

Family Chaetodontidae

The fish in this family owe their name to their luminous and vivid colour patterns, often embellished with ocelli or circular spots, similar to the eyespots on the wings of butterflies. As on their homonyms on land, these false eyespots, placed toward the rear of the body, serve as a lure to deceive potential predators as to the direction they will flee in, if attacked. In most of these species, a black band crosses the eye. Like their close relatives the angelfishes, butterflyfishes have a high, laterally compressed body. However, contrary to angelfishes, they have no spine protruding from the base of the operculum. Their continuous dorsal fin has a series of 6 to 16 spines in the anterior part, with a soft part made up of 15 to 30 soft rays towards the rear. The anal fin also begins with 3 to 5 spines (usually 3) and is prolonged by 14 to 23 soft rays. The snouts of butterflyfish are more prominent than those of angelfish, even going so far as to form a long beak in species in the genus Forcipiger. According to Kuiter and Debelius (2003), there are approximately 130 species of butterflyfishes belonging to 11 genera. In this guidebook we present the 62 species (belonging to 7 genera) that we were able to photograph in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. These are small demersal fish, whose size at adulthood is 10 cm on average for the smallest species to 30 cm for the largest of them (Heniochus singularius). Males and females are distinct individuals. Once adult, most of the species live in mated pairs, in coral reef areas (lagoons and outer reef slopes), but small groups remaining dependent on a reef zone which is particularly rich in prey can sometimes be found. On the other hand, juveniles are often solitary. Some closely related species, like C. ornatissimus and C. meyeri, can hybridize, giving birth to sterile offspring. A few rare species occur in estuarine areas or even in turbid water in harbours. They are active by day, with a varied diet, going from coral polyps to small invertebrates and including the eggs of other species of fish, or even seaweed and plankton. The usual range of the butterflyfishes’ bathymetric distribution lies between 0 and 30 m. However, several species (Forcipiger spp., in particular) venture well beyond that on rocky drop-offs, down to 60 m in depth. In this aspect, Chaetodon lineolatus stands out as an exception, since it has been reported at a depth of 200 m (Kuiter and Debelius, 2003). Butterflyfish are generally not very shy. No species in the family has real value as a foodfish. Unfortunately, these species are part of the by-catches or caught accidentally by small-scale fisheries which are not very selective, like those using gill nets or beach seines, when these gear are used in lagoons or near reef

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

zones. Catches using fish pots or traps are less destructive insofar as the non-targeted fish like butterflyfish can be released alive, providing that they were not caught at too great a depth. On the other hand, the butterflyfishes greatly interest aquarists. However, as for angelfish, the progress made in rearing them has made it possible to master the breeding cycle of several particularly prized and sought after species. The results of this research have enabled the fishing pressure on this family to be reduced in proportion.

Philippine butterflyfish Papillon à œil taché Chaetodon adiergastos The body is pale grey with diagonal stripes. The fins are yellow, except for the pectoral fins which are clear, although they do have a small yellow patch at their base. The eye is covered by a big black patch which extends over the cheek and another smaller black spot is located on the top of the forehead. Juveniles have one more spot than the adults, which is black and located in the posterior part of the dorsal fin. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons and coral beds

Andaman butterflyfish Papillon d’Andaman

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Chaetodon andamanensis Yellow with thin, darker-coloured longitudinal stripes, it has a black spot at the base of the tail and a vertical bar crosses the eye. This butterflyfish is present from the Maldives to Sumatra. They are most often found in mated pairs, but can also gather in groups with several conspecifics in the same reef area. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-10 m

Lagoons and coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 366 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Golden butterflyfish Papillon à raie dorée Chaetodon aureofasciatus Golden-coloured with tints of mauve, it displays two orange bars with pale blue borders, one on the eye and the other on the gill. The mated pairs prefer shallow reefs where they search for polyps and seaweeds.

Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Seaweed and corals

Threadfin butterflyfish Papillon cocher Chaetodon auriga

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The threadfin butterflyfish can be recognised by its elongate snout and the long filament extending from its dorsal fin. A wide black bar masks the eye. Against the white background, five dark grey stripes descend from the top of its back to the head and are intercepted at a 90° angle by other oblique lines ascending from the base of the anal fin to mid-body. The entire hindpart of its body is yellow. In addition, the colour pattern of juveniles displays a black ocellus to the rear of the dorsal fin.

Colour pattern in Red Sea Size 23 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons and coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

367

Butterflyfishes

Blacktail butterflyfish Papillon côtelé de la mer Rouge Chaetodon austriacus The markings patterning its body are identical to those of C. trifasciatus but they have different colour bases, being yellow on the body and black on the anal and caudal fins. This is a species that is endemic to the Red Sea. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons and coral beds

Arabian butterflyfish Papillon d’Arabie Chaetodon melapterus This species looks very much like the previous one, C. austriacus, but can be distinguished from it thanks to its black dorsal fin and its orangey longitudinal stripes.

Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons and coral beds

Pacific triangular butterflyfish Papillon baronne Chaetodon baronessa This butterflyfish is identical to C. triangulum of the Indian Ocean, but differs from it as an adult, by the absence of a black triangle on the tail and its more widespread distribution in the Pacific. However, they are both found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and both graze on coral polyps in clear waters. Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 368 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Bluelashed butterflyfish Papillon de Bennett Chaetodon bennetti Its yellow colouration is barred by a vertical black line, edged in blue on either side, which covers the eye. Two oblique blue lines start at the upper corner of the operculum and run along the belly towards the base of the anal fin. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons and coral beds

Brownburnie Papillon de Blackburn Chaetodon blackburnii The yellowish-coloured head has a vertical black bar on the eye. The dark colouration of the body, dissimulating blueish diagonal stripes, makes them easy to identify. They are present in East Africa and in the Mascarene Islands. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral and rocky bottoms

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Citron butterflyfish Papillon citron Chaetodon citrinellus Its pale yellow colour base is covered with small blueish dots. A black bar masks the eye. In pairs or in small groups, they hunt for small worms under the waves, in coral and in rocks.

Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-35 m

Coastal reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

369

Butterflyfishes

Redtail butterflyfish Papillon à collier blanc Chaetodon collare This butterflyfish can be easily identified thanks to its bright red tail and the wide vertical white bar which clearly separates the head from the the rest of the body. Its rather dusky colour base is covered with yellow polka dots, arranged along diagonal lines. As they grow older, the juveniles leave estuarine zones to go to outer reef slopes. Mated pairs sometimes join up in shoals.

Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, estuaries, coral beds and rocky bottoms

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

African butterflyfish Papillon africain Chaetodon dolosus Its light-coloured body is speckled with black. There is a vertical black band masking the eye and a second, wider one covering the entire hindpart of the body. Its tail is yellow. The mated pairs explore drop-offs and deep rubble and rock slides, down to 40 m and more, but juveniles generally live in areas which are not as deep. Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Coral beds, rocky drop-offs

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Butterflyfishes

Indian vagabond butterflyfish Papillon peint à dorsale noire Chaetodon decussatus A s p e c i e s d i s p l ay i n g a l a r g e snout, thin chevron patterns and a yellow tail, it can be differentiated from C. vagabondus by the black hindpart of the body. This vagabond butterflyfish also tolerates murky water well and lives in the North and East of the Indian Ocean. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, estuaries, coral beds and rocky bottoms

Vagabond butterflyfish Papillon vagabond Chaetodon vagabundus Like C. auriga, it has an elongate snout, but its dorsal fin is rounded and the chevrons on its body are thinner. There is a wide black band descending from the back to join the centre of the anal fin. A vertical black band masks the eye. It accepts a wide range of habitats. This species can be easily confused with C. decussatus. Size

Zone

23 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, estuaries, coral beds and rocky bottoms

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Saddle butterflyfish Papillon à selle noire Chaetodon ephippium On its dorsal fin extending into a filament, there is a large black patch accentuated by a thick white border, forming a broad saddle on its grey body. Longitudinal blue stripes on the middle part of the body and an orangey yellow elongate snout complete its finery and give it a highly characteristic appearance. Size 24 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

371

Butterflyfishes

Yellowhead butterflyfish Papillon à tête jaune Chaetodon xanthocephalus The yellowhead has an elongate snout and its light-coloured body exhibits purplish chevrons. The head and the dorsal and anal fins are yellow. Its blueish grey tail is edged in yellow. This butterflyfish can hybridize with C. ephippium, in zones where the two species are in contact. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Blackwedged butterflyfish Papillon indien à deux selles Chaetodon falcula It has a white colour base striped with thin blue bars, the back and the hindpart of the body being yellow. A vertical black line masks the eye and there are two clearly seen black saddles on its back. A black ring runs round the caudal peduncle. It is present all over the Indian Ocean and common in the Maldives. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish Papillon à deux selles du Pacifique Chaetodon ulietensis Normally, this species replaces C. falcula in the Pacific Ocean. It can be distinguished from it by the absence of yellow between the two black saddles and by its smaller size. However, its geographical range of distribution runs over into the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, where the two species may mingle. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, estuaries, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 372 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Lined butterflyfish Papillon à lignes Chaetodon lineolatus It differs from C. falcula in that it has a large black crescent-shaped bar just under the dorsal fin. This is the largest of the butterflyfishes. It is also the species with the broadest bathymetric distribution range. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-200 m

Coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Tail-spot butterflyfish Papillon à point caudal Chaetodon ocellicaudus The tail-spot butterflyfish can be distinguished from C. melannotus by a very conspicuous black spot at the base of the caudal peduncle. Groups of adults swim along the outside of drop-offs, nibbling on dead coral there. They live in the east of the Andaman Sea. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Outer reefs

Doublesash butterfly Papillon sud-africain Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Chaetodon marleyi It is a brilliant white in colour, exhibiting four orangey brown bars on the sides. There is a black spot hidden at the top of the third bar. The dorsal fin and tail are orange. It is present in coral reef and rocky areas, from the South of Mozambique to the Cape of Good Hope, and mainly feeds on coral polyps. The juveniles grow in pools on foreshores and near the coasts, before moving deeper. They can even be found at depths reaching 120 m. Adults form mated pairs. They appear to be a sub-species of Chaetodon hoefleri, which is almost identical and lives on the West African coast as far as Mauritania. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-120 m

Rocky bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

373

Butterflyfishes

Eightband butterflyfish Papillon à huit bandes Chaetodon octofasciatus The body colour base is between white and yellowish, but it is the eight black bars, the first of them following the sharp profile from the snout to the forehead, which characterise it. In mated pairs or small groups, they occur in calm coral reef areas where they feed on polyps. A yellow variant can be sighted in central Indonesia. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Interior of reefs

Blue dash butterflyfish Papillon plebeius Chaetodon plebeius This butterflyfish is yellow with darkcoloured, closely set stripes. An ovate blue patch spreads over the middle of the back. A black bar edged in white masks the eye and there is a black spot covering the caudal peduncle. Frequently in mated pairs, they nibble on coral polyps and can eat the parasites of other fish. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-10 m

Corals

Lattice butterflyfish Papillon quadrillé Chaetodon rafflesii Against a yellow background, the dusky lattice formed by the edges of its scales is characteristic. One black bar masks the eye and another accentuates the tail. Moving around with its mate, it has a varied diet of worms, polyps and soft corals. It is seen to the east of India. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Corals

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 374 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Reticulated butterflyfish Papillon réticulé Chaetodon reticulatus On its sides, the grey scales are bordered in black. A large black bar masks the eye, followed by a lightcoloured band. It is possible, albeit rare, to see a mated pair in the most eastward part of the Indian Ocean. It moves around in the channels hollowed out by the swell on flats. The juveniles are coral-eaters and gather in sheltered coral beds in lagoons. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Exterior of reefs

Oval-spot butterflyfish Papillon à miroir Chaetodon speculum The colour base is entirely yellow, with a black bar hiding its eye and a large black patch spreading out towards the rear of the back. Often solitary, sometimes in mated pairs, it searches for polyps and soft corals in reefs in clear water. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-30 m

Coastal reefs

Raccoon butterflyfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Papillon raton laveur Chaetodon lunula This butterflyfish is yellow with darkcoloured oblique stripes. A black saddle over its eyes, topped with a white band, forms a mask which makes it look like a raccoon. Another black saddle covers the caudal peduncle almost completely. The raccoon butterflyfish is not very active by day, but hunts after dusk, sometimes forming large groups of several dozen individuals. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

375

Butterflyfishes

Diagonal butterflyfish Papillon raton laveur de mer Rouge Chaetodon fasciatus This species is identical to the previous one, replacing C. lunula in the Red Sea. C. fasciatus can be distinguished from C. lunula by the absence of a black saddle on the caudal peduncle. Both species exhibit exactly the same behaviour. Size

Zone

22 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Peppered butterflyfish Papillon moucheté Chaetodon guttatissimus Against a light-coloured base, closely-set dark dots are aligned vertically on the upper part of the body and horizontally on the underside. There is a vertical black bar going down the forehead to the eye. Often living in mated pairs, they sometimes gather in groups, above outer reef slopes. This is a small-sized species.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Day

Night Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 376 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Spotband butterflyfish Papillon à bandes ponctuées Chaetodon punctatofasciatus Its colour pattern is close to that of C. guttatissimus, but this butterflyfish can be differentiated by the presence of a few wide, vertical, dark grey bands which start at the base of the dorsal fin and stretch midway down the body. Likewise, the colouring on the caudal peduncle is a deeper hue of orange. This species is also small in size. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Yellow teardrop butterflyfish Papillon à larme de l’océan Indien Chaetodon interruptus On its yellow colour base, there is a round black spot located in the middle of the back, at the base of the dorsal fin. Originally seen in the juvenile, this black false eyespot rimmed with white disappears in the adult. On some individuals, the lower part of the black spot is blurry at the bottom and looks like a tear-drop. For a long time, it was confused with C. unimaculatus, which occurs rather in the Pacific, but these two butterflyfish are now considered to be two distinct species. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Teardrop butterflyfish Papillon à larme du Pacifique Chaetodon unimaculatus The body and snout are white. When compared with the previous species C. interruptus, here the black bar on the eye is thicker and the fading teardrop on its back stretches lower down the side. Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

377

Butterflyfishes

Sunburst butterflyfish Papillon de Klein Chaetodon kleinii Its often dull colouring varies from yellow to orangey and from white to grey. A vertical black bar masks the eye. Against the background, longitudinal rows of blueish dots are more or less visible, depending on the individual. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Madagascar butterflyfish Papillon de Madagascar Chaetodon madagaskariensis Its white colour base displays large grey chevrons, covering the entire upper part of the body. The hindpart of the body is orange and the tail, whose front section is white, ends in a broad orangey band. It has a small black saddle on the forehead, quite distinct from the vertical band covering the eye. This species is small in size. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral beds

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Eritrean butterflyfish Papillon orange Chaetodon paucifasciatus Very similar to C. madagaskariensis, the Eritrean butterflyfish can be distinguished from it by a yellow bar on the eye and a red colouration spattered with black on the hindpart of the body. It also has a small black saddle on the forehead. Its geographical range of distribution is limited from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 378 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Blackback butterflyfish Papillon à dos noir Chaetodon melannotus Its body is white, streaked with thin black diagonal lines which become wider towards the rear part of its back. Its head and fins are yellow. The eye is masked by a fairly narrow vertical black bar. Moving about in mated pairs or groups, it favours calm waters which are rich in branching coral. Its colour pattern is different in daytime and at night-time.

Day

Night Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

White-face butterflyfish Papillon à tête blanche Chaetodon mesoleucos The head and the first anterior third of the body are white. The blueish mid-body, turning brown towards the hindpart, displays from 15 to 20 thin black vertical bars. The highly characteristic colouration of this butterflyfish makes it easy to identify. They live in mated pairs on their territory, defending their zones of calcified seaweeds on fringing reefs. Although they are not very common in the centre of the Red Sea, they become so further south, in Yemen and Eritrea. Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

379

Butterflyfishes

Scrawled butterflyfish Papillon de Meyer Chaetodon meyeri Its blueish grey colouring is edged with yellow all around its outline and it has five to six black diagonal lines. There is a vertical black bar, bordered in yellow on each side, running through the eye. The scrawled butterflyfish lives in mated pairs, but can also gather in groups in areas where there is plenty of food.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Indian butterflyfish Papillon à mitre

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Chaetodon mitratus On its yellow colour base, there are two wide diagonal stripes edged in grey, the first one running from the back towards the base of the anal fin and the second all the way to the caudal peduncle. A third vertical black bar covers the eye. This small fish is rarely observed, since it usually occurs in deep zones beyond 40 m. Nevertheless, we were able to photograph this specimen in Mauritius at a depth of 5 m at the top of a drop-off. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

40-80 m

Outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 380 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Ornate butterflyfish Papillon orné Chaetodon ornatissimus Its colour pattern greatly resembles that of C. meyeri but differs by the orangey colour of the oblique bands (which are black in C. meyeri). These butterflyfish behave in the same way, but C. ornatissimus is only present to the East of the Maldives. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Bluecheek butterflyfish Papillon jaune masqué Chaetodon semilarvatus Its yellow colouration sports thin vertical orangey lines. A broad bluegrey patch extends from the eye to the edge of the operculum. Often in groups during the day, it is not very active and lives within the shelter of corals.

Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Triangle butterflyfish Papillon triangulaire indien Chaetodon triangulum It has a high body that is grey with small blueish chevrons. The snout is dusky and the eye masked by a vertical black bar, followed by a second bar that crosses the gill cover. Its tail displays a black triangle with yellow borders. Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

381

Butterflyfishes

Chevron butterflyfish Papillon à chevrons Chaetodon trifascialis Its pointed dorsal and anal fins make its body seem like it is elongate. It is white, covered with thin, darkcoloured chevrons. Vertical bars, which conceal the eye and the tail, are black. Depending on the region, this widely distributed species shows variations in its patterns.

Day

Night Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-15 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Melon butterflyfish Papillon côtelé indien Chaetodon trifasciatus The head and belly are yellow and the light-grey body is covered with thin blue stripes. A black spot makes the fifth strip look larger, towards the rear of the back. A vertical black band crosses the eye. The orange anal fin is highlighted at the base by a black line. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 382 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Copperband butterflyfish Chelmon commun Chelmon rostratus Butterflyfishes in the genus Chelmon are characterised by a high body and a very elongate, tweezer-shaped snout which enables them to grasp their prey in thin cracks in the reef. The colour base of C. rostratus is white with four orange bands. There is a black ocellated spot ringed with blue marking the base of the dorsal fin. A black ring runs round the caudal peduncle. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Margined Coralfish Chelmon ouest-australien Chelmon marginalis This coralfish lives in a smaller zone (from Shark Bay to the Torres Strait) than that of C. rostratus, and differs from it by the absence of an ocellus on the dorsal fin and of the central yellow band. It is sighted both on sedimentary bottoms and in the current, or in sheltered reef areas. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Coastal reefs

Highfin coralfish Coradion à grandes nageoires Coradion altivelis Its white and yellow body is high and triangular-shaped. Four dark brown bars stretch over the entire height. A black ring runs around the tail. Juveniles have a black ocellated spot ringed with white on their backs, but it disappears at adulthood. Size 18 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

383

Butterflyfishes

Goldengirdled coralfish Coradion à bandes orange Coradion chrysozonus On the back and the hindpart of the body, the vertical bands are orange, which tells it apart from C. altivelis. The white-rimmed black ocellus seen on the juvenile becomes a black dot in the adult. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Two-eyed coralfish Coradion à deux taches Coradion melanopus On a white background, two yellowbrown bars become duskier towards the underside. Two ocelli can be seen on the dorsal and anal fins. As for the other coralfishes, a short black line runs from the forehead to its pointed nose. Often in mated pairs on drop-offs, it feeds on sponges and invertebrates. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-30 m

Outer slopes and lagoons

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Sixpine butterflyfish Papillon ocellé Parachaetodon ocellatus This one is white, with five darkbordered orangey bars. A black spot marks the base of its triangular yellow dorsal fin. Most often, it travels round seagrass meadows, on the soft bottoms of bays and estuaries, but it can also venture onto reefs. Juveniles form small shoals on muddy substrate seabeds. The sixpine is present to the east of India. Size 18 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-25 m

Lagoons, seagrass meadows, coral reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 384 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Longnose butterflyfish Poisson pincette à long nez Forcipiger flavissimus As indicated by their name, the anatomical specificity of the butterflyfishes in the genus Forcipiger is to have a long snout shaped like tweezers. F. flavissimus is bright yellow, the top of the head is black and the bottom silver. Size

Zone

16 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Big longnose butterflyfish Poisson pincette à très long nez Forcipiger longirostris

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Practically identical to F. flavissimus, only the length of their beak (one and a half times as long) and the presence of dots under its chin make it possible to tell them apart. Specimens with darker brown colourations can sometimes be sighted in deep water.

Size 22 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

385

Butterflyfishes

Pyramid butterflyfish Papillon pyramide jaune Hemitaurichthys polylepis The bright yellow shoulder, dorsal fin and anal fin stand out against the white background of its body. The head is dusky. They are planktoneaters which can gather in large shoals in the currents along drop-offs. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-60 m

Drop-offs with currents

Brown-and-white butterflyfish Papillon pyramide noir Hemitaurichthys zoster With a dark-coloured body, it sports a wide white band behind the gills. The tail is also white and the tips of the dorsal fin are yellow. This is a gregarious species which can sometimes be confused with the damselfish (family Pomacentridae). Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Pennant coralfish Poisson cocher commun

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Heniochus acuminatus Apart from being a bit more slender, it is not very different from H. diphreutes: only its smaller eyes and the black spots on its longer snout enable it to be distinguished. Common at depths around 15 m, it tends to live in mated pairs or in small groups, near rocky bottoms and on rock-slide rubble.

Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 386 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Threeband pennantfish Poisson cocher du Pacifique Heniochus chrysostomus A big white feather predominates on the dorsal fin. Its forehead and snout are yellow. The eye is masked by a wide diagonal black band. Its yellowish back becomes darker towards the anal fin. Juveniles have a white-ringed black ocellus on the anal fin.

Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Schooling bannerfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-cocher grégaire Heniochus diphreutes This fish looks a great deal like the pennant coralfish, but can be distinguished from it by a few details: a broader nose, a more rounded thorax, and the second black band which ends at the tip of the anal fin. Often in shoals, from the upper metres of water on drop-offs, it hunts for zooplankton in upwellings of cold water. Juveniles provide their cleaning services to turtles and large fish. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-200 m

Coral beds, drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

387

Butterflyfishes

Red Sea bannerfish Poisson cocher de mer Rouge Heniochus intermedius The white parts of its flanks turn to light yellow towards the underside. It has two small horn-like projections aligned with the eyes which are encompassed by the first of two black bands. This species is endemic to the Red Sea and replaces H. acuminatus of the Indian Ocean.

Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Phantom bannerfish Poisson cocher fantôme Heniochus pleurotaenia Its body seems to be triangular in shape. It has curved horns on its eyes and a point on its head. The head, belly and anal fin are black, separated by light-coloured bands and the back is yellow-brown.

Size 17 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 388 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Butterflyfishes

Horned bannerfish Poisson cocher cornu Heniochus varius Similar in shape to H. pleurotaenia, it is duskier and does not have a black half-bar on the underside. The horned bannerfish occurs in Indonesia and further east, often at depths around 20 m

Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Masked bannerfish Poisson cocher masqué Heniochus monoceros The hindpart of the body, just after the whip, and as far back as the tip of the anal fin, is yellow. Its forehead is concave, topped with a pointed bump that looks like a horn. They often form large groups in the islands of the Indian Ocean, swimming along drop-offs and darting in and out of rocky cavities. Size

Zone

23 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Singular bannerfish Poisson cocher malais Heniochus singularius This is the largest of the bannerfishes. Its whip is short. The dorsal fin and tail are yellow. The black bars on its body are more diffuse because of the dark-edged more or less lightcoloured scales. Juveniles look very much like those of the species H. monoceros. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

389

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Genicanthus caudovittatus (family Pomacanthidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes Les poissons-anges

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Pomacanthidae

They have an ovate body which is very colourful, laterally compressed and covered with small scales. A large spine located at the lower corner of the gill cover, present in every species, characterises this family. Their dorsal fin is continuous and they have small mouths. With the exception of the species in the genus Genicanthus, males and females have identical colour patterns but the colouring of juveniles is often very different from that of the adults. The Pomacanthidae family comprises 88 species belonging to 8 genera. We are presenting 29 species amongst those most frequently seen in the Indian Ocean in this guidebook. Some of them have very long lifespans. This was the case for a threespot angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus) raised in captivity which lived for 24 years. Once adult, their average size varies from 8 to 40 cm. The largest species in the genus Pomacanthus can reach 50 cm, whereas those from the genus Centropyge are smaller, which is why they are dubbed “dwarf angelfish”. Angelfishes are demersal fish which occur in reef zones and on rocky drop-offs. For the most part, they are fairly shy and often hide in nooks and crannies when a diver approaches. They live in harems, made up of a male and a few females, in a zone whose surface area can vary from a few square metres for species in the Centropyge genus to over a thousand square metres for some Pomacanthus. The juveniles of several species are solitary and stay hidden. Their diet is composed of seaweeds, sponges and even plankton. Angelfishes are protogynous hermaphrodites (female first). They make grunting noises to mark and defend their territory. Closely related species can produce hybrids (theoretically sterile). Although angelfish are sometimes part of the catches of small scale tropical fisheries, it is often as by-catches or even accidentally. However, they are in great demand as decorative fish by the aquarium trade. Luckily, research efforts in fish breeding to farm fish in captivity have led to mastering the reproductive cycle of several particularly sought-after species. Developing these farming techniques has made it possible to considerably reduce the fishing pressure on these species and by the same token, make some fishing practices which are dangerous for the entire reef environment (poisoning, nets) regress.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes

Tiger angelfish Poisson-ange tigré Apolemichthys kingi The underside is white, the back is yellow streaked with black stripes and the lips and spine on the operculum are blue. There is a characteristic black spot marking the upper part of the operculum, well above the pectoral fin. Juveniles additionally have a black and yellow ocellus on their backs. This species is limited to the north-east of South Africa and to the South of Mozambique. Size

Zone

24 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-50 m

Coral beds, rocky drop-offs, caves

Threespot angelfish Poisson-ange trois taches

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Apolemichthys trimaculatus The threespot is all yellow, with blue lips and opercular spine. The anal fin has two parts, the lower one being black and the upper part closer to the body is white. A characteristic black spot is quite conspicuous on the forehead, sometimes splitting into two spots in adults. There is a grey patch at the upper corner of the operculum. This angelfish can hybridize with A. xanthurus in zones where the two species are in contact. The juveniles end up losing the black ocellus located towards the rear of their back. Adults continuously inspect the slightest crevice or crack, nibbling here and there.

Adult

Juvenile Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 392 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes

Armitage angelfish Poisson-ange fumé hybride Apolemichthys x armitagei A rare species, this is a hybrid of A. trimaculatus and A. xanthurus but its colour base is closer to that of the former, with a black band on the rear part of the dorsal fin. It appears to be present only in the Maldives and the Seychelles (where A. xanthurus is vary rare). Often solitary, it can be seen accompanying an individual from one of its parent species when moving about. Size

Zone

22 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-30 m

Coral beds

Yellowtail angelfish Poisson-ange des Indes Apolemichthys xanthurus

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The dorsal and anal fins are black with white edges. Its face is dusky and the tail is yellow. The body is light grey with an attractive lattice of dark scales. A blurry yellow spot is present behind the eye, above the upper corner of the operculum. It sometimes hybridizes with A. trimaculatus to produce A. x armitagei, described above.

Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-45 m

Estuarine areas, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

393

Angelfishes

Orangeback angelfish Poisson-ange nain africain Centropyge acanthops The body is deep blue with the entire upper part of it (head, upper back and tail) which is bright yellow or orangey yellow. The eye is ringed with blue. This is one of the smallest species in the family. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Coral beds

Bicolor angelfish Poisson-ange bicolore Centropyge bicolor The front third of the body and the tail are bright yellow and the hindpart is dark blue. There is a deep-blue vertical band starting at the forehead and extending to the cheek, going across the eye. This colour morph can change radically during the spawning period. This angelfish can be sighted on reefs, in small groups, very active as it searches for the filamentous algae it feeds on. Juveniles are solitary and particularly reclusive, hiding in any small nook or cranny. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-25 m

Coral beds

Twospined angelfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-ange nain à deux épines Centropyge bispinosa Generally speaking, the head, tail and fins are deep blue. The central part of the body is orangey, streaked with blue, but there are numerous variants, depending on the geographical area, the depth or the age of the fish. This species can adapt to different habitats, from seagrass meadows at the surface to deep drop-offs. Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-45 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 394 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes

Blue Mauritius angelfish Poisson-ange nain bleu de Maurice Centropyge debelius This magnificent fish is electric blue in colour, with bright yellow snout, pectoral fins, belly and tail. The head and the front part of the body are riddled with black spots. It is very hard to photograph, because it lives concealed in dark nooks at the foot of deep drop-offs. Without an excellent underwater guide like our Mauritian friend Hughes Vitry, this species, which is endemic to the Mascarenes, would certainly have escaped our notice! Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

45-90 m

Coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Blacktail angelfish Poisson-ange nain d’Eibl Centropyge eibli This angelfish has a light grey colouring with the rear part of the dorsal fin and the tail which are black. Its body exhibits orangey brown vertical streaks. It occurs frequently on reefs in clear water but can also be seen in shallow muddy or silty areas. The species is so similar to the juvenile of the surgeonfish Acanthurus tristis that they can hardly be told apart. The surgeonfish imitates the more ingenious and clever angelfish, in order to protect itself from predators. After its juvenile phase, A. tristis develops the classic surgeonfish appearance, whereas C. eibli will keep (approximately) the same aspect. This species sometimes hybridizes with C. flavissima. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-25 m

Coral beds

Lemonpeel angelfish Poisson-ange nain citron Centropyge flavissima In the Indian Ocean, it is entirely yellow, with just some blue around its eye and a blue bar, rimmed in black, at its gill cover. A very fine black and blue fringe marks the edges of its unpaired fins.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

395

Angelfishes

Until it reaches the size of about 12 cm, the juvenile keeps a black and blue ocellus in the middle of its body. As for the previous species, C. flavissima has a mimic amongst the surgeonfishes (Acanthurus pyroferus). It hybridizes with C. eibli. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Dusky angelfish Poisson-ange nain brun Centropyge multispinis This angelfish has a greenish body streaked with brown, and has a blue-ringed black ocellus positioned slightly behind and above the operculum. Widely distributed all over the Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea, it is not as timid as most of the dwarf angelfish, but does keep close to the cracks where it can hide and where its colouring conceals it. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Keyhole Angelfish Poisson-ange nain trou de serrure

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Centropyge tibicen The juvenile is black in colour, becoming blue as it gets older. However, the white spot mid-body and the yellow borders of the ventral fins remain. It hides between corals and blocks of debris both in lagoons and outside of them, and forms small harems which feed on filamentous seaweeds.

Size 15 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

3-35 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 396 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes

Pearly-scale dwarf-angelfish Poisson-ange à écailles perlées Centropyge vrolikii Its light-coloured body is darker towards the hindpart, becoming black in front of the tail. During its juvenile phase, the surgeonfish Acanthurus pyroferus imitates the pearly-scale’s colour pattern to reduce the risk of being attacked. It prefers coral rubble zones where it can find both the seaweed it feeds on and the shelter it needs. It can hybridize with C. flavissimus and C. eibli. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Corals

Multibarred angelfish Poisson-ange nain zébré Paracentropyge multifasciata Its white body base is yellow on the underside. It has black stripes. The ocellus on the backs of juveniles disappears with age. They are timid fish, hiding in crevices of dropoffs where they feed on seaweeds, sponges and benthic invertebrates. In the harem, the dominant female becomes the male. The eggs are pelagic for about fifty days, before the larvae colonise new areas. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-70 m

Outer slopes

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Scribbled angelfish Poisson-ange australien Chaetodontoplus duboulayi It is blue in colour, striped with black. Bright yellow extends from the underside to the front of the dorsal, continuing along this fin and then covering the tail. There is a white patch spread over the gills. They move around in groups, partial to shallow seabeds rich in sponges and soft coral. The adults are not shy, contrary to the juveniles. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Coral beds, rocky or detritic bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

397

Angelfishes

Vermiculated angel fish Poisson-ange vermiculé Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus Its white body is progressively covered with sinuous black stripes towards the hindpart. It has blue lips, yellow snout and tail and a black bar masking the eye. It is sighted in Indonesia in the eastern part of its distribution range. They live in mated pairs in shallow waters of coastal reefs, feeding on sponges, soft coral and seaweed. They are not present in oceanic islands. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Coral beds on continental shelves

Zebra angelfish Poisson-ange zébré de l’océan Indien Genicanthus caudovittatus

Male

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The female is grey, with a black bar over the eyes (becoming fainter with age) and on the lobes of the tail. The male has zebra stripes of white and dark grey, with a dorsal fin which is yellow in the front part then black at the base towards the rear. The zebra angelfish lives in mated pairs or harems (one male and several females), in zones with currents where it hunts for zooplankton.

Female Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

15-70 m

Reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 398 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes

Blackstriped angelfish Poisson-ange lyre de Lamarck Genicanthus lamarck Its grey-white slender body is marked with four longitudinal black lines, which vary in thickness. Its tail is crescent-shaped. The lobes of the tail are prolonged by long caudal filaments which are white in males and shorter and black in females. In addition, the male has black pectoral fins and a small yellow spot on the top of his forehead. Since they are zooplankton-eaters, they are often found in groups, in the open water above drop-offs, facing into the current. Size

Zone

23 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Arabian angelfish Poisson-ange demi-lune Pomacanthus asfur Juveniles are dark blue, striped with sky blue bars, but when they reach 4 to 5 cm in length, their tail and the vertical bar in the middle of the body become bright yellow. The dorsal and anal fins then lengthen into pointed tips. Generally living in shallow depths, they explore fringing reefs which are rich in gorgonians, alcyonarians and corals. They are also sighted in murky waters of detrital zones in the Red Sea, from the African coast as far as Zanzibar. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, detrital areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Yellowbar angelfish Poisson-ange géographe Pomacanthus maculosus Juveniles look like those of P. asfur and towards the length of 6 to 10 cm start changing into their adult colour pattern. The oval yellow patch on its flank does not cover the dorsal fin. The fish can subdue the colour of it at will in order to be more discreet. Its territory covers a large area on the edge of reefs or even on muddy seabeds, provided that hideaways are available there. Its range of distribution extends from the Red Sea to Kenya and to the Arabian-Persian coasts. The largest individuals can reach 50 cm. Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, muddy bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

399

Angelfishes

Bluering angelfish Poisson-ange à anneau Pomacanthus annularis It has a greenish yellow body with thin, curved blue lines which meet up to reach the long filament of the dorsal fin. Its tail is white. A blueringed yellow ocellated spot is located above and behind the corner of the operculum. Up to a size of 10 cm, juveniles have a blueish colour pattern composed of alternating white and deep blue bars. Adults often swim in pairs, and the biggest individuals can reach 45 cm. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Coral beds, drop-offs, caves, wrecks

Old woman angelfish Poisson-ange vieille femme Pomacanthus rhomboides The juveniles look so much like young P. annularis that for a long time the two species were confused. And yet, seeing their different geographical ranges of distribution, these species never actually encounter each other. As they grow, P. rhomboides become grey-brown, speckled with black dots. A light-coloured triangle may appear on the hindpart of the body. These fish sometimes gather in groups in the open water above reefs to feed on plankton. Their range of distribution appears to be limited to the western coasts of the Indian Ocean, going from South Africa to the South of Mozambique. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

46 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral beds

Goldtail angelfish Poisson-ange à oreille tachée Pomacanthus chrysurus Its brown-black colour base is marked with six white curves like parentheses, alternating between thick and thin. Its head displays several bright blue lines, between the eyes, on the cheeks and on the edge of the gill cover. A brown-black ocellus edged in yellow is present behind the eye, above and behind the upper corner of the operculum. The tail is bright yellow, except in the juveniles. It tends to live alone. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 400 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes

Emperor angelfish Poisson-ange empereur Pomacanthus imperator Juveniles exhibit concentric white and light blue patterns on their deep blue flanks. Once they measure around 8 cm, the adult colouration progressively appears, turning to a yellow body with thin diagonal blue lines and a black mask on a white snout. There is a black zone behind the head that goes back to the end of the anal fin. Most often solitary, it slips under the drop-offs to explore areas which are rich in invertebrates and soft corals. The sounds like drum-rolls that it produces using its swim bladder are frequent during the mating season or as an intimidation tactic. Populations in the Indian Ocean can be recognised by the rounded shape of their dorsal fin, whereas those in the Pacific have a whip which can extend further than the tail. Both forms are found concurrently around Bali.

Adult

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Sub-adult

Individual exhibiting a genetic abnormality Size 30 cm

Zone

Juvenile

Depth

Habitat

0-70 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

401

Angelfishes

Semicircle angelfish Poisson-ange à demi-cercles Pomacanthus semicirculatus Up to a size of approximately 10 cm, the juveniles in this species can be distinguished by the presence of white half-circles against a dark blue background. These half-circles progressively disappear in the adult and its colouring, which is greenish in the Indian Ocean, becomes covered with blue spots and small blue lines. There is often a conspicuous lightercoloured broad vertical zone on the mid-body. The pectoral fin and the filament of the dorsal fin are yellow. Bright blue lines highlight the edges of the operculum, the preopercle and the opercular spine. Not a shy fish, contrary to many species in the same family, this angelfish likes rocky cavities and wrecks.

Juvenile

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Sub-adult

Adult Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Coral beds, rocky drops, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 402 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Angelfishes

Bluegirdled angelfish Poisson-ange amiral Pomacanthus navarchus The head, underside and hindpart of the body are deep blue. The tail, dorsal fin and back are orangey yellow, rimmed with light blue. Juveniles are dark blue with thin light blue bars, a yellow dorsal fin and a clear tail. Its colour pattern changes between 5 and 8 cm. It is timid, hiding in coral reef areas where it eats sponges and soft corals. This species sometimes hybridizes with P. xanthometopon. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-35 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs

Sixbar angelfish Poisson-ange à six bandes

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Pomacanthus sexstriatus It has a light-coloured body with six dusky bands. The dark-coloured head has a white bar behind the eye. Juveniles are midnight blue with markings of curved white bars. Between 8 and 15 cm long, they change in colouration and then leave their sheltered areas. They are most often sighted in mated pairs in lagoons (even in murky water), and on outer reef slopes with a rough relief where they venture down to 60 m in depth. They set claim to large territories and also become sedentary near caves and wrecks. The largest individuals can reach 45 cm. Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

403

Angelfishes

Yellowface angelfish Poisson-ange à tête bleue Pomacanthus xanthometopon The adult is yellow with a blue head and its body is covered with a lattice of turquoise-coloured scales. Juveniles sport thin white and sky blue bars against a midnight blue colour base, which they lose between lengths of 7 and 12 cm. Not very shy, it feeds on ascidians and sponges over a large territory that it noisily defends with its “drum-rolls”. They generally live alone or in mated pairs. This species occasionally hybridizes with P. navarchus or P. sexstriatus.

Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-35 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes

Royal angelfish Poisson-ange duc Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Pygoplites diacanthus This is the easiest angelfish to recognise, with its yellow and blue body striped with large vertical white bands. Juveniles display a whiteringed black ocellus at the posterior base of the dorsal fin. They often move about in mated pairs in zones that are rich in sponges and corals. This species is broadly distributed over the Indo-Pacific area and in the Red Sea. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-80 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer slopes, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 404 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Pomacanthus semicirculatus

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Young clownfish Amphiprion sp. (family Pomacentridae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes Les demoiselles et poisson-clowns

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Pomacentridae

This large family has no less than 320 species belonging to 28 genera, and comprises two types of fish which are well known to divers and to aquarists, the “damselfishes” and the “clownfishes”. All of these species are tropical, and apart from a few rare brackish water fish, they are demersal and coastal marine fishes. The Indo-Pacific region hosts the largest number of damselfish and clownfish species (about three-quarters of the total number of species). In spite of their small size, on average under 10 cm when adult, these species have the reputation of being aggressive with respect to other fish. Their opercula, or gill covers, are armed with spines or razor-sharp denticles. They have a high profile and their bodies are laterally compressed. The colouring can vary greatly from one species to another, but also depending on the region, in the same species. The damselfishes belonging to the genera Plectroglyphidodon, Hemiglyphidodon and Stegastes are herbivorous and energetically defend the small field of filamentous algae that they keep up rather like little “farmers” and which they feed on. Visitors are not welcome here. Intruders are greeted with grunting noises and these damselfishes do not hesitate to swoop down on them, and if need be, inflict a few bites in passing. In spite of the difference in size, these deterrent attacks can even be directed at divers. The male or sometimes both mates prepare a nest on the bottom where the female will spawn, following a courtship display which often takes place late in the day. After being spawned, the eggs are guarded by the male. Species belonging to the genera Chromis, Dascyllus and Lepidozygus are plankton-eaters. Other species have a mixed diet, including zooplankton, seaweeds and small invertebrates. During our dives under floating objects in the deep sea we have sighted, almost under every floating debris or device, groups of “sergeants” (Abudefduf vaigiensis) aggregating there. These floating objects or flotsam create substitute habitats for the fish that did not find their way to the reef following their larval phase. The clownfishes form the sub-family Amphiprioninae within the Pomacentridae. They live in small groups, often in close association with large stinging anemones. A group is generally made up of a big, dominant female and a smaller, sexually active male, as well as two or three other males or juveniles. When the big female dies, the largest male changes gender and becomes the new matriarch of the inverted-harem. This is a case of protandrous hermaphroditism, which is less common in fish than is protogynous hermaphroditism (female first).

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

During the spawn, several hundred eggs are stuck onto a clean surface under the mantle of an anemone. The male aerates the eggs with his fins and by “blowing” on them. He will defend them aggressively, even against divers, who can be bitten! After one week, the eggs will hatch during a night around the time of the full moon. Clownfish larvae are pelagic. After 16 days or more, they settle and carefully rub up against the species of anemone which will become their host. The mucus on the fish’s body adapts to the chemical compounds of the stinging cells and immunises it against them. Damselfishes and clownfishes hold no interest for fisheries, but they are in great demand by aquarists. The clownfish in the animated film called “Finding Nemo” moreover gave rise to a genuine boom in commercial demand by the aquarium trade. This led some countries, such as Australia, to take measures to specially protect these species, following the success of the film worldwide. Their attitude when defending their territory or when protected by their anemone, makes it easy for underwater photographers to get close to them. Amongst the damselfishes and clownfishes which can be sighted in the Indian Ocean, 80 species belonging to 18 genera are presented in this guidebook. Due to the variations in colour which exist for the same species, it is often the geographical location or the type of anemone sheltering them which will help determine the species of clownfish, particularly for those displaying two white bars on a black back.

Skunk clownfish Poisson-clown mouffette Amphiprion akallopisos It is yellow and sports a white line running down its back from the snout to the tail. Its dorsal and caudal fins are white. Its host is either Heteractis magnifica or Stichodactyla mertensii.

Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Twobar anemonefish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-clown d’Allard Amphiprion allardi Its underside and fins are yellow. It has a black-coloured back, from the eyes to the end of the dorsal fin. There are two white bars, a saddle of the same colour on the caudal peduncle and a snowy white tail. Common from Kenya to South Africa, it chooses sheltered areas in reefs. Its host species are H. aurora, H. crispa, H. magnifica, S. mertensii and Entacmaea quadricolor. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 408 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Twoband anemonefish Poisson-clown à deux bandes Amphiprion bicinctus This anemonefish is yellow, with two light-coloured bars standing out against the black patch on its back. It favours the sheltered leeward sides of fringing reefs and stays close to the anemone it lives with. There are five possible species: H. magnifica, H. aurora, H. crispa, S. gigantea or E. quadricolor. It is present in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and is also found in the Chagos Islands. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Mauritian anemonefish Poisson-clown de Maurice Amphiprion chrysogaster

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

In general, the biggest individuals are black with three white bands and with a white upper edge of the tail. The snout and the underside are yellow. It is endemic to the Mascarene Islands, seen mostly around 20 m in depth on the outer slope, however it is also reported to be sighted in lagoons. There are five potential host species of anemones for it: H. aurora, H. magnifica, Macrodactyla doreensis, S. haddoni and S. mertensii.

A. chrysogaster on its spawn Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

409

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Yellowtail clownfish Poisson-clown de Clark Amphiprion clarkii This clownfish’s colour pattern is highly variable, ranging from black to deep orange, with or without yellow or orange edging. Its tail can be black, orange or white. It displays three regular white bars on its flanks. It is the most widespread of the species in the Indo-Pacific, from lagoons to deeper depths on the outer slope. It can adapt to about ten different anemone species. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-55 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Saddle anemonefish Poisson-clown à selle Amphiprion ephippium Orange in colour, it has a large black patch to the rear of its back. Juveniles have white stripes which they lose with age. They settle in with E. quadricolor or H. crispa anemones on shallow and sheltered reefs. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Seychelles anemonefish Poisson-clown des Seychelles Amphiprion fuscocaudatus The snout, underside, anal fin and its base, as well as the pectoral fins, are yellow. Its back is black with three white bars on the sides. It is only found in the anemone S. mertensii which it sometimes shares with Amphiprion akallopisos. Size 14 cm

Zone Seychelles and Aldabra

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 410 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Madagascar anemonefish Poisson-clown de Madagascar Amphiprion latifasciatus It has two wide white bars against a black-coloured back, and all the rest of its body is yellow, including its forked tail. Found in shallow areas, it associates only with the anemone S. mertensii, in zones which are rich in corals, but also on silted muddy flats.

Size 13 cm

Zone Madagascar and Comoros

Depth

Habitat

1-8 m

Coral beds and reef flats

Maldives anemonefish Poisson-clown des Maldives Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Amphiprion nigripes It is orangey yellow, and its ventral and anal fins are black. A white bar, thinly edged in black, runs down to the bottom of the cheek. It lives alongside H. magnifica.

Size 11 cm

Zone Maldives and Sri Lanka

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

411

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Clown anemonefish Poisson-clown à trois bandes Amphiprion ocellaris Its colouration is orange with three white bands, bordered by thin black lines. It lives in shallow surroundings, even in murky water, in the company of H. magnifica, S. mertensii, S. gigantea, both inside or outside of lagoons. Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Pink anemonefish Poisson-clown à collier Amphiprion perideraion This anemonefish resembles A. akallopisos with the vertical white bar of A. nigripes. Usually, it chooses H. magnifica for its refuge, but rather on the outer slope where the swell and waves are felt. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Outer slopes

Saddleback clownfish

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-clown à selle de cheval Amphiprion polymnus This is a black clownfish with white saddles, one behind the eye and the other on the back. They turn into a single wide band on specimens living in Indonesia. The edges of its dorsal fin and the tail are lined in white. The colour pattern varies from one individual to another in a given region. It prefers the muddy bottoms of lagoons where it “dwells” amidst the anemones S. haddoni and H. crispa. The saddleback is monogamous. The female is bigger than the male. Size 13 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Lagoons, muddy bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 412 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Orange clownfish Poisson-clown à bande dorsale Amphiprion sandaracinos This clownfish is entirely orange, with a broad white band going from the tip of the snout to the caudal base of the tail. It takes up residence in the anemones S. mertensii and H. crispa, in lagoons and on the outside of reefs. It tends to be carnivorous, a calm fish that defends its host. Size 14 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

3-20 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Seba’s anemonefish Poisson-clown de Seba Amphiprion sebae Its colouration is black with two wide white bars and is remarkable for the yellow hue of its snout, pectoral fin and long tail. The colour pattern of this species can vary. It hunts for plankton and harvests seaweed around its anemone S. haddoni on sandy bottoms or flat reefs, with a range from Arabia to the Andaman Islands and the Maldives. Size

Zone

16 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Lagoons, sandy bottoms

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Spinecheek anemonefish Poisson-clown à joues épineuses Premnas biaculeatus The female is big and dusky-coloured, but can stay orange depending on the zone where she is found. The male is smaller and a bright-orange colour. Both have three thin bars running around the body, the base of the caudal fin and the head. A sharp spine cuts across the first band over the cheek and enables it to be distinguished from the other species of the genus Amphiprion. It is found exclusively in E. quadricolor, on calm, fairly shallow bottoms. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-15 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

413

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Pearly sergeant Sergent-major nacré Abudefduf margariteus It is pale blue-green, with a white tail and it sports dusky stripes that taper off at the ends. This sergeant likes wave-battered flats and forms sparse shoals just above the shelter of the coral. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-10 m

Lagoons, flats, beginning of outer slopes

Yellowtail sergeant Sergent-major à queue jaune Abudefduf notatus The five bands on its dark-coloured body seem to be white. It is hard to get close to, moving around in small groups or in mated pairs in choppy water. It feeds there on seaweed and zooplankton. Contrary to the other sergeant fishes, its eggs are spawned in nooks and crannies. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-12 m

Lagoons, flats, beginning of outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Banded sergeant Sergent-major à bandes Abudefduf septemfasciatus Its six or seven bars are wide and dark in colour. It preferentially occurs in shallow water mixed by the surf and backwash. Juveniles often find themselves trapped in pools and choose flats and rocky bottoms covered with seaweeds which they feed on. Its maximum size can reach 23 cm. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-5 m

Lagoons, flats

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 414 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Scissortail sergeant Sergent-major à queue en ciseaux Abudefduf sexfasciatus lt has four bars on its sides. A black V-shaped mark on the outside of its tail accentuates its fork. This sergeant favours coral-rich areas, near the surface. It searches for zooplankton there and forms large shoals which flee to hide at the bottom at the slightest alert. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-15 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Blackspot sergeant Sergent-major à tache noire Abudefduf sordidus It can be differentiated from A. septemfasciatus by the black spot overlapping the base of its tail. It also defends its territory and keeps watch over the seaweeds and invertebrates there which are its sources of food. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-3 m

Lagoons, flats

False-eye sergeant Sergent-major à tache ovale Abudefduf sparoides This fish in the sergeant family has no bar marking but just a large ovate patch at the base of its forked tail. It prefers calm water and forms sparsely scattered shoals in shallows. The juveniles most often live and grow in lagoons. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-6 m

Lagoons, flats

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

415

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Indo-Pacific sergeant Poisson bagnard Abudefduf vaigiensis It can be recognised by the yellow patch covering its back between the five black bars. Often moving about in large shoals, it comes readily to the surface, around boats, along jetties and anywhere that plankton passes. It spawns on a flat surface that both parents will defend. The hatching is often synchronised with spring tides at the full moon, which carry the larvae seaward. The latter grow and travel under sargassum or flotsam until reaching a coast where they can live, sometimes very far from their starting point. We have often found these fish (both juveniles and adults) in the deep-sea environment, aggregating around floating FADs. Their maximum size is around 20 cm.

Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-12 m

Lagoons, outer slopes, deep-sea oceanic environment

Spiny chromis Chromis à épines

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Acanthochromis polyacanthus This is a damselfish with a forked tail. Its colouring varies, depending on the region, from pearly grey to dark grey, or often even having the front threequarters of the body which are grey and the hindpart which is white. The adults are territorial and stay in pairs to raise their fry, which is a unique case in this family. Juveniles are grey, with a yellow band running along the lateral line. They are found on fringing reefs, but also much deeper offshore. Their maximum size is close to 15 cm. Size 10 cm

Zone +

Juvenile

Depth

Habitat

1-65 m

Reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 416 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Golden damselfish Demoiselle dorée Amblyglyphidodon aureus Its compressed body is a more or less bright shade of yellow, depending on the biotope. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins have pointed tips. The eggs are stuck to the substrate on the seabed and are defended by the male. The juveniles hide in gorgonians and soft corals. Adults group together and hunt for plankton, both in lagoons and in passes, as well as at the top of fairly deep drop-offs. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-45 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Yellowfin damsel Demoiselle à tache jaune Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus The yellowfin is grey in colour with a yellow patch on the hindpart of its body. It shares the same zones and behaviour as the Indian damselfish. It lives in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden. Its maximum size reaches 10 cm. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-20 m

Lagoons, passes, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Indian damselfish Demoiselle gris-bleu Amblyglyphidodon indicus A light blue-grey colour, it has tints of green on its back. The dorsal fin and the top and bottom of the tail are outlined in a dusky hue. This damselfish stays in clear water. Rather solitary, or living in small groups, on the top of coral heads or patch reefs inside or outside of lagoons, they come up into the current to feed. Size 6 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Lagoons, passes, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

417

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Yellowbelly damselfish Demoiselle à ventre jaune

Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster This damselfish has a more or less dusky grey colouration, a bright yellow belly and a forked tail that is edged in black, like the dorsal and anal fins. Variants appear depending on where the population is located. They are found on the outer slope, but also in small groups in lagoons where the coral is rich and the water is clear. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-45 m

Corals

Black banded demoiselle Demoiselle à dos noir Amblypomacentrus breviceps It is pearl grey and has three black saddles. The first covers the eye and the other two join up and merge together in the colour of the dorsal fin. Whether alone or in groups, they are sighted around rocky outcrops and sponges on the sandy-muddy bottoms of lagoons and coastal areas. The juveniles take refuge in the anemones. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Rocks, sandy-muddy bottoms

Black-axil chromis Chromis à tache axillaire noire Chromis atripectoralis This fish only differs from C. viridis by a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. It has the same territorial behaviour and is also common.

Size 10 cm

Zone + Seychelles

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 418 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Stout chromis Chromis trapu Chromis chrysura This massive-bodied chromis with a white tail displays a head that is duskier than the body, which varies from beige to green-brown. They stick together, in large shoals, in passes and on outer slopes where they feed on zooplankton. In the Indian Ocean, they are only seen in the Mascarene Islands, but they are also present in the China Sea and to the East of Australia.

Juvenile Size 10 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

6-45 m

Passes, outer slopes

Chocolatedip chromis Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Chromis à deux couleurs Chromis dimidiata The front two-thirds of the body are black and the hindpart is white. This fish hides in crevices and forms large shoals above the crests of drop-offs. C. magaritifer is almost identical to this species, but with only one quarter of its body being white. This chromis shares the same biotope to the East of the Indian Ocean and in the Pacific. Size 9 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-36 m

Lagoons, passes, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

419

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Arabian chromis Castagnole à aisselle jaune Chromis flavaxilla This chromis damselfish is green-grey, with a black-forked swallow-tail. Its fins are edged in electric blue, but it is the orange spot at the base of its pectoral fins that makes it possible to determine this species. The Arabian chromis forms small groups that take refuge in the fire corals, from the surface on down, except when they are busy devouring plankton and micro-crustaceans. Size

Zone

7 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Corals

Scaly chromis Chromis écailleux Chromis lepidolepis The colouration is grey-beige, with a black line running along the edges of its dorsal and anal fins and the tips of the caudal fin. A plankton-eater, it prefers to swim above the branching corals where it can retreat easily if threatened. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Lagoon, outer slopes

Ternate chromis Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Chromis à queue d’hirondelle Chromis ternatensis It can be distinguished from C. lepidolepis by its having only two black lines along the edges of the fork of its tail. Its underside is silvery. These two species occur in the same zones. Juveniles of Lutjanus bohar adopt the same colour pattern (mimicry), which makes it easier for them to get closer to their prey. Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 420 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Whitetail chromis Chromis à queue blanche Chromis leucura This is the only blue chromis. Its tail is white and there is a black line outlining the anal and dorsal fins, cutting across the caudal peduncle. A black spot marks the base of the pectoral fin. They form shoals around deep drop-offs where they hide beneath overhangs. Their geographical range of distribution is limited to a few oceanic islands in the Indo-Pacific region. Size

Zone

7 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-120 m

Outer slopes,deep drop-offs

Blacktail chromis Chromis de l’océan Indien Chromis nigrura It is blue-grey with a light yellow area from the chin to the tail. The edges of this patch, above and below, are dark-coloured. There are small blue dots arranged in lengthwise lines along the flanks. An active swimmer, it lives in mated pairs or small shoals, near corals in the reef front zone. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Flats, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Doublebar chromis Chromis à tache operculaire noire Chromis opercularis The doublebar chromis is beige with a yellow saddle on the caudal peduncle. The base of the pectoral fin, the edge of the operculum and the rear parts of the anal and dorsal fins are black. It can be found in relatively deep water and only in some specific zones in its range of distribution. Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

4-40 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

421

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Pemba chromis Chromis à caudale bordée de jaune Chromis pembae This chromis is brown, with a yellow and white forked-tail. It exhibits a wide black band on the dorsal fin and another on the anal fin. Not frequently sighted, it forms scattered groups near the shelter provided by drop-offs. It swims up above the coral to feed. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

12-50 m

Outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Blue green damselfish Chromis bleu-vert Chromis viridis A luminous blue-green colour, this species has a deeply forked tail. A black or blue dash mark joins the eye to the tip of the snout. These chromis form masses of iridescent colour above isolated bunches of acropora corals. The different age classes do not mix much. They are gregarious fish which, at the slightest alert, immediately all dive as one to go and hide. They generally live in lagoons, but some groups venture onto the outer reef when the sea is calm. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-12 m

Lagoons, beginning of outer slopes

Weber’s chromis Chromis de Weber Chromis weberi A bit more slender than the previous fish described, this chromis has a black-tipped tail and the edges of the gill covers which are duskier. They gather in groups with conspecifics, but in small numbers, and mingle with other species of chromis in passes and on the relief of coral on the outer slope. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Passes, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 422 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Footballer demoiselle Demoiselle footballeur Chrysiptera annulata It is white with five wide black bars. Always found in shallow water, on flats, sandy areas or seagrass meadows, it hides around coral rubble, also camouflaged by the murky water.

Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-2 m

Lagoons, flats, shore edge

Grey demoiselle Demoiselle gris clair Chrysiptera glauca Its colouring is pale grey, except for its darker hued forehead. This is the perfect camouflage pattern for its surroundings of detritic sand or in water where visibility is low along beaches. The juvenile is much less subdued, with its blueish colour pattern and an electric blue line on its head Size

Zone

11 cm

Juvenile

Depth

Habitat

0-3 m

Lagoons, flats, shore edge

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Rolland’s demoiselle Demoiselle de Rolland Chrysiptera rollandi The dusky head and top of its back contrast with its white belly which becomes yellowish towards the rear. This colour pattern allows it to hide at the entrance to cavities and on the detritic seabeds of passes and the outer slope. Size 7 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

423

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Whitetail dascyllus Demoiselle à trois bandes noires Dascyllus aruanus Its body is almost round, white in colour with three black bars linked by the top of the dorsal fin. Grouped into colonies, these damselfishes seek protection in branched corals of the lagoon and take refuge there with other species such as D. reticulatus. They hunt the plankton passing within reach of their reef.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Cloudy dascyllus Demoiselle obscure

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Dascyllus carneus There are two black bars covering the operculum and the base of its white tail. Small blue dash marks cover its light-coloured body and duskier head. The ventral, dorsal and anal fins are blue-black. They live alone or in pairs, and the cloudy dascyllus takes protection in fire coral and branching coral, as well as in calm areas of lagoons and on outer slopes. Size 7 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-40 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 424 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Marginate dascyllus Demoiselle de mer Rouge Dascyllus marginatus The body is grey pearl tinged with green, the top of the dorsal fin is black, just like the base of the pectoral and ventral fins and the lower part of the anal fin. Very commonly seen above branching coral, they retreat there at the slightest warning. They catch plankton by keeping their head to the current. In the mating period, the male takes on a bright blue colour on his dorsal fin. The female spawns after the full moon, the time when the currents are strongest. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

6 cm

+

5-35 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Reticulated dascyllus Demoiselle réticulée Dascyllus reticulatus This dascyllus greatly resembles D. carneus found in the rest of the Indian Ocean. It also has two dark bars, however the light parts of its scales have dark edges. Its anal fin is blueish in colour. The specimen in the photograph has a dark-coloured head, which corresponds to the spawning period. These fishes swim in groups above the branching coral in lagoons, as well as in zones exposed to waves. They can also be sighted on the outer slope and even deeper. The male prepares a nest so that the female can stick her eggs to the substrate. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size 9 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Outer slopes

Dascyllus carneus (see p. 424) Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

425

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Threespot dascyllus Demoiselle à trois points Dascyllus trimaculatus The juveniles are grey or black, sporting a white spot on the forehead and another on the top of the back. Adults lose the first spot as they age and often become lighter in colour. Juveniles hide with the clownfishes amidst the large anemones (they are immunised) or between the spines of black longspine urchins. Adults live in small groups in heads of branched corals which they only leave long enough to catch plankton and to spawn by rubbing their bodies on the seabed. Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-55 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Fusilier damselfish Demoiselle fusilier Lepidozygus tapeinosoma They have an elongate body with a forked tail. The colours are changeable, ranging from metallic green to its courtship display colouration with a lilac-coloured belly and yellow grey back. Usually it is light grey with a yellowish back. With zooplankton as their diet, they can form large shoals around or far above coral heads, facing the current and mingling with the anthias. During the period while he is guarding the eggs, the male displays a wide white band on his flanks. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Bowtie damselfish Demoiselle noire Neoglyphidodon melas Entirely black in adulthood, the juvenile of this damselfish is white with a yellow back and black edges on its ventral and anal fins. They favour calm waters inside and outside of lagoons which are rich in soft corals. They seem to feed on alcyonarians and the excrements of the giant clams they stand guard around. Size 16 cm

Zone

Juvenile

Depth

Habitat

1-10 m

Lagoons, rich coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 426 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Black-and-gold chromis Demoiselle bicolore Neoglyphidodon nigroris The juvenile is a very flashy bright yellow, with two longitudinal black bands on its back. The adult loses these bands and becomes duskier at the front part of the body, displaying two dark bars under the eye and on the cheek. They are omnivores and occupy coral-rich areas of big lagoons and their outer waters.

Juvenile

Adult Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Yellowtail demoiselle Demoiselle à queue jaune Neopomacentrus azysron This little blueish grey damselfish, often pale-coloured, has the rear of its fins and tail which are yellow. It has one black spot on the temple and another at the base of the pectoral fin. They form shoals in rough water in passes and on the reef front, or are seen resting under overhangs. Size 8 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-12 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

427

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Regal demoiselle Demoiselle africaine Neopomacentrus cyanomos Only the tail and the rear part of the dorsal and anal fins are yellow, with the rest of the colouring being blackbrown. The regal demoiselle lives in shallow waters, in sparsely formed small groups, taking shelter around seaweed fields and rocky outcrops. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Lagoons, flats, within harbours, outer slopes

Miry’s demoiselle Demoiselle de Miry Neopomacentrus miryae Miry’s demoiselle is grey-coloured with a white spot at the base of its deeply forked tail, just in front of a sallow olive area. It prefers fringing reefs near the bottom and moves around in small groups which mix with other species. It looks for zooplankton and fish eggs there. Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

McCulloch’s scalyfin Demoiselle de McCulloch Parma mccullochi Juveniles are orangey yellow with a black and blue zone from the snout to over three-quarters of the back. Their flanks are also dotted with blue. Later, as adults, they have a more uniform grey to black colouration and lose the lightcoloured spots they had on the forehead and chin. This is the largest damselfish in Australia. They are territorial and aggressive, protecting their zone from their conspecifics and from other fishes, and they prefer wave-mixed reef areas. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-35 m

Coastal reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 428 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Victorian scalyfin Demoiselle de Victoria Parma victoriae The adult’s colour pattern ranges from grey to black and from beige to orangey, but in all cases, it is lighter on the underside. The two white bars on its cheeks and the dotted lines along the lateral line are what enable the species to be determined. Juveniles are orange, striped with electric blue lines on their head and body. There is an ocellus at the rear of the body. From the tidal zone to rocks covered with sponges, this damselfish picks out a place to prepare a nest and protect its eggs. It feeds on invertebrates and seaweeds. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-35 m

Coastal reefs

Brighteye damselfish Demoiselle à l’œil brillant Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis This fish is light grey, sometimes with an entirely yellow tail, and has a small black bar covering only the eye. It chooses to live in surf zones and nestles in holes dug by sea urchins.

Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-6 m

Lagoons, flats

Blackbar devil Demoiselle à barre noire Plectroglyphidodon dickii The body is beige as far back as a black bar which bounds the white or orangey yellow caudal peduncle. Often solitary, this species lives between the branches of acropora where the water is mixed. Omnivorous and territorial, it finds the seaweed and invertebrates there that it feeds on. Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-12 m

Lagoons, sheltered coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

429

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Johnston Island damsel Demoiselle de Johnston Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus This damsel fish can be told apart from P. dickii by its black bar which is wider and its blue eye. Its colouration is also lighter in tone. It has been reported that populations in East Africa do not have this bar. Although it prefers the sheltered waters of lagoons, it will share territories outside of the flats and channels with P. dickii. It takes refuge in branching corals. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-18 m

Lagoons, passes, flats

Whitespotted devil Demoiselle à points bleus Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus It can be brown or dusky grey and has a yellow eye and a light-coloured tail. Some of the blue dots seen on the juveniles will disappear with age. The whitespotted devil looks for detritic zones in passes where the seaweeds it feeds on grow. It fiercely defends its territory against any and all intruders. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Phoenix devil Demoiselle phénicienne Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis It is brown with four white bars and a white tail. There is a black ring around the caudal peduncle, as well as a black ocellus bordered in white on the rear of the dorsal fin. It is only found in the surf zone, on flats and in channels, where it feels at home in the waves. Size 9 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-10 m

Lagoons, passes, flats

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 430 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Goldbelly damsel Demoiselle à ventre jaune Pomacentrus auriventris The head and back are metallic blue in colour, whereas the underside and tail are bright yellow. They are common in zones where rubble, sand and seagrass beds alternate, and form small groups swimming above the seafloor in passes and open lagoons. They are not at all disturbed by currents and waves. Size

Zone

7 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Detritic areas

Whitetail damsel Demoiselle à queue blanche Pomacentrus chrysurus This damsel is grey-brown with a white tail and has an orange ring around the eye. It forms somewhat disjointed groups on sand and coral banks in lagoons. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-3 m

Lagoons, flats, coral reef areas

Indian damsel Demoiselle indienne Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Pomacentrus indicus The juveniles of this lovely damselfish are bright blue with yellow on the head, abdomen and upper back. This zone of yellow shrinks as the fish grows. So, that means that the band running from the snout to threefourths of the way back on the dorsal fin (just above a black saddle) will have disappeared when the fish is adult. Its colour pattern then becomes a dark grey lattice effect against a lighter background. Solitary or in small groups, the Indian damsel generally lives in shallow water (< 15 m), protected by coral inside and outside of lagoons, except in the islands of Maldives where it can be sighted as deep as 40 m. Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, flats, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

431

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Lemon damsel Demoiselle citron Pomacentrus moluccensis This fish is entirely yellow, with just a thin black border on the edge of the anal fin and on the rear part of the upper dorsal fin. With conspecifics, they form small aggregations in branched coral in lagoons, sometimes mixed with other damselfishes. They catch plankton and also feed on seaweed and invertebrates. Size

Zone

7 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-14 m

Lagoons

Blackmargined damselfish Demoiselle bordée de noir Pomacentrus nigromarginatus The front of its body is grey and the hindpart is yellow. A black patch spreads out at the base of the pectoral fin. These damselfish settle as readily on coral outcrops in the middle of sandy bottoms in lagoons as along drop-offs to depths reaching 50 m. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

6-50 m

Corals

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Sapphire damsel Demoiselle saphir Pomacentrus pavo The colouration of this species ranges from light green to deep blue, depending on the area where it is found. A grid of very thin vertical dashed lines covers the body. The tail and anal fin are sometimes yellow. In males, the pectoral fin is yellow. This damselfish swims around eroded reefs in lagoons, feeding on plankton and seaweeds. Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, flats, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 432 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Philippine damsel Demoiselle des Philippines Pomacentrus philippinus In the Maldives, it is black with a bright yellow tail. Further east, it is black all over. It occupies coral at the surface, in lagoons, passes and on outer slopes, gathering in groups under overhangs in the case of danger. However, in the Maldives, it lives deeper, between 10 and 40 m, not far from passes, near overhangs and caves. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Blacklip damsel Demoiselle à lèvres noires Pomacentrus pikei It is all yellow, with dusky lips, which differentiates it from P. moluccensis in the East of the Indian Ocean and from P. sulfureus which sports a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. The species is present in the Red Sea and in the West of the Indian Ocean. All of these species like clear, shallow water and feed on crustaceans, plankton and filamentous seaweeds. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

16 m

Lagoons, flats, outer reef slopes

Similar damsel Demoiselle de Ceylan Pomacentrus similis This is a bright blue damselfish whose pelvic and anal fins and tail are yellow, with blue patterns. These patterns (dots and dashes) on the edge of the caudal fin are what distinguishes it from other Pomacentrus in the zone. It occurs in the first few metres of the reef. Size 7 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-10 m

Lagoons, flats, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

433

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Sulphur damsel Demoiselle soufre Pomacentrus sulfureus This damselfish is bright yellow with a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. It searches for planktonic crustaceans and filamentous seaweed on fringing reefs, occurring in the Red Sea and on the African coasts as far as the Seychelles and Mascarene Islands. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-10 m

Corals

Paletail damsel Demoiselle à queue blanche Pomacentrus trichourus It is grey-black with a white or yellowish tail. Juveniles display an additional two black spots: one at the end of the dorsal fin and the other at the base of the tail. They are sighted, alone or in small groups, on fringing reefs or in deeper areas, feeding on seaweeds, sponges and fish eggs. Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, flats, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Richardson’s reef-damsel Demoiselle de Richardson Pomachromis richardsoni A slender-bodied fish, Richardson’s reef-damsel is grey or green-grey, with the front part of the body being yellow and the edges of the caudal peduncle and tail being black. They are present in the Mascarenes, and can also be seen in places in the Pacific. They like wave-battered coral reef areas. They live in scattered shoals, close to the bottom and to shelters. Size 8 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

5-25 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 434 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Unknown damsel Demoiselle inconnue Pomacentrus sp. The colouration is a blueish grey. There is an electric blue spot marking the upper corner of the operculum. A black spot is located at the base of the pectoral fin. The caudal peduncle sports a large black spot and the caudal fin is bicoloured, first white, then yellow in the rear portion. In spite of its distinctive colouring, we were not able to formally identify this one.

Pacific gregory Grégoire du Pacifique Stegastes fasciolatus Depending on the zones where it lives, its colouration varies from light beige to deep brown, with yellowish posterior fins, in the West of the Indian Ocean. The gregory stays in small portions of the reef where seaweeds grow, often beyond 5 m in depth. Like a true gardener, it eliminates some species of seaweeds to the benefit of others that it prefers to eat. It vigorously defends its crops! Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Blunt snout gregory Grégoire à museau court Stegastes lividus Yellow-brown colour, it displays a white-ringed black ocellated spot at the end of the dorsal fin. They live in colonies, in staghorn corals of lagoons. This is a “gardener fish” which will bite even divers! It is particularly noisy. Size 13 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-5 m

Lagoons, shallow coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

435

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Ebony gregory Grégoire d’ébène Stegastes limbatus This gregory has black-edged scales which contrast harmoniously with its midnight blue colouring and it can make a wide, lighter-coloured bar appear mid-body. As for the lightbrown juveniles, the back is duskier. It establishes its sector in the turbulent water on the edges of passes and is endemic to the Mascarenes. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-2 m

Shallow lagoons

Dusky farmerfish Grégoire noir Stegastes nigricans Adults are dark-coloured with lighter cheeks. There is a black patch the size of the eye which marks the rear of the dorsal fin. The juveniles are beige with a duskier forehead. It is present in flats, in lagoons and in harbours, at depths from 0 to 10 m, and defends its seaweed bed, from its lookout post on a rock or a piece of coral.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Adult

Juvenile Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-12 m

Lagoons, shallow coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 436 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Seage http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Damselfishes, clownfishes and anemonefishes

Mauritian gregory Grégoire mauricien Stegastes pelicieri It is black, tinted with blue, and the distal edges of the dorsal fin and tail are orangey yellow. A solitary and timid fish, it chooses areas with rocks or low coral cover, at depths between 5 and 20 m, to take up residence in a small crevice. Endemic to the Mascarene Islands, it is notably present in Mauritius and Reunion Island. It owes its name to Daniel Pelicier, a diver and aquarist at Flic-en-Flac in Mauritius.

Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Coral beds and rocky bottoms, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Jordan’s damselfish Demoiselle de Jordan Teixeirichthys jordani This is an elongated damselfish with a forked tail, blueish in colour with longitudinal blue stripes and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. They can gather in the hundreds over seagrass meadows in sandy areas to hunt for plankton. It is on the rubble in these same areas that they will come and spawn. Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

4-20 m

Sand, seagrass beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

437

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Sphyraena qenie (family Sphyraenidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Barracudas Les barracudas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Sphyraenidae

Barracudas bear a great resemblance to the fresh water “pikes”. They have an elongate profile which is somewhat laterally compressed, with a robust, pointed head. Their lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper one. The jaws are often held slightly open, revealing their long, sharp-edged teeth, particularly in the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda). The two dorsal fins are set broadly apart, the first one having 5 spines and the second 1 spine and nine soft rays. Their colouration is silvery grey, often displaying chevron patterns or dusky vertical bars arranged in series along the body, covered with scales of varying sizes depending on the species. The lateral line is generally quite conspicuous. The tail is more or less forked. The family comprises 18 species belonging to a single genus (Sphyraena). Barracudas occur in the tropical and subtropical waters of three oceans, and some species are also present in the Mediterranean. The biggest of these fish (S. barracuda) can measure up to two metres; while others, like S. obtusata, have a much smaller size at adulthood (about 40 cm). They are coastal pelagic fishes. Nevertheless, we have often sighted great barracudas under drifting FADs very far offshore, hundreds of kilometres away from any piece of land. In the juvenile phase, many of the species are gregarious. Once adult, for the most part, barracudas live in small groups, or even alone, for the largest individuals. Some species (such as S. barracuda, S. jello and S. qenie) are very active by day and others tend to be active at night (S. forsteri and S. acutipinnis). All barracudas are predators which mainly feed on other fish. We were able to film the “hunter” behaviour of the great barracuda under drifting FADs, which combines both cunning and extraordinary speed. It lets itself glide absolutely motionless through the water, a few metres below the surface. It then waits patiently for several minutes about fifteen metres deep, before coming straight up very slowly, with no perceptible movement, to a few metres from the shoal of its prey. The final attack is launched at lightning speed. However, these attempts, sometimes repeated for hours on end, are not always crowned with success. Apart from the bigeye barracuda (S. forsteri) whose range of bathymetric distribution is very great, sometimes reaching 300 m, the other barracudas tend to be epipelagic. They stay mainly in the zone of a few tens of metres under the surface. Males and females are two distinct genders, with no known hermaphroditism. Individuals gather in shoals in the breeding period. The eggs and larvae are pelagic and drift wherever marine currents carry them.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Barracudas

The flesh of barracudas is excellent and they are much appreciated by consumers. However, their position as predators at the top of the food chain sometimes means that they are toxic in areas infested with ciguatera. The worldwide catches of this family account for 100,000 t per year, of which nearly 40,000 t come from the Indian Ocean. These are above all catches landed by small-scale fishing fleets, principally using trolling lines. That said, the great barracuda is amongst the accidental by-catches of industrial tuna seine-netter fleets which target tropical tunas. In spite of its lack of readiness to fight, this species is in great demand by game fishers. Because of its size and its wariness, it is a prized catch for spear-fishers. Too big to interest the amateur aquarium keeper, the great barracuda is often one of the main stars in large public aquariums. Seeing the teeth they are equipped with, barracudas can present a real danger for fishermen when they are handling their catch. Spear-fishers must also be careful, because although few direct attacks have been observed, serious bites have already been inflicted by wounded individuals turning on the person who attacked them! Peaceful divers and underwater photographers have no reason to fear attacks by barracudas. However, it is advisable to be cautious when they have gathered in large shoals or in the case of feeding frenzies. Amongst the barracuda species sighted in the Indian Ocean, 7 species are presented in this guidebook.

Sharpfin barracuda Barracuda à nageoires pointues Sphyraena acutipinnis Its body has a very streamlined profile. The colouration is yellow on the back and silvery grey on the rest of the body, marked by two golden yellow lines which extend from the snout all the way back to the tail. The lower stripe is wider and runs across the eye. A coastal pelagic fish, it lives in shoals and is above all active at night. Its maximum size is close to 80 cm. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, sandy bays, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Yellowtail barracuda Barracuda à queue jaune Sphyraena flavicauda Very similar to the previous species (S. acutipinnis), it can be distinguished from it by a less slender profile and a body which is proportionately higher with respect to its length. Its caudal fin is yellow. They form shoals in lagoons or in sheltered coral reef areas. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, sheltered coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 440 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Barracudas

Great barracuda Grand barracuda Sphyraena barracuda Its colour pattern, blueish on the back and silvery grey on the rest of the body, is often zebra striped on the dorsal part. Its long, sharp-edge teeth, which are often highly visible in the front of its gape, make it look quite threatening. The second dorsal fin and the caudal fin are black with white tips. There are often a few black patches scattered on its flanks. A coastal and deep-sea pelagic fish, they live in shoals when young and in small groups or alone as they get older. The adults aggregate under both drifting and moored FADs. Their maximum size can reach 2 m.

Size

Zone

1.20 m

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes, pelagic environment

Australian barracuda Barracuda australien

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Sphyraena novaehollandiae It has a tapering, cylindrical body. The colouration is grey-green on the back and there can be two darker bands on its silvery sides. The tail is a dirty yellow. These barracudas form large shoals in passes and estuaries and under jetties in semi-protected areas. They attack small fish and squid. Size 1m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Passes, coastal pelagic environment

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

441

Barracudas

Blackfin barracuda Barracuda à nageoires noires Sphyraena qenie In appearance, it is very similar to the great barracuda, but its more strongly forked tail is completely black. The second dorsal fin is also a uniform black colour. Its flanks are marked with 18 to 22 black chevrons. In daytime, they gather in huge shoals above reef zones and outer slopes where they remain sedentary for long periods. These formations sometimes circle around divers in a sort of vortex, most likely a strategy of defence or intimidation. The largest specimens can measure up to 1.70 m. Size

Zone

1m

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Pickhandle barracuda Barracuda Jello Sphyraena jello Its colouration of deep blue on the back and silvery grey on the underside is marked by some twenty wavy vertical bars on the flanks which extend below the lateral line. Its tail is yellowish. They form large shoals in coastal waters, lagoons and above the outer reef slope. The largest specimens measure up to 1.50 m. Size

Zone

80 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Sawtooth barracuda Barracuda à dents de scie Sphyraena putnamae There is a series of large black chevrons on its sides, centred along the lateral line. Sometimes a line tinted with electric blue appears on the back of individuals in situ. They occur in lagoons, sheltered bays and reef areas. They are active at night and by day get together to form large calm shoals above the outer reef slopes. Size 90 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, sheltered bays, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 442 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sphyraena barracuda

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Cheilodactylus rubrolabiatus (family Cheilodactylidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fingerfins and marblefishes Les castanettes et carpes de mer

Fingerfins

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◗◗

Family Cheilodactylidae

Being relatively elongate and laterally compressed, the profile of the Cheilodactylidae sometimes seems to be triangle-shaped. They have a small mouth with big fleshy lips. Their single continuous dorsal fin is made up of 16 to 20 spines and 19 to 31 soft rays. The 4 to 7 lower rays of the pectoral fins are much longer than the upper ones, which is why the group is dubbed the Fingerfins. In the Indian Ocean, the members of this family are mainly endemic to South Africa or Australia, such as Cheilodactylus rubrolabiatus (photo opposite). Their size varies from 18 cm for the smallest to one metre for the biggest of them. These are demersal fish which tend to be solitary, occurring in rocky, coral and sandy areas. At night, they hide in holes or caves to sleep. During the day, they often rest on the bottom, holding themselves upright on their long pectoral fin rays. Their diet is composed of small benthic invertebrates that they sift from the sediment. To do so, some species take a mouthful of sand and then spit it out again after having extracted their favourite prey from it. The biggest species are sought after by South African game fishermen, but their landings in commercial fisheries are not significant. Seven of the most commonly sighted species in South Africa are presented here.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fingerfins and marblefishes

Redfingers Castanette léopard Cheilodactylus fasciatus Its colour base is light brown with darker spots on the head and top of the body, and with wide bars on the hindpart. There are big chevronshaped stripes on the tail. This fish hunts in rocks and seagrass beds for the microorganisms which are the main food item in its diet. This species is endemic to South Africa. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Rocky and coral reef areas

Barred fingerfin Castanette Cheilodactylus pixi This fingerfin is very closely related to the more common Cheilodactylus fasciatus. It can be distinguished from the latter by a more ovate shape and by a larger number of spots all over the body, which practically mask the dusky bars on its flanks. The lower rays of the pectoral fins are stiff and very long. Juveniles have a silvery colour base. They live mostly on the eastern coast of South Africa, as far as East London. They like rocky areas and soft bottoms where they search for small invertebrates. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Rocks

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Two-tone fingerfin Castanette bicolore Chirodactylus brachydactylus The juvenile of this species is silver coloured, with a blueish back and short black bars. The adult, however, is a red brown. The bottom of the head, the front of the belly and the flanks are white. There are five light coloured spots along the lateral line. This fish is sedentary, gulping up and spitting out sand, in order to sort the related micro-fauna of crustaceans, shellfish and larvae from it. When not pursuing this favourite occupation, it relaxes, resting on its fins at the foot of reefs. This species is endemic to the coasts of South Africa as far as Maputo in Mozambique. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-240 m

Rocky, sandy and coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 446 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fingerfins and marblefishes

Natal fingerfin Castanette du Natal Chirodactylus jessicalenorum A reddish brown colour growing lighter on the underside describes this fingerfin’s body. At the top of the back, the scales have a black dot in the centre. There is a conspicuous black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. This fish lives at the foot of reefs, tending to be solitary, sifting though the sand, in between two naps. This species is endemic to South Africa. Size

Zone

75 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-38 m

Rocky and coral reef areas

Barred fingerfish Castanette des bancs Chirodactylus grandis It has a plain, grey-brown colour base with large scales, and a reddish bar under the eye. This is the biggest species in the family, and can be distinguished from the very common Chirodactylus jessicalenorum by a dark patch behind the pectoral fin. Its eight long, stiff pectoral fins enable it to prop itself up on the rocks. It feeds by day on small fish, cephalopods and echinoderms, on the sand and in rocks, from the region of Capetown to the Natal. Size

Zone

1.80 m

Depth

Habitat

10-150 m

Rocks

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Dusky morwong Morwong obscur Dactylophora nigricans Its body is elongate, its head has a hooked snout and big lips. It is grey, varying from brown to greenish tinges and covered with rust-coloured spots. The underside is lighter in colour. At night or when resting, it can get darker in places. Active during the day, it occurs in shallow seagrass meadows in the vicinity of small reefs where it searches for invertebrates and feeds on kelp. The flesh of the young fish is better than that of big specimens. Size 1.20 m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-60 m

Seagrass meadows

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

447

Fingerfins and marblefishes

Magpie morwong Morwong pie Goniistius gibbosus Its silhouette is triangular, highbodied in front of the dorsal fin and very long. It is white, with four oblique brown bands. One of them covers the eye, two others spread over the forehead, and the last and widest stretches from the dorsal fin to the base of the tail. It has powerful pectoral fins. They prefer quiet and sandy bays near reefs, where they form small quite mixed groups. Size

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30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-20 m

Reefs and sandy bays

Cheilodactylus fasciatus

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 448 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Fingerfins and marblefishes

Marblefishes ◗◗

Family Aplodactylidae

The marblefishes have an elongate, almost cylindrical body with a bumpy snout. They look rather like large gobies. Their dorsal fin is made up of 14 to 23 spines, followed by 16 to 21 soft rays. Their geographical range of distribution is limited to Chile, Peru and the southern coasts of Australia. In all, there are 5 species belonging to 3 genera. All of them are herbivores.

Australian marblefish Carpe de mer australienne Aplodactylus westralis

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Its green colour base is dotted with white spots which merge together in places to form large patches. These patches are set in staggered rows along the flanks. Its rounded nose resembles that of the rabbitfishes. This herbivorous species occurs in seaweed beds on the south-western coasts of Australia.

Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Seaweed prairies and mixed bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

449

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Cheilinus trilobatus (family Labridae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris Les labres, girelles et vieilles

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◗◗

Family Labridae

Many wrasses have in common the classic shape of a perciform fish whose single, long dorsal fin is without any marked indentation between the spiny and soft sections. Most of them display prominent fleshy lips. This characteristic is what gave the name Labrus, to the first genus described, taken from labrum, meaning lip in Latin. This is one of the largest families of fish in the world, because it comprises approximately 500 species belonging to 65 genera. Within such a big group, there is naturally a wide range of sizes, colours and appearances. The colouring of a given species can vary with the age of the individual, with a specific colour pattern for juveniles, for instance, depending on the fish’s sex, as well as on the region where it lives. These regional variations sometimes make the identification of species more complicated. Wrasses are demersal marine fishes. They inhabit inshore areas on mixed bottoms of rocks, sand, seagrasses and corals. Some prefer passes in coral reefs, whilst others opt for large rocky drop-offs. Although a large majority of them are small in size, often less than 15 cm long, there are a few medium-sized species (around 50 cm). The biggest member of the family, the humphead wrasse or Cheilinus undulatus, measures over 2 m in length and weighs up to 200 kg. With the exception of cold waters in high latitudes, wrasses are found in almost every ocean and sea on the Earth. They are diurnal. At night, they sleep in a safe spot, in a hole in the rock or coral, or perfectly buried in the sand. The diet is made up of small fish, invertebrates or zooplankton, but some of the species are primarily plankton-eaters. The cleaner wrasses, such as Labroides dimidiatus, feed on the parasites that they remove from other fish. This grooming activity takes place in exactly specific places on the reef, well known to the “client fishes”. Generally speaking, there are several wrasse working in each one of these cleaning stations. It is surprising to note that a given station can exist for decades in the same place. An example of this is a tiny cleaning station we have regularly visited for more than twenty years in Reunion Island. It is located at a depth of 22 m in the Boucan Canot region and big “dogtooth” tunas (Gymnosarda unicolor) come there on a regular basis to be cleaned. The fact that such behaviours persist, in exactly the same spot and for such long periods, shows that these cleaning stations must have very specific features that are easily recognised by both the cleaners and their clients, particularly when the latter are highly active coastal pelagic fish. Many of the wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites (first female, then male). They perform courtship displays at breeding time, which often take place at the end of the day. Groups can be formed, made up of several females and a single male

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

which ensures domination over the group’s entire territory. This male is generally produced by sexual inversion, having previously been the largest female of the group. Other large females wait until the dominant male dies to change sex and become the leader of the group in turn. However, other species form mixed groups containing several males and females together. In a given species, two types of males may coexist: the primary males which are born male and remain so throughout their life, and secondary males which are sex-reversed females. In the same species, sexual behaviour patterns can vary from one region to another. Although the eggs of wrasse in temperate zones of the Atlantic develop in a nest on the seafloor or in seaweed, the eggs of wrasses in the Indian Ocean (and more broadly in the Indo-Pacific region) are afloat. Thus, they are disseminated wherever marine currents take them. In spite of their very large geographical range of distribution, the Labridae family does not appear to be a major commercial stock for Indian Ocean fisheries, where annual declared catches do not exceed 3 300 t. These catches are most often made using nets, fish traps or hand-lines and exclusively involve small, highly local fisheries. However, many species which are small in size and brightly coloured like those in the genus Coris are marketed for the aquarium trade. Wrasses are generally not overly shy; their attitude is usually to slowly and calmly flee, keeping at a safe distance ahead of the diver. Amongst the numerous wrasses present in the Indian Ocean, 107 species belonging to 34 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Bluespotted wrasse Labre constellé

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Anampses caeruleopunctatus The female bluespotted wrasse is green-brown, with blue patterns on her face. Her body is dotted with blue ocelli ringed in black and arranged in horizontal rows. The male is bluegreen in colour, displaying a vertical yellow bar located behind the pectoral fin. At the rear, each scale is marked with a lighter-coloured vertical dash mark. Juveniles hold a head-down position which makes them look like plant rubble swaying with the swell. They prefer wavebattered areas in the approaches to passes.

Male

Female Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 452 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Lined wrasse Labre à tirets blancs Anampses lineatus The juvenile is black, ringed with yellow, sporting a white band running from the snout to the tail and a white bar mid-body. The female is black, dotted with white on the back and head and with lines on the flanks. There is a white bar at the base of the tail. The male has the same patterns, but against a red colour base. In addition, there is a yellow dot behind the pectoral fin. Only the males in the Red Sea display the same white bar at the base of the tail as the females. Anampses melanurus is the corresponding species for the Pacific and can be distinguished by the yellow coloured bar at the tail. Both of these species live together in Indonesia. This wrasse lives in harems, at the bottom of detritic slopes. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-40 m

Coral beds, outer slopes, deep drop-offs

Spotted wrasse Labre à queue jaune

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Anampses meleagrides The juveniles and females resemble each other: black with orderly lines of white spots. The tail is yellow. There are two large yellow-ringed, blue ocellated spots on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins. The male is blue-green, marked with scribbles on the head and vertical dashes on the scales of the body. The colour pattern on the tail makes it look like it is forked. This wrasse prefers drop-offs and areas of soft coral.

Male

Juvenile Size 22 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Coral beds, reef crests and drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

453

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Yellowbreasted wrasse Labre à poitrine jaune Anampses twistii Both males and females keep the ocelli from their juvenile phase. They look alike, with a bright yellow throat and belly. Their backs are dusky, and the dotted lines on them seem to be more marked than those in the Red Sea population. Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

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Natal wrasse Labre du Natal Anchichoerops natalensis This big, reddish-coloured wrasse has big lips revealing its protruding canine teeth. Its colouration is covered with yellow-orange dots. The first rays of its dorsal fin are longer and easy to see. Depending on its mood, alternating dark- and light-coloured vertical bands can appear on its body. It is endemic to the region of Natal in South Africa and lives on rocky seafloors between 10 and 55 m deep. It feeds on sponges and crustaceans. Not a timid fish, it is subjected to strong fishing pressure from spear-fishers. Size 75 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-55 m

Rocky bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 454 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Black-spotted wrasse Labre à points noirs Austrolabrus maculatus Its back is pinky brown, studded with small black spots. The belly is a creamy white colour. At the back of the dorsal fin, juveniles have a black spot rimmed in white which fades as they grow older. They explore seaweed beds between Shark Bay and Adelaide. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Rock-slide rubble and seaweed beds

Lyretail hogfish Labre lyre Bodianus anthioides An oblique boundary line separates the brown-orange front part of the body from the speckled hindpart. Two black lines run along either edge of the tail. Juveniles are identical, but the hindpart of their body is transparent. When young, they hide amidst alcyonarians and gorgonians. The adults are solitary, they search on the walls or follow foraging fish which can flush out some prey for them from the sand.

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Juvenile

Adult Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth 6-60 m

Habitat Outer reef slopes, gorgonians and alcyonarians, drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

455

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Axilspot hogfish Labre à tache axillaire Bodianus axillaris Juveniles are black with nine big white polka dots which disrupt the profile of their silhouette. Then, as they grow, the hindpart of the body becomes lighter and the front part becomes more brownish. In adults, the head and front part of the body is reddish brown, the hindpart is white and the tail is yellow. There is a large black spot marking the base of the pectoral fin (called the axillary spot) and two smaller ones fringing the dorsal and anal fins. When young, they fulfil the function of cleaner fishes. As adults, they forage in the cavities of drop-offs.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Yellow hogfish

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Labre à opercule taché Bodianus bimaculatus This is the smallest of the Bodianus, and is bright yellow with a pink band going from the eye to the tail. It exhibits one black spot on the operculum and another on the caudal fin. The male becomes pink with longitudinal red stripes. They live in small harems, on detritic bottoms in deep water, feeding on small invertebrates on the substrate and on soft corals. It is present from Madagascar to Japan. A sub-species (see the photo taken on the Produce wreck in Aliwal Shoal) has been reported in South Africa. Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

30-60 m

Detritic bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 456 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Splitlevel hogfish Labre ceinture noire Bodianus mesothorax Very close to the colour pattern of B. axillaris, this wrasse differs from it by a white chin and by a black belt separating the reddish brown front part from the white hindpart of its body. There is no black spot on the edge of its dorsal and anal fins. The juvenile has large yellow ocellated spots which are ringed in black. It shows the same behaviour as B. axillaris, but does not live as deep. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-20 m

Coral beds

Tarry hogfish Vieille à selle noire Bodianus bilunulatus This stocky-bodied, light-coloured hogfish with a pink-brown lattice pattern displays a black saddle to the rear of its back. Its cheek is white. The top of the body in juveniles is yellow and the black saddle comes down to encompass the anal fin. They hunt in coral-rich areas.

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Adult

Juvenile Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

457

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Sub-adult Size

Zone

55 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Black-banded hogfish Vieille de Maurice Bodianus macrourus This fish resembles B. bilunulatus but its black saddle extends to the entire base of the tail and the anal fin. The species is endemic to the Mascarene Islands.

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Adult

Juvenile Size 32 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-40 m

Coral beds and sandy bottoms, outer reef slopes

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Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Diane’s hogfish Labre de Diane Bodianus diana Juveniles are reddish brown, with horizontal white dash marks and six white-rimmed black ocelli marking the fins and sides. Adults have a pinkish yellow body, with a reddish head and back, displaying five white spots in a line. It is very active, foraging in drop-off zones. Young Diane’s hogfish organise cleaning stations near the soft corals where they grow.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

6-50 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Bay of Bengal hogfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Labre du Bengale Bodianus neilli The Bay of Bengal hogfish has a pointed head. Its colour base is ochre-pink, with redder areas on the edge of its fins. A solitary, calm and unobtrusive fish, it glides along reefs and likes murky water. These hogfish are particularly abundant in Sri Lanka. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Coral and rocky bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

459

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Blackspot hogfish Labre à rayures blanches Bodianus opercularis Red with an elongate body, it has two white bands running from the snout to the tail. This unobtrusive fish can be solitary or in mated pairs, hiding at the foot of drop-offs under overhangs.

Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

30-70 m

Detritic areas at the base of deep drop-offs

Golden-spot hogfish Labre banane Bodianus perditio This is the largest of the genus Bodianus. It has the appearance of a parrotfish and its large canines are quite conspicuous. The body is reddish, dotted with yellow spots. The yellow-coloured juveniles show a black saddle, preceded by a white vertical bar which becomes fainter as they grow. It crushes shellfish and urchins found in rubble plains and passes with detritic bottoms. They have been seen with live sharksuckers on their backs. Size

Zone

80 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-40 m

Coral beds, rubble zones, passes

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Little maori Labre maori à deux taches Cheilinus bimaculatus Its colour pattern varies with respect to its surroundings. It can be recognised by its highly indented tail and by a blue spot displayed on the first rays of the dorsal fin. It is fairly commonly seen in coral and seaweeds, from sheltered areas to deep rock-slide rubble. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-100 m

Seaweed, rubble

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 460 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

White-dotted maori Labre maori à points blancs Cheilinus chlorourus Its dark colour base is scattered with small white dots which disappear with age. There are white patches on the top of the back and generally a white bar cutting across the base of the tail, which is raggedy in the males. It favours lagoons and reefs with calm water. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Coral, sand

Redbreast wrasse Labre maori rayé Cheilinus fasciatus Initially grey with irregular white bars when young, adults take on a flame red colouring on the gill cover and the front of the body. Its eye is ringed with a concentric circle and orangey lines radiating out from it. The male’s tail has pointed lobes. Juveniles live near shore, on silted-up sandy reefs, whilst adults go deeper in rubble and rock-slide zones. They often follow foraging fish or divers who displace the sand! A closely related species, C. quinquecinctus, replaces C. fasciatus in the Red Sea and can be differentiated from it by its frayed tail. Size

Zone

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35 cm

Depth

Habitat

4-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds, rubble areas

Broomtail wrasse Labre à franges Cheilinus lunulatus The broomtail wrasse can be recognised by its deep blue fringed tail and its green head. A blackrimmed yellow spot is highly visible on its operculum. It moves around along outer slopes in coral and rubble. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

+ Aden

2-30 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

461

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Redbreasted wrasse Labre à poitrine rouge Cheilinus quinquecinctus This is the species endemic to the Red Sea corresponding to C. fasciatus, which is present in the Indo-Pacific region. It can be distinguished from the latter by its frayed tail. The juveniles hide in shallow corals. Adults attentively follow species which stir up the sand, like rays, goatfishes or human divers!

Male

Female Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Detritic plains

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Tripletail wrasse Labre maori trilobé Cheilinus trilobatus The tripletail wrasse has a greenish colour base. Its caudal peduncle is whitish, crossed by a dusky ring. Its trilobate tail is black with reddish fringes. The pink dots on the head and the vertical lines of the same colour on the body are quite characteristic. Juveniles often stay concealed. Adults prefer calm areas and shallow edges of reefs. They are cautious and wary. At night they sleep up against a wall, very often in the same place. Size 45 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 462 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Humphead wrasse Napoléon Cheilinus undulatus This is the largest of the wrasses. When adult, its colouration is green. Two oblique black lines cross the eye. A hump develops on its head. The scales on the body are marked with vertical dash marks. Juveniles are grey with black patterns. When young, they are inconspicuous and hide amidst seaweed and coral. The adults swim round at the exits of passes and the top of drop-offs. The humphead moves by rowing with its pectoral fins. It is a slow-growing species. This is one of the only fish which can eat toxic animals: acanthasters, urchins, boxfishes, and so on. Although naturally wary, the humpback will let itself be tamed all the same, particularly by divers who bring it food. Readers are reminded, though, that this practice is harmful for fish and should not be encouraged. At night it sleeps in a deep cave. Although it is toxic in some zones affected by ciguatera, its flesh is in great demand, particularly in Polynesia. Size

Zone

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2.30 m

Depth 3-50 m

Adult

Juvenile Habitat Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs, caves and wrecks

Cigar wrasse Labre cigare Cheilio inermis The body of the cigar wrasse is very slender and elongate and its snout is pointed. Generally grey or green, it is sometimes bright yellow. It displays an area of multicoloured spots (orange, white and black) to the rear of the pectoral fins. In the Red Sea, males have a black tail. The cigar wrasse hides in seagrass meadows of lagoons Male and patchy coral reefs, moving around in scattered groups in the company of other wrasses or goatfishes.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

463

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Female Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Seagrass meadows, mixed coral seafloors

Harlequin tuskfish Poisson arlequin Choerodon fasciatus Its colour base has alternating bright orange and white bands. Its protruding canines are blue coloured. They enable it to turn over blocks in the rubble and to crush the crustaceans that it discovers. It moves over large territories and often occurs in passes. Size

Zone

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30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, passes

Fairy wrasse Labre nain bigarré Cirrhilabrus blatteus The female is pinky white with a pointed yellow tail. The mauve dotted line she displays becomes continuous when she turns into a male. The latter sports brighter colours and has a red head. Their small harems move around at the bottom of drops-offs in rock-slide rubble and cavities in the Red Sea. Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

30-50 m

Deep rubble

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 464 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Blueside wrasse Labre nain à flancs bleus Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura The male has the front part of the body which is blue-green and the hindpart which is orangey with a purplish lattice pattern. The females and juveniles are less colourful. They form groups which can sometimes be quite large, catching plankton above the slopes of the Indian Ocean’s north-eastern seafront. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-35 m

Outer slopes

Exquisite wrasse Labre nain bariolé

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Cirrhilabrus exquisitus This very colourful little wrasse has got large dorsal and anal fins. The colours are very variable in the male and also alter temporarily depending on its mood and the situation. The female is usually pink and it is often difficult to tell her apart from other species in the family which accompany the exquisite wrasse in its movements. These wrasse have a penchant for drop-offs and reefs, where they follow the current upward in open water in order to intercept plankton. Like other small wrasses ( Ps e u d o c h e i l i n u s , P t e r a g o g u s , Paracheilinus), species in the genus Cirrhilabrus have eyes with “bifocal lenses” which enable them to adapt their vision when searching for very tiny prey.

Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Outer reef slopes, drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

465

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Social wrasse Labre nain à filament Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis It is red with a white underside, blue tail and highly developed red pelvic fins. The first rays of the dorsal fin are very long. The female is less colourful than the male. They hunt in a group, against the current, for passing plankton. The species C. joanallenae only differs from this one by its black pelvic fins and its range of distribution to the east of India. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

8 cm

+ Aden

2-45 m

Shelf areas, outer slopes

Mauritius dwarf wrasse Labre nain sanguin Cirrhilabrus sanguineus Although the colour pattern of the female is dull and drab, that of the male, highly variable and changeable, can be recognised by the red saddle coming down the middle of the body. The Mauritius dwarf wrasse can be sighted in harems above rubble or on sandy plains. At night it sleeps in holes. Its eyes have a double cornea which lets it see the microscopic zooplankton it feeds on. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

40-60 m

Outer reef slopes, rock-slide rubble, sandy plains

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Blue-spotted tuskfish Labre à points bleus Choerodon cauteroma It is yellowish in colour with blue dots and scribbles. It can be distinguished by the thin black “moustache” that extends under the pectoral fin. A black spot marks the top of the pectoral fin. This tuskfish is endemic to the northwestern coasts of Australia. It can be sighted in seagrass beds and in sandy areas at the foot of reefs. Size 36 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Detritic areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 466 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Purple tuskfish Labre mauve Choerodon cephalotes The colouration of its body varies. It is generally duskier on the top half of the body and light-coloured on the underside. Light blue lines connect its eyes and a black patch spreads out behind the pectoral fin. It lives in harems in seagrass beds and slide rubble in calm and shallow water. Size

Zone

38 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Seagrass meadows

Robust tuskfish Maidague robuste Choerodon robustus It is greenish brown. An oblique white band runs from the bottom of the gill cover to the rear of the dorsal fin, outlined along the top by a reddish brown band. The dorsal fin and tail are purplish blue. It turns over stones and forages in deep sandy bottoms looking for crustaceans and echinoderms. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

40-70 m

Deep rocks and sandy seabeds

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Blackspot tuskfish Labre à point noir Choerodon schoenleinii This large wrasse has a massive head and powerful jaws with large canine teeth. It is blue-green and the chin and belly are lighter coloured. A black spot marks the top of its back. It lives on sandy bottoms and seagrass beds, solitary, resting motionless or turning over large blocks to find and crush sea urchins and crustaceans. Size 1m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-60 m

Sand and seagrass meadows

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

467

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Zoster wrasse Labre zoster Choerodon zosterophorus Usually yellow-grey, it has a white band coming up from the pectoral fin to the rear of the back, melding into a black patch. This wrasse searches for its prey in shallow areas of seagrass meadows and rubble.

Size

Zone

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20 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-40 m

Seagrass meadows and rock-slide rubble

Cheilinus trilobatus

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 468 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Hogfishes or coris These fishes are very colourful and covered with very small scales. They clean areas of fine sand where they bury themselves to sleep or hide. Juveniles act as cleaner fish in order to eat.

Spottail coris Girelle à tache caudale Coris caudimaculata

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In the light-coloured males, there are wide brown bars growing fainter towards the rear and running down to mid-body. In females, a broad longitudinal band masks the eye and fades away towards the tail. They all have a black spot in front of the dorsal fin where the spines are longer. Females go over rubble rock-slide zones in groups, and the male parades in front of each female in turn. These coris feed on crabs, gastropods and worms.

Male

Female Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-50 m

Lagoons, mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

469

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Clown coris Girelle clown Coris aygula Juveniles are white with a black spotted head. Two false eyespots that are orange with black pupils are located at the top of their backs. The females lose the orange colouration and turn green. Males are often dark green, with a lighter bar in the middle of the body. In large specimens, a hump develops above the eyes (as in the humphead wrasse). The juveniles choose channels on flats and adults move around rubble areas. They all sleep on the sand. The maximum size reported for this species is 1.20 m. In the Red Sea, the species has evolved and is smaller in size, with different details in its colour pattern.

Adult

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Sub-adult

Juvenile Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 470 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

African coris Girelle africaine Coris cuvieri The orangey body of the juveniles rapidly becomes greenish. The four white saddles on them quickly disappear. The colour pattern of females becomes duskier and is spangled with indistinct spots, except on the head. They usually live in shallow waters when young, and as they grow older venture into deeper areas. Females live together in a group subordinate to a dominant male.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

38 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Pale-barred coris Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Coris à dos taché Coris dorsomaculata Juveniles are white or grey, with a brown band running from the snout, over the red eye and tapering off towards the tail. The female becomes light beige, displaying a black spot at the base of the rear of the dorsal fin. There are light-coloured bars over her back. In males, the colours are more pronounced, with pink and green patterns on its cheeks and abdomen. Juveniles explore the low seaweed on coral rubble and adults forage on the edges of reefs and channels of the outer slope. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, flats, coral beds, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

471

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Queen coris Girelle reine Coris formosa Against its orange yellow background colour, the young queen coris has four saddles and a white bar, all of them rimmed in black. The female has a green body, becoming grey towards the hindpart and dotted with black spots on the tail which has a red bar. There are two oblique white or blueish bars crossing the eye. The male’s colour base has alternating vertical blue and yellowgreen bars. Its tail is bright blue with light-coloured spots. Juveniles occur in the shallow water of lagoons, whereas adults prefer mixed coral zones where they feed on urchins and invertebrates with hard shells.

Male

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Female

Juvenile Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 472 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Gaimard’s wrasse Girelle bariolée Coris gaimard This wrasse can be distinguished from the African coris by its more colourful body and its yellow tail, as well as by its more easterly range distribution (they are only found together in Java). The juvenile is orange with five white saddles outlined in black, which become smaller with age. When young, they are solitary, living in faults on the coast. The adults explore the cracks in coral barrier reefs to track down small prey items. This wrasse is very active until nightfall, when it hides under the sand.

Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Corals

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Variegated wrasse Girelle de Schroeder Coris schroederii It has a light colour base with white bars. A more or less visible green patch spreads over its back. Its flanks are spotted with small orangey red dots. The black ocellated spot on the dorsal fin disappears in older males. This wrasse becomes lighter in colour when it lives on sandy bottoms where it hunts for microorganisms by turning over stones. C. variegata is its sister-species, endemic to the Red Sea. Size 17 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Sand, stones

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

473

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Dapple coris Girelle variée de la mer Rouge Coris variegata It has a light colour base with thin white bars on the top of its back. One or two ocelli on the dorsal fin disappear with age. Sexual dimorphism is not very pronounced in this species. They are endemic to the Red Sea and live in small groups near the seabed where they search for small crustaceans and shellfish to eat. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Yellowtail tubelip Labre à queue jaune Diproctacanthus xanthurus It is white with two wide black bands extending from its nose to its yellow tail. Its tubular mouth allows it to “work” as a cleaner fish when young and also to “suck up” polyps of coral. Mainly living in calm water, juveniles can form large groups on coral heads, whilst the adults are organised in small harems.

Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons

Slingjaw wrasse Labre traître Epibulus insidiator This large stocky wrasse has a typical protractile jaw which it can jut out further at will to snatch up its prey. Some of them are multicolour. The head is grey, the back yellow and its large scales are rimmed by a wide black lattice. On the same sites, other individuals are bright yellow. They inspect the walls of drop-offs,

Adult

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 474 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

sucking up crustaceans and small fish. The largest specimens can measure up to 54 cm.

Sub-adult

Yellow colour pattern Size

Zone

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35 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, drop-offs

Green birdmouth wrasse Labre oiseau indien Gomphosus caeruleus Its long sloping snout and the fluttering movements of its pectoral fins are distinctive of this species. The colour pattern varies with the sex and the age: from grey-beige for females, it goes to brown-green or blue for males. As for the juveniles which do not have a proboscis yet, they have elongate bodies with white belly and brown back. A short black band runs

Male

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

475

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

from the snout to the tail, crossing the eye. Males are solitary and females go in small groups, poking around in cracks in the coral. G.caeruleus kluzingeri is the local sub-species in the Red Sea.

Juvenile

Female Size

Zone

28 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Lagoons, outer reef slope, coral reef areas

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Bird wrasse Labre oiseau du Pacifique Gomphosus varius This Pacific species can be told apart from others by a yellow patch between the operculum and the pectoral fin and a lighter coloured base. It exhibits behaviour similar to that of an insect foraging for pollen and nectar. In the breeding period, the male hovers above the seabed and fertilises the eggs spawned by females, one after the other, in his presence. Size 28 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Lagoons, outer reef slope, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 476 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Red-lined wrasse Labre à deux ocelles Halichoeres biocellatus This young wrasse quickly loses its colour pattern of orange brown with white lines and its two or three blue ocelli on the dorsal fin, taking on a pink and green striped pattern on the front of the body which gets duskier towards the rear. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-35 m

Seaweed, rubble

Brownfield’s wrasse Labre de Brownfield Halichoeres brownfieldi The colouration is bright green. A white band stretches from the chin to the tail, in males outlined above by an orangey line. The three ocellated spots, two on the dorsal and one on the caudal, disappear with age. They move around in shoals above eelgrass beds and spits of sand where they bury themselves for the night. They are present in the south of Shark Bay. They swim round rock-slide rubble and sandy spits from Indonesia to Japan. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Rocks, seaweed and sand

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Adorned wrasse Labre décoré Halichoeres cosmetus When young, it is white with dark stripes and two black ocellated spots ringed with white at the rear of the dorsal fin. The female becomes blue and the lines get thinner with an orangey pink colour. The male loses his ocelli and takes on a blue-green colour base, displaying pink lines towards the front and yellow patterns towards the rear of the body. These Adult Female wrasses occur in rubble on flats, with the juveniles hiding in the debris and the adults swimming in small groups above them.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

477

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Young female Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, flats, coral beds

Checkerboard wrasse Labre échiquier Halichoeres hortulanus

Adult

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Juveniles are a mottled black and white with a yellow-rimmed black ocellus on the dorsal fin. The adult’s body looks like a grey and blue chess board. On its head, it exhibits thick orangey pink lines on a green background. It is very curious and approaches the moment the sand is disturbed by someone. It follows foraging fish in passes and on the outer slope.

Juvenile Size 27 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, flats, coral beds, passes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 478 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Rainbow wrasse Labre arc-en-ciel Halichoeres iridis Its bright yellow head contrasts with its burgundy coloured sides. Juveniles can be distinguished by their two blue and yellow ocelli which turn into simple dots on the dorsal fin of the female. Generally residing at depths lower than 20 m, it can come up along the sand and rubble, swimming along drop-offs. Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

6-45 m

Coral beds, rubble bottoms, rocky drop-offs

Dark wrasse Labre obscur

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Halichoeres lamarii Juveniles of this wrasse are dusky, sporting thin white stripes and a large blue ocellated spot ringed with yellow on the dorsal fin. This ocellus persists on the female’s colour pattern, whose fairly dull overall colour is striped with thin dark lines. The male becomes yellow-green, with wavy blue stripes. In the East of the Indian Ocean and in the Pacific, this species is replaced by H. Lamarii annularis, which has very similar markings. The juveniles hide amidst urchins and in shallow holes. Adults take advantage of reef areas that are rich in prey.

Male

Female Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-45 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

479

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Jewelled wrasse Labre joyau Halichoeres lapillus The colour base of the female jewelled wrasse is red, or possibly green, with small white spots and black patches. The cheek is white, criss-crossed with several vertical lines. In males, there are fewer spots and patches and they merge together in places. This wrasse is both rare and unobtrusive, moving around and nibbling here and there on the seafloor.

Male

Female Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-20 m

Mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Whitebelly wrasse Labre canari à ventre blanc Halichoeres leucoxanthus Its back is bright yellow with four small black spots along the dorsal fin. Its belly is white. They feed on detritic bottoms in groups.

Size

Zone

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12 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-50 m

Coral beds, detritic areas

Nebulous wrasse Labre nébuleux Halichoeres nebulosus The more colourful male can be distinguished by a single pink chevron between the mouth and the base of the gills. A burgundy or pinkcoloured patch on the abdomen is what distinguishes the female. Their multicoloured bodies enable them to Male blend in against seaweeds and rocky bottoms, starting from the layer of water close to the surface in the surf zone.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 480 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Female Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds, detritic areas

Pelicier’s wrasse Labre de Pelicier Halichoeres pelicieri This small elongate wrasse is white, with a bright yellow band going from the snout to the tail. There is a black spot marking the caudal fin. The male’s dorsal fin is black. This species is endemic to the Mascarene Islands and is replaced in the Indian Ocean by the more colourful H. zeylonicus. It lives between the stones on sandy bottoms. From a distance, the male keeps an eye on the females in his territory. The species, like some ten others, was discovered by Daniel Pelicier, who collects aquarium fish around “Flic-en-Flac” on Mauritius. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

16 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-90 m

Coral and sandy bottoms

Two-tone wrasse Labre bicolore Halichoeres prosopeion As it becomes adult, the juvenile loses the four wide black bands on its white base. Its head then turns bluegrey, in front of a dull yellow body. They swim along the bottom of dropoffs, exploring nooks and crannies and rubble slides in Indonesia and the Eastern Indo-Pacific region. Size 13 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

481

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Zigzag wrasse Labre zigzag Halichoeres scapularis Juveniles are light grey with a median line extending from the snout to the tail forming a zig-zag pattern which follows that of its scales. With age, in the female this band becomes black, whereas in the male it fades or disappears. Males have a very colourful head, with green, pink, yellow and purple hues. Always close to shore, they live in harems, joining up with foraging species to feed more easily.

Male

Female Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, coral beds, detritic areas

Three-spot wrasse Labre à trois taches Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Halichoeres trimaculatus Males have a gaily coloured pink and green head. The body is lightcoloured with small pink dots. There is a highly conspicuous black mark on a yellow patch at the top of the caudal and a second more diffuse one is located above the pectoral fin. The female is less colourful. This wrasse occurs in rubble and sandy areas, often accompanying goatfishes which flush out prey that they can share. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Rubble, lagoons

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 482 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Three-blotch wrasse Labre blanc Halichoeres trispilus Against a pinkish white background, there are black spots along the dorsal and the base of the tail. These disappear in the male, with the exception of the spot located in the front part of the dorsal fin. The tail is yellow. This easily recognised species lives deep, preferring cavities in drop-offs which provide it with both food and shelter. However, this wrasse does come out in small groups of a few females escorted by a male. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, detritic areas

Barred thicklip Tamarin à bandes Hemigymnus fasciatus With a variable colour pattern, its massive body displays four white bars against a black base. Females have a yellow tail. They have multicoloured patterns on the head which are even brighter in males during the mating period. They use their very fleshy lips to forage in cracks or to filter sand in detritic zones. The largest specimens can measure up to 80 cm. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, outer reef slope, rubble areas

Blackeye thicklip Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Tamarin bicolore Hemigymnus melapterus This massive thicklip has lips which are green. Its head and underside, from the start of the dorsal to the anus, are light coloured. The hindpart is dusky and reveals a light green pattern on each scale. The cryptic juveniles stay camouflaged amongst the branches of coral. The adults crush hard-shelled invertebrates that they unearth in the rubble. The largest specimens can measure up to 90 cm. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

483

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Ring wrasse Labre cigare annelé Hologymnosus annulatus This wrasse’s silhouette is higher and it has more bars than H. doliatus. The male is blue-green and the female is dark brown, mimicking the juvenile Malacanthus latovittatus and some cleaners who enjoy full impunity from their customers. Juveniles have a white back with a broad dark band from the snout to the tail. It lives on rocky bottoms or detritic zones, doing rapid “fly overs” and coming down to grab and crush its prey.

Male

Female

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Juvenile

Juvenile Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, detritic areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 484 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Pastel ringwrasse Labre cigare strié Hologymnosus doliatus Their bodies are thin and elongate, and juveniles are white with three red bands running from the snout to the tail. Adults have variable colours but display about twenty dusky streaks. Males have a white bar on the abdomen. Their heads are much more colourful in the mating period. Although females move in groups, males are solitary and control a large territory. Present in the Indo-Pacific and in the South of the Red Sea, the biggest individuals can reach 50 cm in length.

Adult

Juveniles Size

Zone

38 cm

Depth

Habitat

4-35 m

Lagoons, mixed areas of coral and sand, detritic areas

One-lined wrasse Nettoyeur à lèvres tubulaires

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Labrichthys unilineatus It is dark green with sky blue dots. A broad, light-coloured bar spreads from the front of the dorsal fin to the belly, under the pectoral fin. Its lips form a tube which enable it to suck up coral polyps in calm areas in lagoons and on the outer slope. The species seems to be smaller in the Indian Ocean than in the rest of the Indo-Pacific region. Size 17 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Corals, lagoons, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

485

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Bicolor cleaner wrasse Labre nettoyeur bicolore Labroides bicolor With an elongate shape and a pointed snout, this cleaner wrasse has a blue colouration on the front part of the body and white and yellow on the hindpart. A black band masks the eye. The dorsal and anal fins, as well as the fringe of the tail are also black. Contrary to juveniles, adults are less attached to a specific cleaning station site. They operate more freely, when the occasion presents itself, over a large area. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Bluestreak cleaner wrasse Labre nettoyeur commun

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Labroides dimidiatus This other cleaner wrasse is blueish white, with a black band running from the nose and getting wider until the tail. Just the opposite, the juvenile is black with a blueish band stretching over its back from snout to tail. They are very common and are seen in groups at the so-called “cleaning stations”. Their characteristic way of swimming, moving rapidly up and down, attracts fish which want to get rid of their parasites, have wounds cleaned or dead skin removed. The “patients” get into position in the open water, opening their mouth and gills. They often alter their colour in this situation. The cleaners venture Juvenile at work between the teeth to eliminate food particles and parasites. Because the cleaners have full impunity, many mimics will adopt their same colour patterns, often juvenile wrasse who come and get a free meal off the host this way. But others, like the blenny Aspidontus taeniatus, called the false cleanerfish, are in fact assailants that take advantage of the disguise to feed on strips of skin or scales that they tear off from their victims. Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 486 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Yellowback tubelip Labre à queue en ciseaux Labropsis xanthonota The juvenile is black with thin blue stripes and yellow on the top of the back. It is active as a cleanerfish. The adult is black and its body is covered with small yellow spots arranged in rows. A white triangle stands out on the tail. It is a coral-eater, occurring in the much richer areas of lagoons and the outer slope. Females are found in small groups, whilst males are solitary. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

7-55 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Arabian cleaner fish Nettoyeur de la mer Rouge Larabiscus quadrilineatus Its blue colour base exhibits alternating light-and dark-coloured bands. Only the juveniles remove parasites from fish at cleaning stations. The adults prefer to eat coral polyps in shallow water. Size

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

+ Aden

1-15 m

Corals

Vermiculate wrasse Labre léopard vermiculé Macropharyngodon bipartitus bipartitus Juveniles and females look alike because of their orangey yellow body with white spots. They have a black abdomen. As for the male, his body displays wavy horizontal bands stretching from the snout and breaking up mid-body. There is a large white or light-coloured patch extending over the hindpart of the back and the caudal peduncle.

Male and female

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

487

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Females live in groups in calm water, subordinated to a dominant male. This wrasse sleeps buried in the sand. In the Red Sea, the corresponding subspecies is M. bipartitus marisrubri.

Juvenile Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Bluespotted leopard wrasse Labre léopard à points bleus Macropharyngodon cyanoguttatus The female is deep blue in colour, but the head and upper back are orange. Dots form lines all over the body. In males, the orange gradually disappears to be replaced by lines of blue dots. Living at greater depths, this fish is sighted less frequently than M. bipartitus and its range of distribution is limited to the south-west of the Indian Ocean. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-50 m

Mixed coral bottoms, outer reef slopes

Ornate Wrasse Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Labre orné Macropharyngodon ornatus Different populations present variations in colours, but they all have in common the lines of bluegreen dots on the body and the pink and green patterns on the head. Males reign over a group of females in a territory of sand and pebbles, to the east of India and off Northwestern Australia. Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Pebbles

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 488 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Orange-spotted Wrasse Labre à taches orange Notolabrus parilus This wrasse can be recognised by its orange spots and patches on a brownish base. The underside is lighter in colour, with a white line appearing from the operculum to the tail in males. It is usually in seagrass beds or around rocks, about 20 m deep, which are rich in crustaceans and molluscs. Its following foraging fish is a common occurrence. It is endemic between Shark Bay and Kangaroo Island. Size

Zone

32 cm

Female

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Seagrass meadows, rocks

Rockmover wrasse Rason masqué

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Novaculichthys taeniourus The adult sports a grey mask with black lines going out from the eye. Its body is black. Each scale has a small vertical white line on it. These small marks line up lengthwise along the body. A white ring bounds the base of the tail. With its fringed fins, the juvenile resembles a piece of plant debris. Most often in a head-down vertical position, its movements on the bottom go with the rhythm of the surf and undertow. Adults turn over stones to find the small invertebrates they feed on. They can bury themselves in the sand with no difficulty whatsoever.

Adult

Juvenile Size 27 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-45 m

Detritic and sandy areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

489

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Maori wrasse Labre maori australien Ophthalmolepis lineolata Juveniles are orange and white, with a red-brown band becoming wider as it grows from nose to tail. The male has an orangey brown back, separated from the white belly by an irregular black line, from the gill to the caudal fin. Blue dotted lines and marks on the head complete its colour pattern. As they grow older, they leave the shallows for deeper seagrass meadows and sponge beds. Size

Zone

47 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-60 m

Rocks and seagrasse meadows

Speckled maori wrasse Labre à une ligne Oxycheilinus arenatus It is light-coloured, with a pinky brown back and a rust-coloured band from the snout to the tail. Like O. bimaculatus, it has a blue spot at the front of the dorsal fin. It is active on scarps or walls which have lots of soft corals and in the clear water of drop-offs. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-50 m

Outer reef slopes, drop-offs

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Two-spot wrasse Labre à deux taches Oxycheilinus bimaculatus This wrasse’s colour varies depending on its biotope: dark brown in the murky water of estuaries and greenish in seagrass meadows. Its colour pattern becomes more yellow or redder during the courtship display. Females and juveniles have drabber colouring. A red band edges the dorsal, which has a black-ringed blue ocellus at the front in males. The caudal fin of the biggest males has several filamentous rays.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 490 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-110 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, seagrass meadows

Cheeklined wrasse Labre à joues rayées

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Oxycheilinus digramma The elongate body of this wrasse exhibits quite varied colourings. This species can be distinguished by the blue or purple oblique stripes at the bottom of its cheeks and the pink lines converging towards the eye. Juveniles are grey to red-brown and have a yellow tail, like the females, whereas males have a blue tail. When young, they hide amidst hydroids and alcyonarians. The adults live in calm, rich coral reef areas. Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-120 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

491

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Mental wrasse Labre mental Oxycheilinus mentalis The mental wrasse resembles O. arenatus, differing by a white patch at the base of its tail and its deeper colouration. In particular, the male displays a black spot above the pectoral fin. The juveniles hide in soft corals. The adults are calm, solitary and curious. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, drop-offs

Oriental maori wrasse Labre maori oriental

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Oxycheilinus orientalis Its overall colouring is red-brown and the juvenile has two wide white bands extending from the snout to the tail. The two or three yellowringed turquoise ocellated spots aligned towards the rear of the body, disappear in the adult. The central band remains relatively easy to see. There are oblique lines streaking the bottom of its cheeks. This species is similar to O. mentalis (endemic in the Red Sea). Juveniles stay concealed in soft corals and adults are inconspicuous in rock-slide rubble zones and along drop-offs.

Juvenile

Adult Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 492 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Senator wrasse Labre sénateur Pictilabrus laticlavius Radial lines around the eye and dark bands edged in light blue dots characterise the male senator wrasse. It is either red-brown for those inhabiting surroundings with red seaweeds, or greenish yellow for those occurring in seagrass meadows. Females and juveniles are less colourful and hide in the seaweed. It hunts for all sorts of invertebrates, both in shallow water and on deep rocks amongst the sponges. It is endemic to the southern coast of Australia and can be sighted to the north of Perth. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Reefs, seaweed, seagrass meadows

Striated wrasse Labre nain strié Pseudocheilinus evanidus It is thinly streaked with light-coloured stripes. A pearly white band, from the snout to the gill cover, passing under the eye, differentiates it from other species. These wrasses, sometimes several of them together in rubble on the outer slope, always stay close to shelter or to a branching coral. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

6-40 m

Rubble zones, branching coral, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Sixline wrasse Labre à six lignes Pseudocheilinus hexataenia Small with a pointed snout, it has a purple colour base with six longitudinal orangey lines. Its eye is red, barred by two white lines and there is a black ocellus accentuating the base of the tail. A very unobtrusive fish, it lives in small colonies on reefs, slipping under branched coral and into nooks and crannies. Size 8 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Lagoons, branching coral, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

493

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Eight-lined wrasse Labre nain à huit lignes Pseudocheilinus octotaenia Eight thin red lines extend from the operculum to the tail against the yellow background of its colouring (with darker patches in the Indian Ocean). This colour pattern remains unchanged at every stage of its life. It has a pointed snout. It is inconspicuous and does not wander far from the cavities it is accustomed to. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-50 m

Lagoons, rubble areas, outer reef slopes

Two yellow-band wrasse Labre à deux barres jaunes Pseudocoris cf. bleekeri This is the “Indian Ocean” version of the Pacific species. The male is easily distinguished by the two yellow bars in the middle of the flanks. The front of the dorsal fin has a pointed tip. The female is duller in colour. They swim very fast in a jerky manner above detritic seabeds. The male and his females come together with other wrasses to catch zooplankton in the current. This photo was taken the first time it was observed in Reunion Island. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

15-35 m

Detritic sand

African torpedo wrasse Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Labre torpille africain Pseudocoris cf. heteroptera This species is not yet validated. It is close to Pseudocoris heteroptera but, contrary to the latter, it occupies the area of South Africa, Madagascar and the south of the Seychelles. Its behaviour pattern is identical, but its colour pattern is different, since the female is more colourful and the male is plainer. However, the juveniles are identical. These wrasses mix with other fish to intercept plankton in currents. In that situation, they take on a less flashy colour to avoid being noticed by predators. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

20-50 m

Corals

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 494 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Torpedo wrasse Labre torpille Pseudocoris heteroptera Males are blue-green, with yellow bars on the second half of the body. Females are drabber and become grey when they leave the bottom to go and hunt in open water. They form harems controlled by a dominant male. The population in the West of the Indian Ocean appears to present enough differences to be considered to be a new species. They are plankton eaters, the males feeding together and the females mixing with other species. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-54 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, drop-offs

Redspot wrasse Labre rose Pseudocoris yamashiroi

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Juveniles display two white lines which start at the snout and frame the eye, before fading off on their orangey pink sides. The female goes from pink to yellow-green. The male has a white underside and variable colouration on his back. The two tips of its tail are black. The redspot wrasse lives in groups. Their colouring alters when they go to hunt zooplankton above the outer slope. They occur in coral reefs and sandy bottoms where they hide at night.

Male

Female

Juveniles Size 16 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

6-25 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

495

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Chiseltooth wrasse Labre des Moluques Pseudodax moluccanus A stocky blue-grey wrasse, whose black tail has a white bar, it sports a rust-coloured band on the top of the back stretching to behind the head. A yellow and sky blue moustache extends over its lower cheek. Juveniles are dark blue with a broad white dorsal band extending from the snout to the caudal peduncle and another, often less pronounced, white ventral band. This colour pattern is similar to that of the true cleanerfishes, enabling juvenile chiseltooth wrasses to practice this activity while being protected from predators. The adults are swiftmoving, active fish, exploring passes and drop-offs and crushing hard shells with their strong jaws.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-60 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes, passes, drop-offs

Bluelined wrasse Labre ruban à lignes blanches

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Stethojulis albovittata This wrasse has a light-coloured underside and a blue or green back. It is speckled with small white dots. In the females, three blueish white lines run from the snout to the tail. Males have a fourth line which goes from the eye to the middle of the back. The cheek and base of the pectoral fin are yellow. It is always quite active, swimming round the reef crest in very shallow water. It spends the night under the sand.

Male

Female Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 496 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Red shoulder wrasse Labre ruban à tache rouge Stethojulis bandanensis Very similar to S. albovittata, it differs from it by an orange spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Juveniles and females have no lines on their heads, contrary to the males. They all occur on exposed shelf areas where seaweeds are short. Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

Female Depth 2-30 m

14 cm

Habitat Lagoons, outer reef slopes, mixed coral and sandy areas

Bluntheaded wrasse Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Girelle-paon bigarrée Thalassoma amblycephalum The female is white, with a wide dusky band from the snout to the tail. Her dorsal fin is black. The male has a green head, separated from the burgundy coloured body by a broad white triangle. These very active wrasses often swim together in large numbers above shallow reefs, to catch planktonic larvae. They also perform parasite removal on large fishes and sea turtles. Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

497

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Red-cheek wrasse Girelle-paon bariolée Thalassoma genivittatum The females have a wide black band running from the snout to the end of the dorsal fin. Above it, their back is grey-green. The belly is white and the cheek and base of the tail are yellow. Males are green-brown in colour with a yellow or orange band separating the head from the rest of the body. These wrasses form groups in open water with their conspecifics to hunt for drifting plankton, but all of the individuals dive down to take refuge in the reef at the slightest alert.

Male

Female Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Sixbar wrasse Girelle-paon à taches d’encre Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Thalassoma hardwicke Its light-coloured body sports six to seven black bars. There are pink patches on its yellow head, radiating out around the eye. The juveniles and females are paler in colour. They occupy the surface zone of the lagoon and the outer slope, searching for plankton or foraging on the seabed. They confidently approach both foraging species and the swim fins of divers. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-15 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 498 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Jansen’s wrasse Girelle-guêpe Thalassoma jansenii Juveniles and females have an elongate body, whose black-coloured back contrasts with the white underside. There are white saddles along the back which, if the female becomes a male, will become bars and turn a more yellowish white. Regional variants exist. The harems, grouped around a big male, swim very swiftly in very shallow water, jostled by the waves on the crests of drop-offs. Constantly moving, they only stop to snap up some plankton. They live in the Maldives and occur on the coasts of the Eastern Indian Ocean as far as Japan. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Corals

Mascarene yellow-brown wrasse Girelle-paon des Mascareignes Thalassoma mascarenum Very closely related to T. lunare, this other wrasse can be distinguished by the pattern on its head, which does not radiate out, and that of its pectoral fin. Endemic to the Mascarenes, it shows the same behaviour and has the same biotope as the other yellow brown wrasse T. lutescens. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, sandy areas, outer reef slopes

Moon wrasse Girelle-paon verte Thalassoma lunare The body is green and the head is blue, covered with lilac bands which radiate outward from the eye. The bright yellow tail is edged in lilac. The pectoral fin is lilac, rimmed in blue. A common species, this wrasse forages in seagrass meadows and reefs in its harem. It has a special way of swimming, as if it were rowing with its pectoral fins, the body held upright. However, it also knows how to use its caudal fin to make a fast getaway.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

499

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, seagrass meadows, outer reef slopes

Yellow-brown wrasse Girelle-paon jaune Thalassoma lutescens The female has a green body and an orangey head decorated with green patterns. The male is green-yellow, with a light blue bandeau behind his green head. Like the previouslydescribed species, there are lilaccoloured bands radiating out around the eye. The yellow pectoral fin has a broad blue border. This lovely wrasse likes sandy and detritic bottoms on the outer slope. They like to gather with conspecifics in feeding sessions where the excitement is communicative. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, sandy areas, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Goldbar wrasse Girelle-paon à épaule jaune Thalassoma hebraicum The blue and green colour base of the goldbar wrasse displays an oblique yellow bar posterior to the pectoral fin. Its crescent-shaped tail is also yellow. It is a curious fish, bustling about coral heads. Like the other wrasses of this type, it is capable of feeding frenzies which create spectacular free-for-alls. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 500 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Klunzinger’s wrasse Girelle-paon de Klunzinger Thalassoma rueppellii It is blueish, streaked with mauve, and an orange band runs from the operculum to the tail. Its dorsal and anal fins are yellow. Concentric pink patterns cover the cheek and the eye. Very common and very active, they often live in pairs or in harems, on the edges of the reef. A curious fish, it readily approaches divers. This species that is endemic to the Red Sea is replaced in the Indo-Pacific by T. quinquevittatum. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Christmas wrasse Girelle-paon clown Thalassoma trilobatum Orangey in colour, it has bands of blue rectangles on its body. As for the tail, dorsal fin and back, there are zones of light green highlighting them. However, its head is plain. Christmas wrasses occur in zones where the water is churned up, the suspended matter contains food for them and small prey are numerous. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Lagoons, mixed areas of coral and sand, detritic areas

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Whiteband pygmy wrasse Labre nain à barres blanches Wetmorella albofasciata Its brown colour base is marked with white bands which radiate out on the head and are vertical on the body. There is a black ocellus ringed in white on the back of the dorsal and anal fins. This pygmy wrasse is solitary and hides in nooks and crannies of reefs, inside lagoons or on the outer slope. Size 6 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-40 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

501

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Peacock wrasse Rason commun Iniistius pavo When young, the peacock wrasse looks like a dead leaf. Its forehead is prolonged towards the front by a long antenna composed of the first two rays of the dorsal fin. As it gets older, it takes on a sandy hue and the two rays of the dorsal become straighter. A black spot appears above the pectoral fin, with another at the end of the dorsal fin. Capable of instantly plunging into the sand and moving around in it, it never ranges far from sandy areas. However, this stratagem does not save it from being detected and eaten by dolphins and probably also by sharks.

Sub-adult

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Juvenile

Juvenile Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-100 m

Detritic and sandy areas

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Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

Yellowblotch razorfish Rason des sables Iniistius aneitensis Its marbled beige colour pattern resembles that of the other two razorfish wrasses found in the same zone. However, it has a black patch in the middle of its back, just under the dorsal fin. There is a white mirror visible on the abdomen, as on I. pavo. Rarer than the latter, the yellowblotch stays close to sandy-muddy bottoms.

Size

Zone

24 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-90 m

Muddy-sandy areas

Fivefinger wrasse Rason à ocelles rouges Xyrichthys pentadactylus

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This little wrasse displays a series of red ocellated spots at the top of the gill cover. Its dorsal fin is slightly notched. It too can bury itself in a flash in the sand, when divers or predators draw near.

Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Detritic and sandy areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

503

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

◗◗

Family Odacidae

Herring cale Odax Odax cyanomelas This is a highly elongate wrasse, which is brown to blueish black, with a luminous blue line on each lobe of the tail. Its eyes are bright yellow. The female is greenish in colour with red reticulated patterns. They form scattered groups of females and a few males which swim round in seagrass meadows to catch small invertebrates and crustaceans there. Juveniles are quite inconspicuous and almost never leave their seaweeds of Southern Australia. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Seagrass meadows

Pencil weed whiting Labre à nez pointu

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Siphonognathus beddomei It has a very elongate body and a large snout. The male is golden brown. As it matures, luminous blue lines will appear on its nose and back. The female is greener in colour and can be distinguished by a black spot at the top of the tail. They live in seagrass meadows and along reefs under the waves in the south of Australia. Juveniles and females form small groups, while the males are solitary. Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Seagrass meadows

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 504 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Wrasses, hogfishes and coris

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Rajout photo pleine page

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Cheilinus http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

undulatus (family Labridae)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Bolbometopon muricatum (family Scaridae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Parrotfishes Les perroquets

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◗◗

Family Scaridae

Their oblong bodies are slightly laterally compressed. The snout is rounded at the tip and encloses a terminal mouth. The body is covered with large scales. Each of the jaws is armed with two robust plates which form a beak rather like that of a parrot, which is why they are called the parrotfishes. Species in the genus Calotomus are an exception to this rule since their dentition, on both jaws, is made up of series of incisors which are embedded into each other. The single dorsal fin of parrotfish comprises 9 flexible spines and 10 soft rays. The truncated or crescent shape of the tail depends both on the species and on the individual fish’s stage of development. There are effectively three phases of development usually seen in parrotfishes. They are the juvenile phase (JP) which corresponds to immature individuals, the initial phase (IP) mostly made up of mature females and the terminal phase (TP) composed exclusively of mature males. The fish’s shape and colour pattern vary a great deal depending on these three phases. Parrotfish are for the most part protogynous hermaphrodites. After the juvenile phase (JP), they are females first (IP) then become males (TP), during a metamorphosis lasting a few weeks that modifies their reproductive organs and the body shape and colours at the same time. However, in some species, these two sexual systems coexist, so there are so called “primary” males which are born male, and “secondary” males produced by a female changing sex. The Scaridae family’s range of distribution includes tropical and subtropical zones in the three oceans. It comprises 83 marine species belonging to 9 genera. The mean size of adults ranges from about twenty centimetres to 1.30 m for the biggest one, the green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum). Parrotfishes are demersal fish which all live in coral reef areas, lagoons or on outer reef slopes. They live either alone or in small groups, rarely in shoals. Many of them are territorial, particularly those forming harems where a male (TP) presides over a few females (IP). Thus, the way the group is organised depends entirely on the size structure of the individuals. Once the dominant male dies or disappears, he is replaced by the biggest female (IP) which is metamorphosed into a male (TP). Parrotfishes perform courtship displays in spawning season which take place in open water. Males and females then swim together in an aquatic ballet, going up to the surface and swooping back down to the bottom. The eggs and larvae are pelagic and drift wherever marine currents carry them. The diet of parrotfish is mostly made up of benthic algae growing on dead coral. Using their powerful beaks, they can rasp the surface of the corals, extracting both these seaweeds and part of the calcareous medium they are growing on. Their strong

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Parrotfishes

pharyngeal teeth complete the system which enables them to grind up this mix of coral and algae. The rest of the digestive tract is well adapted to this special diet, which can be supplemented, depending on the species, with small crustaceans, sponges, polyps of live coral or seagrasses. At the end of the digestion process, the bits of coral excreted produce large quantities of sand. It is estimated that a large parrotfish can excrete more than two tonnes of sand per year. Since this family represents one of the largest biomasses of the reef fish ichthyofauna, it can be said with certainty that parrotfishes play a major role in the constitution and dynamics of sandy areas in reef environments. They are mostly active during the day. At night, some parrotfishes secrete a cocoon of mucus that protects them while they sleep. The 2,300 t of officially declared catches, including 1,600 t for the West of the Indian Ocean, are very greatly underestimated. Indeed, this family is exclusively targeted by small local tropical fisheries which use nets, fish traps or crossbows and are rarely monitored for the regular statistical coverage. Seeing their diet, it is very hard to keep parrotfish in aquariums. They often flee from divers and are thus not easy to get close to, except at night. Amongst the parrotfish species most frequently sighted in the Indian Ocean, 25 species belonging to 8 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Green humphead parrotfish Perroquet bossu

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Bolbometopon muricatum This is the largest of the parrotfishes. With its protruding hump on the forehead, it is easily identified. They live in small groups, in areas of coral or granite with very rough terrains with large faults and caves where they can hide and sleep. In daytime, they like to be in shallow zones battered by the waves. They feed on benthic seaweeds and live corals. The green humphead uses its powerful hump to strike the coral, in order to get better access to the algae or polyps attached to it. The maximum size reported for this species is 1.26 m.

Size 1m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, granite bottoms, reef areas, drop-offs

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Parrotfishes

Carolines parrotfish Perroquet des Carolines Calotomus carolinus In its terminal phase, the colour base of this parrotfish is blueish and green. A network of pink lines starting at the eye radiates out over the head. In its initial phase, it is a marbled brown and grey colour, with the same network of lines and dots around the eye, but in a duller colour. They live alone or in small groups, in mixed reef areas where they feed on both benthic seaweeds and on seagrasses (phanerogams).

Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, mixed reef zones, seagrass meadows

Spinytooth parrotfish Perroquet camouflé

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Calotomus spinidens In the initial phase, its colouring is greenish brown on the back and the flanks. It is lighter and becomes rosy on the belly. There are two indistinct orange bars on its cheeks. In the terminal phase, the colouring is grey or dusky pink. Its cheeks display two oblique orangey pink bars which start at the eye and go down to the lower jaw. There is a black spot at the base of the dorsal fin. Another dusky spot can sometimes be seen at the base of the pectoral fin. In small groups, they occur in sheltered bays, lagoons and shallow areas of coral where the benthic seaweeds are abundant. They also feed on seagrass beds of phanerogams. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, mixed reef zones

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

509

Parrotfishes

Viridescent parrotfish Perroquet à pointillés Calotomus viridescens It is green-grown with pink patches and dash marks. There are black dots covering the cheeks and the area above the pectoral fin. It can rapidly adapt its colouration to the surroundings. The tail is rounded in juveniles and becomes trilobate afterwards. They patrol in small, mobile groups in seagrass beds, where they eat the leaves. Size

Zone

27 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Seagrass meadows

Bicolour parrotfish Perroquet bicolore

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Cetoscarus bicolor Juveniles have a magnificent colour pattern with a broad vertical orangey band, edged in black, covering the head from the front of the eye to the edge of the operculum. There is also a black spot on a yellow background on the front part of the dorsal fin. In its initial phase, it is red with scales edged and dotted with black. On the back there is a wide white longitudinal zone located at the base of the red dorsal fin. In the terminal phase, it has a splendid colour pattern with a blue-green base and a pink mark on each of the scales. The head is spotted with small patches and streaked with small pink lines. A yellow spot marks the base of the pectoral fin. Juveniles are solitary and cryptic, staying in zones of dense coral. Adults live in harems made up of a territorial, dominant male and a few females. They all feed on benthic algae. Its maximum size reaches 90 cm

Male

Female

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Parrotfishes

Juvenile Size

Zone

75 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, reef areas, outer slopes

Blue humphead parrotfish Perroquet cyan bicolore Chlorurus cyanescens It is deep blue, but the centres of the scales mid-body are green. The male develops a hump on the forehead. They move around in groups, often of a male and several females, grazing on the seaweed growing on hard surfaces. Size

Zone

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34 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Seaweed beds

Bullethead parrotfish Perroquet marguerite Chlorurus sordidus The female is very dusky in colour, with a white tail stamped with a black spot. Four pairs of white spots can be seen towards the rear of the flanks. In males, the back is green, with three blue bands around the beak and a white caudal fin, but these colours Male can vary. They favour the coral-rich areas of flats and lagoons, as well as fringing reefs and drop-offs. Juveniles form large groups which go back and forth between underwater pastures and their dormitories.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

511

Parrotfishes

Female Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Corals

Candelamoa parrotfish Perroquet jaune à longue tête

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Hipposcarus harid In the initial phase, this parrotfish is brown yellow on the back with a whitish underside. The border of each scale is lighter in colour. In the terminal phase, its green colour base becomes blue on the belly. The scales on the sides are pink. A long pink line runs from the beak to mid-body, passing along the axis of the pectoral fin. The lobes of the tail taper off into long filaments. These fish form harems, each composed of a male (TP) and numerous females (IP). They live in coral reef areas which are rich in benthic seaweeds. The maximum size can reach 75 cm Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, reef areas, outer slopes

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Parrotfishes

Marbled parrotfish Perroquet marbré Leptoscarus vaigiensis This small sized parrotfish is an exception in its family because they are not hermaphrodites, males and females being distinct individuals from birth. Their colouration does not vary much, brown-green in colour with a few light patches on some scales. They live in small groups in beds of phanerogams and in coral reef areas which are rich in benthic algae.

Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, seagrass meadows, mixed coral reef areas

Redbarred parrotfish Perroquet à queue barrée

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Scarus caudofasciatus In the initial phase, the female is deep red with four wide vertical bands which can be white or light pink on the hindpart of the body. The first band is located about mid-way back on the body and the last one is on the caudal peduncle. The male (TP) is blue-green, with scales edged in pink. A broad purple or violetcoloured patch can be seen on the back, vertical to the first six rays of the dorsal fin. They most often live alone on outer reef slopes of coral reef areas and on rocky drop-offs. Its maximum size reaches 50 cm.

Male

Female Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

513

Parrotfishes

Sicklefin parrotfish Perroquet faucille Scarus falcipinnis The colouring of the sicklefin parrotfish in the initial phase is reddish brown, with a lightercoloured head and bright red lips. In the terminal phase, its general colouration is blue-green with a large turquoise blue zone which extends on the underside from the snout to the anal fin. The two lobes of its tail are long and each marked with a yellow line. On the dorsal fin, the spaces between the rays are decorated with yellow spots. This parrotfish occurs in reef areas where it feeds on benthic seaweeds. Its maximum size reaches 60 cm. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Rusty parrotfish Perroquet rouille Scarus ferrugineus

Male

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The male’s body and snout are green, with a diffuse white bar in the middle of its side. Its cheeks are yellow and the fins are blue. The juveniles and females are brown, with a yellow tail and rear part of the dorsal fin. They form harems and are commonly seen above corals in reefs, lagoons and on outer slopes. They are endemic to the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.

Female Size 41 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-60 m

Outer slopes

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Parrotfishes

Bridled parrotfish Perroquet à six bandes Scarus frenatus In the initial phase its colour base is reddish brown with six darker horizontal bands along the body. In the terminal phase, it has bluegreen colouring with a well-defined green area covering the rear third of the body. There are pink lines on its head and dorsal, anal and caudal fins. This fish is rather solitary, but can sometimes be sighted associating with other species of parrrotfishes as they graze on benthic algae.

Male

Female Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Blue-barred parrotfish Perroquet à écailles jaunes

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Scarus ghobban During its initial phase, it is yellowbrown with a few blue patches on its body. In the terminal phase, the colour base is bright blue on the back and the scales have yellow edges. This yellow border of the dorsal scales gets progressively wider going down the body and finally covers all of the scales on the underside which thus become entirely yellow. Juveniles often move around in small groups in the shallow waters of lagoons whereas adults tend to be solitary, found on coral reefs, outer reef slopes and in wrecks. The maximum size can reach 90 cm Size 55 cm

Zone

Depth 0-30 m

Habitat Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes, caves and wrecks

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

515

Parrotfishes

Heavybeak parrotfish Perroquet machoîron Chlorurus gibbus The colouring of the juvenile is black with three horizontal golden yellow lines which extend from the snout as far back at the caudal peduncle. There is a fourth line running along the dorsal profile. In its initial phase, the colour base is reddish with green contours. Its lips are outlined by a turquoise blue line. In the final phase, the back and flanks are bright blue with a sky blue underside. The profile of the head has a strong hump above and in front of the eyes. This parrotfish mainly occurs on outer reef slopes. Its maximum size reaches 70 cm.

Male

Female Juvenile Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

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Quoy’s parrotfish Perroquet de Quoy Scarus quoyi The colouring is initially greenish on the back and yellowish brown on the belly. In the terminal phase, it looks similar to that of S. globiceps but, depending on the individual, the upper part of the caudal peduncle will display a green or a yellow saddle. Alone or in small groups, they occur in coral reef areas which are rich in benthic seaweeds. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 516 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Parrotfishes

Globehead parrotfish Perroquet-globe Scarus globiceps In the initial phase, the colouration is gre y - br ow n on th e b a ck a n d yellowish on the underside, decked with three white lines which are generally quite conspicuous on the abdomen. In the terminal phase, it takes on a blue-green colouring and each scale has a pink bar. The profile of the head becomes “globose” with age. This parrotfish preferentially occurs on outer reef slopes.

Size

Zone

27 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Singapore parrotfish Perroquet de Singapour

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Scarus prasiognathos In the initial phase, its colouration is reddish, scattered with numerous small white dots. In the terminal phase, its appearance greatly resembles that of S. falcipinnis but the profile of its head is very different. Often gathered in shoals, these parrotfishes occur both in calm lagoon waters and in more turbulent areas of the outer reef slope. Size 70 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

517

Parrotfishes

Dusky parrotfish Perroquet dorade Scarus niger Its reddish colour base is veined with horizontal whitish lines all over the body in the initial phase. In the terminal phase, the body is green with tints of purple. Each scale has a purple border. Its lips are outlined by a green line. This line continues along the head, crossing the eye and ending in a yellow spot at the top corner of the operculum. Juveniles are often in groups in sheltered reef areas, while adults prefer to move about alone in the rich coral reef areas on the outer slope.

Male

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Female

Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0- 20 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

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Parrotfishes

Ember parrotfish Perroquet braisé Scarus rubroviolaceus D a r k r e d i n c o l o u r, w i t h a brighter scattering of grey spots, its colour pattern turns to bluegreen in the terminal phase. Its lips are highlighted by a yellow line, followed by a turquoise line. The scales are edged in pink. The hindpart of the body is often lighter in colour. This relatively rare species tends to be sighted alone or in mated pairs on exposed reefs above rocky drop-offs.

Male

Female Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Eclipse parrotfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Perroquet éclipse Scarus russelii In the terminal phase, each of its scales on the blue background displays a pink line. The lower part of the cheeks is yellow. The front half of the body is duskier overall than the rest. This species occurs on outer reef slopes where it scrapes the corals and rocks to feed on the benthic algae growing there. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-15 m

Outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

519

Parrotfishes

Fivesaddle parrotfish Perroquet à cinq selles Scarus scaber Three to five more or less visible yellow saddles stand out against the brown back colouring of its initial pattern. The underside is beige. The brown and beige on the head are quite clearly separated at the level of the eye. As for the terminal phase colour pattern, it exhibits a deep blue upper front quarter of the body with the rest in a lighter blue-green hue and a yellow patch located two-thirds of the way back. Individuals in the initial phase are often in groups, but males in the terminal phase are more solitary. They all live in rich coral reef areas.

Male

Female Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Yellowband parrotfish Perroquet à barre jaune

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Scarus schlegeli In its initial phase, the yellowband parrotfish has a reddish body with five to six vertical white bands. In the terminal phase, the body is a deep blue-green with reddish tints, with the exception of a band of bright blue on its head and back. A vertical yellow band, which varies in width depending on the individual, is displayed on the middle of the body. Females and juveniles tend to group together to feed. Males are more solitary and often territorial. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 520 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Parrotfishes

Indian Ocean steephead parrotfish Perroquet grand bleu Scarus strongylocephalus The initial colouring of the Indian Ocean steephead parrotfish is bright yellow on the back and reddish on the underside. In the terminal phase, it evolves towards a blue base with yellow on the cheeks and sometimes on the body. Juveniles are rather solitary, whereas the adults often gather together in small groups. This big parrotfish can measure up to 70 cm in length.

Male

Female Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Tricolour parrotfish Perroquet tricolore

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Scarus tricolor In the initial phase, this parrotfish displays an orangey red tail and a yellow anal fin. In the terminal phase, it is green with a pink line at the base of each scale. Its dorsal and anal fins are pink with blue edges. The two lobes of its tail each have a broad pink line bordered in blue on them. Solitary or in groups, the tricolour parrotfish occurs in rich coral reef areas. Size 55 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

521

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Parapercis signata (family Pinguipédidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sandperches and sand divers Les perches et plongeurs de sable

◗◗

Family Pinguipedidae

These are small-sized fish measuring between 15 and 20 cm on average, whose bodies are elongate and not very laterally compressed. Their long dorsal fin is composed of a short first part, made up of 4 to 5 spines, followed by the second much longer part with 19 to 26 soft rays. The colour base is often striped with bars or vertical bands. Their eyes, located high on the profile of the head, and their posture, often resting on their pelvic fins, make them look like a sentry on watch. They are benthic and carnivorous, feeding on small fish and small crustaceans. They present a territorial behaviour and live in harems. As protogynous hermaphrodites, they start their lives as females and later change sex to become the dominant male in a group of females. However, they do not make a nest, spawning in open water and letting their eggs drift with the currents. They are of no interest for fisheries. Quite timid, divers must approach them slowly to avoid them rapidly taking flight. Amongst the various sandperch species sighted in the Indian Ocean, 12 are presented in this guide.

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Latticed sandperch Perche de sable à treillis Parapercis clathrata The white underside is striped with red bars, each bearing a black dash mark. The colour of the back varies from grey to beige. There is a longitudinal white mark between two black lines on the tail. The male has a white-ringed black ocellus on the top of the operculum. They spread out in small groups on areas of sand, rubble and rocks. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sandperches and sand divers

Cylindrical sandperch Perche de sable cylindrique Parapercis cylindrica It is pale grey, studded with black and brown dots and patches all over its back. More or less pronounced saddles are linked to large, very dusky oval patches. It has a pointed nose and thick lips. They swim around on detritic seabeds, stopping to observe around them from a stone, then swooping down on a crab or small fish. They choose an area around a shelter dug under a stone. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

4-30 m

Lagoons, sand, outer slopes

Wavy grubfish Perche de sable ondulée Parapercis haackei It can be distinguished by its pointed nose, a wavy brown line running from the snout to the tail, which separates the yellow-brown back from the white underside with small orange spots. The eye is highlighted by a small curved electric blue line. Juveniles are inconspicuous and hide under stones. Mated pairs, not necessarily close together, keep watch over their little territory of sand and rubble at the foot of reefs. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Detritic bottoms

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Speckled sandperch Perche de sable ocellée Parapercis hexophtalma Against its white and sandy colour pattern, a large black patch spreads out at the centre of the tail. Males can be differentiated by the thin dark oblique lines from the eye to the gill cover, whereas the females have a scattering of small dots on their heads. These sandperches live in harems, made up of two to five females on a detritic sandy bottom. They are ambush hunters, but often change their lookout posts above the seabed.

Male

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 524 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sandperches and sand divers

Female Size

Zone

26 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Lagoons, mixed coral areas

Dotlined grubfish Perche de sable à lignes pointillées

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Parapercis lineopunctata The body is grey with dark dots, and paler towards the underside. The dorsal fins have a yellowish colour. Two blueish white lines highlight the eye. Like the other sandperches, they favour calm, clear, limpid water in lagoons and shallow bays. They are active during the day and return to their hiding place under a stone when night falls. Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Sand

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

525

Sandperches and sand divers

Black dotted sandperch Perche de sable à taches noires Parapercis millepunctata Rows of more or less dark brown patches cover its entire body. There are more of them on the underside. The middle of the tail is white. This species is found on rocky and rubble bottoms, between coral reefs. Its distribution in the Indian Ocean begins to the east of Madagascar. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Redbarred sandperch Perche de sable tachetée Parapercis multiplicata There are two black spots located on each of the eight red bars spreading over its light-coloured sides. The spiny part of the dorsal fin is black. Alone or in small groups, they are found in clear water on shallow detritic seabeds. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

4-30 m

Lagoons, sand, outer slopes

Dotted sandperch Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Perche de sable ponctuée Parapercis punctulata Its sandy coloured back is covered with small black dots, as are the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The sail of the dorsal fin’s hard rays is black, rimmed in red. The three black spots marking the female’s belly underneath the pectoral fin disappear after her sex change at a size of about 10 cm. The upper and lower borders of the tail remain red. These fish live in mated pairs on detritic bottoms at the foot of reefs. Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral areas, detritic areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 526 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sandperches and sand divers

Blackflag sandperch Perche de sable à drapeau noir Parapercis signata A series of pale patches extends over the entire length of its sandy-hued body. The beginning of the dorsal fin is black. They are common, but endemic to the Maldives and the male and his females live on stretches of sand. They burrow into the sediment under a block of coral, to hide or to sleep. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

13 cm

Maldives

2-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Snyder’s grubfish Perche de sable à marques noires Parapercis snyderi This species can be distinguished by dusky saddles on the back, a darkcoloured first dorsal fin and spots on its tail. There are great variations in the patterns and colours, which depend both on the location of populations and on an individual’s surroundings at a given time. Living in slide rubble on sandy-muddy bottoms, these sand perches form harems around a stone under which they dig their shelters. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Rockslide rubble

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Reticulated sandperch Perche de sable à barres noires Parapercis tetracantha Seven to eight dark squares are distributed over the body, in contact with the bars circling around the belly. A triangular black patch links the eye to the operculum, with a black dot at its upper angle. This fish prefers the calm, clear water inside and outside of lagoons, where it keeps watch over its territory from a promontory. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

12-25 m

Lagoons, mixed coral reef areas, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

527

Sandperches and sand divers

Yellowbar sandperch Perche de sable à barre jaune Parapercis xanthozona A light-coloured median band goes from the eye to its speckled yellow tail. There are large vertical rustycoloured bars each with a big black dot in the middle, separated from each other by zones of white. The species is present on shallow, sheltered sandy seafloors. Size

Zone

23 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral areas, detritic areas

Family Trichonotidae (sand divers)

Long-rayed sand diver Plongeur de sable élégant Trichonotus elegans This is a very elongate fish with a pointed nose and large dorsal fin. The male has large free rays at the front of the dorsal. They swim in shoals, one to two metres above the seabed, to catch zooplankton in the current. They form harems of one male for a dozen females. When threatened, they dive under the sand and remain hidden there for a long moment. Size

Zone

18 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-30 m

Sand

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Spotted sand diver Plongeur de sable pointillé Trichonotus setifer This sand diver looks like the previous one. It has orangey spots on its light blue back, entirely dotted with small shiny blue dots. The males can be distinguished by their brighter colours and by the long rays of their dorsal fin. Shoals, made up of groups of males, females and juveniles in harems, are preferentially found in passes with sandy bottoms and currents running through them. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-30 m

Sand

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 528 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Parapercis xanthozona

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Ecsenius midas (family Blenniidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Combtooth blennies Les blennies

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Blenniidae

These small elongate fish with no scales exhibit very different colourations from one species to another. Blennies are often confused with gobies, which are fish of the same size with quite similar morphological features. However, almost all blennies have a single long dorsal fin, contrary to the gobies which have two. There are often whisker-like cirri above the eyes and on the nape. The pelvic fins are inserted well before the pectoral fins. This big family comprises 345 species belonging to 53 genera. Although many of the species are marine fishes, others live in fresh or brackish water. The benthic species, making up the great majority of this family’s members, live in coastal areas at shallow depths. They are often seen resting on the seabed with their body curved, unlike gobies which tend to be perched, holding themselves straight on a rock or promontory. Their diet is made up of both seaweeds and small benthic invertebrates. Some species are planktivores. Amongst others, there is one blenny, Aspidontus taeniatus, that is mimetic of the cleaner wrasse, taking advantage of this resemblance to easily approach big fish and feed, not on their parasites like the wrasse does, but on small pieces of their skin or scales. Generally the host fish quickly reacts to being thus bitten and a chase begins. We have often seen this species of blenny in the deep-sea pelagic environment, aggregating under FADs moored several nautical miles off Reunion Island. Moreover, these blennies have not hesitated to bite us during our dives to inspect the devices. Males attract gravid females to deposit their eggs in a small hole in the rocks, a crack or under an empty shell. The eggs are then guarded by the male or by both parents. Some species deposit their eggs in the intertidal zone, on the boundary between land and sea. In this way, the eggs are uncovered during part of their incubation, which provides them with a higher temperature, as well as oxygenation and more effective protection (Martin et al., 2004). Blennies are present in the tropical and subtropical zones of the three oceans and in the Mediterranean. The maximum size of blennies in adulthood varies from approximately 3 to 15 cm, with the exception of the snake blenny (Xiphasia setifer) that, as its name indicates, is serpentiform and can measure up to 53 cm in length. Seeing their size, blennies hold no interest for fisheries. However, many of the species are sold for use in aquariums. Generally not shy, they take off suddenly when they feel that they are no longer at a safe distance from an intruder. Amongst the most common blennies in the Indian Ocean, 20 species belonging to 10 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Combtooth blennies

Lance blenny Blennie lance Aspidontus dussumieri Imitating the cleaner wrasses, it has a dark band from the snout to the tail against a light-coloured background. The male is differentiated by a lanceolate caudal fin with long yellow filaments trailing behind it. Rather shy, they stay near the bottom and will rush to an empty worm hole that they enter tail-first in the case of danger. But they do attack unwary fish and rip off pieces of scales or strips of their skin.

Male

Female Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds

False cleanerfish Faux nettoyeur

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Aspidontus taeniatus Its colouration varies from white to bright blue and is often yellow on the back. A long black band runs from the tip of the snout to on the tail, becoming progressively wider towards the rear. This colour pattern is close to that of the cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, whose appearance it mimics in order to get close to its victims. Indeed, its mouth is situated under the snout (the mouth is terminal in wrasses) and is armed with powerful teeth that let it tear strips of skin off victims that have been tricked by its resemblance. The falsecleanerfish hides in the tube hole of an annelid worm, entering it backwards. They often live in mated pairs. Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Lagoons, coral beds, moored FADs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 532 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Combtooth blennies

Orange-spotted blenny Blennie à points rouges Blenniella chrysospilos It has a white face dotted with bright red spots. There are two bifid antennae above its eyes. Darkcoloured double bars form “H” shapes along its sides. Red stripes can appear on males, from the operculum to the tail. Taking refuge in a cavity, these blennies rush out between two waves to tear off bits of sponges and algae from coral flats just beneath the breakers. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-8 m

Corals

Chestnut eyelash-blenny Blennie châtaigne Cirripectes castaneus Generally a dull brown, it can display dark bars on the body and red spots on the head. Several other species in the family resemble it, both in appearance and in forms of behaviour. A cautious fish, it lies low in seaweed on the reef fringe, preparing to move between two waves. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-32 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky areas

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Filamentous blenny Blennie à filaments Cirripectes filamentosus Like other species in the genus Cirripectes, it is stocky with strong pectoral fins and a long dorsal fin. They have small cirri above the gills and around the eyes. Males are dark brown, and can be distinguished by the thin red bars on its head and the front part of its back. They graze on seaweeds which grow in the surf zone, near crevices where they take shelter. Size 9 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, seagrass meadows

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

533

Combtooth blennies

Bath’s combtooth blenny Blennie de Bath Ecsenius bathi The female is grey with a yellowish head and there are two black lines running on the sides. The male has two red stripes extending from the eye to the tail, with white patches between them. They hide in corals where food is abundant, from the crest of the reef to drop-offs. Size

Zone

4 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Shallow reefs

Red Sea mimetic blenny Blennie mimétique de mer Rouge Ecsenius gravieri This is a small, elongate blenny which is blue on the front half and yellow on the rear half of its body. The black line linking the eye to the end of the back is followed by a series of black dots. It sports a pair of small antennae in front of the eyes. Resting on reef flats, it is a harmless species, unlike the venomous blackline fang blenny, Meiacanthus nigrolineatus which imitates it in order to approach heedless prey. However, the fang blenny in question has neither antennae nor dots on the tail. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Corals

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Lined blenny Blennie à lignes Ecsenius lineatus The belly is white, and a wide dusky band becoming broken towards the tail separates it from the yellowbrown back. The lined blenny has a tuft of cirri in front of each eye. Unlike the carnivorous blennies, the herbivorous ones have no swim bladder, meaning that they can rest on the bottom with greater stability. Motionless, propped up on their ventral fins, they observe the situation, then slip over to a different lookout post. They occur preferentially in zones where depths do not exceed 5 m. Size 9 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-28 m

Coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 534 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Combtooth blennies

Midas blenny Blennie de Midas Ecsenius midas Its body is prolonged by a forked tail. There are two blue lines forming bars at the eye, underneath its little “antennae”. Some individuals, whose colouring is blueish grey, remain benthic. Others go up into the open water above the seabed and blend in with a variety of other species. These blennies then take on a quite different colouring of bright yellow so they can pass unnoticed amongst the host group, most often anthias, and share the same zooplankton prey. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Nalolo Blennie nalolo Ecsenius nalolo Its tan body is scattered with darkcoloured oblong patches towards the front and white spots on the hindpart. A collar beard-like line runs up along the gill. They come out of nooks and crannies to graze on low-cropped seaweed. Two similar species inhabit the North of the Red Sea, E. dentex (lighter in colour) and E. minutus which shares the zone of the Maldives. Size

Zone

5 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Coral beds

Leopard blenny Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Blennie léopard Exallias brevis This big stocky blenny is lightcoloured and covered with a series of rust coloured spots. Occasionally the males have a red back and tail. The females have a drabber colouring. This species lives under the surf zone, in branching coral, and feeds on polyps. The male is territorial. It rasps the surface of the coral and builds a nest in the filamentous seaweed growing there. Several females will come to spawn there and they will also deposit eggs in other nests. Size 14 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Reef plateau, coral beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

535

Combtooth blennies

Rippled rockskipper Blennie à rides Istiblennius edentulus It is light beige, with dusky bars all over the body. Its massive, blunt head has a small crest in front of its twopart dorsal fin. They are found a few centimetres below the surface. Adults jump onto the rocks and spawn at the boundary between land and sea. In this way, the eggs are emerged during part of their incubation, which provides them with a higher temperature, as well as oxygenation and more effective protection. Size

Zone

16 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-5 m

Rocky borders, coastal detritic areas

Black-banded blenny Blennie à rayures Meiacanthus grammistes This blenny is white with a yellow head and displays three black lines which get thinner and break up towards the tail. Several blennies have adopted similar colour patterns to it and all of them have venomous fangs on the lower jaw as well. They are solitary, occurring both in calm lagoons and on the outer slope, always close to a hiding place. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Blackline fangblenny Blennie à tirets Meiacanthus nigrolineatus The front half of the body is bluegrey and the rear half is yellow. There is a black line stretching from the eye to the top of the caudal fin. The blackline fangblenny is mimicked by other blennies and hunts for larvae and plankton above the seafloor. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

9 cm

+ Aden

0-8 m

Corals

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 536 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Combtooth blennies

Smith’s venomous blenny Blennie de Smith Meiacanthus smithi This blenny is pearl grey with a black line going up from the eye to the dorsal. From there, it becomes wider and extends over the entire base of the dorsal fin. Like the other species in the genus, they have venomous fangs on the lower jaw which they use to defend themselves. This specificity not only protects them, but encourages other fish to imitate them. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-35 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Shorthead sabretooth blenny Blennie à tête courte Petroscirtes breviceps It is mimetic of Meiacanthus grammistes with which it shares the territory, only differing from it by having thinner black lines. Its large fang-like canines are not venomous, but enable it to attack other fish or zooplankton above the seabed. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Floral blenny Blennie mitrée Petroscirtes mitratus It is a grey marbled colour and the first two rays of the dorsal fin are very long. They live in shallow lagoon areas in clumps of seaweed and make their nest in an empty shell. Juveniles can be sighted far offshore, in sargassum or in the company of Cassiopea jellyfishes. Size 8 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-10 m

Lagoons, coral beds, seagrass meadows

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

537

Combtooth blennies

Piano fangblenny Blennie à dents acérées Plagiotremus tapeinosoma It can be distinguished from P. rhinorhynchos by a central black band which breaks up towards the rear. The hindpart of the back is yellow. It is just as aggressive as the bluestriped fangblenny, and feeds on the mucus and fragments of skin or scales which it tears off its victims. It will unhesitatingly attack any diver intruding on its territory. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

8-30 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Bluestriped fangblenny Blennie à rayures bleues Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos

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The elongated body of this blenny has two broad bands, one extending from the snout to the tail and the other, thinner one, stretching along the back. It can have two colourations, either black bands with blue between them or orangey brown with thin light blue lines. It swims in a jerky dance to attract fish who think they are dealing with a cleanerfish. It then rips off scales and pieces of their skin before rapidly retreating to its hole to wait for other gullible victims.

Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 538 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Combtooth blennies

Snake blenny Blennie serpent Xiphasia setifer The snake blenny’s tail is similar to a very long cylindrical ribbon with alternating light and dark rings, grey or sandy-coloured, depending on the type of seabed. The dorsal fin runs over the entire length of its duskier body. Rarely visible, it lives in soft substrate bottoms where it sinks tailfirst into a tube shaped shelter and prefers to come out at night. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-55 m

Soft sandy-muddy bottoms

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

53 cm

Ecsenius midas (family Blenniidae) Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

539

Combtooth blennies

◗◗

Family Pholidichthyidae

Convict blenny Blennie bagnard Pholidichthys leucotaenia

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The adult has a cylindrical body where wide black and pale yellow rings alternate. Juveniles are black with light longitudinal strips and look like the striped catfish which is venomous. Thanks to this mimicry and their tight shoals, predators stay away, even when the blennies are swimming above the coral. Adults live peacefully in sandy galleries near reefs and feed on small crustaceans.

Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 540 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Ecsenius http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

lineatus (family Blenniidae)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Ptereleotris evides (sub-family Ptereleotrinae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Dartfishes Les poissons-fléchettes

Family Microdesmidae, sub-family Ptereleotrinae ◗◗

Small in size, often less than 12 cm long, these dartfishes are elongate in shape with two separate dorsal fins (sub-family Ptereleotrinae) and a single long dorsal fin for the Microdesminae. In some species the first dorsal fin is sometimes quite tall, forming a long filament. Their multicoloured base varies considerably from one species to another, and generally makes it possible to identify them on dives. They wait for plankton above their burrow, into which they will dive head-first at the slightest danger. Although the adults most often live in mated pairs, the juveniles tend to form small groups. Spawning takes place in the burrow and the parents watch over the eggs until they hatch. They hold no interest for fisheries, seeing their size and their range of distribution, however they are greatly liked by aquarium keepers and hold up well in captivity.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Blackfin dartfish Poisson-fléchette gris Ptereleotris evides The grey body becomes progressively darker towards the tail, especially at the level of its two big dorsal and anal fins. Mated pairs swim a metre or two above the bottom and can find themselves pushed far away from their burrows (which they try to get back to by making circular movements around the intruder). The hole is most often located in the hard substrate of the outer slope. Size 13 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Dartfishes

Elegant firefish Poisson-fléchette décoré Nemateleotris decora The body is light coloured and the fins are red and purple. The first rays of its dorsal fin are well developed. Its forehead and nose are mauve. A sedentary species, it always inhabits deep water (in Reunion Island and Mauritius, they can be found below 50 m). It stands sentry, in detritic zones, 10 or 20 cm above a hole which it will not move away from. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

25-70 m

Deep detritic areas

Fire goby Poisson-fléchette de feu Nemateleotris magnifica

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

This fish is remarkable for the large “sickle” shape formed by the first rays of its first dorsal fin. Its colour base is white at the front, becoming orange mid-body and duskier towards the tail. It lives in mated pairs in fairly shallow areas, on hard substrates of slope where it takes up residence in a crack. By approaching slowly, they can be seen up close, but the pair will rapidly dive back to shelter, waiting for the alarm to be over.

Size 7 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

6-60 m

Outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 544 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Dartfishes

Curious wormfish Poisson-ver curieux Gunnellichthys curiosus It is snake-shaped, with a grey back and light-coloured belly, separated by an orangey stripe ending at the tail with a black spot. It undulates above the sandy-gravelly bottoms where it takes refuge at the slightest threat.

Size 12 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

5-60 m

Detritic sand

Onespot wormfish Poisson-ver à une tache Gunnellichthys monostigma

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A pale grey colour, the wormfish is very long, with no big fins and has a black dot smaller than its eye marking the back of the operculum. In colonies, they undulate just above the sand, facing the current and catching the larvae of crustaceans, but they will plunge head-first into the fine sediment in the case of danger.

Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-40 m

Fine sandy areas in coral environments

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

545

Dartfishes

Mauritius dartfish Poisson-fléchette de Maurice Ptereleotris grammica melanota Its long body has a distinctive black stripe running from the gills to the black-spotted tail. This differentiates it from the other sub-species P. grammica grammica which has two yellow lines and lives in deep water on detritic slopes in the Indo-Pacific. Both of them are unobtrusive and cautious. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

9 cm

Maurice

40-60 m

Rockslide rubble

Threadfin Dartgoby Poisson-fléchette à filament Ptereleotris hanae It is elongate, pale blue-green in colour, with a red spot in front of the pectoral fin. The male has long filaments extending out from his tail. They hunt for plankton, in pairs, facing the current and take refuge in a cavity or a goby’s hole. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-45 m

Sand, rockslide rubble

Blacktail goby Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-fléchette à queue tachée Ptereleotris heteroptera This pale grey dartfish does not have the big fins of P. evides and can be distinguished from it by a black patch at the centre of its yellow tail. Its depth depends on the area where it lives, and they are often found with their mates, hunting facing the current, 2 or 3 m above the detritic bottom where they have their holes. Juveniles stay in groups, huddling together near the seabed.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 546 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Dartfishes

Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

7-45 m

Detritic bottoms, outer slopes

Zebra dartgoby Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-fléchette zébré Ptereleotris zebra It has a blue-green base and lightcoloured stripes with dusky borders all along its body, with a deep blue patch under the eye and another behind the gill. They live in groups, in very shallow water (2-5 m), above wave-battered bare flats, in mixed age-groups and mingling with other species. Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Bare flats

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

547

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Bryaninops yongei (family Gobiidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies Les gobies

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Gobiidae

These are small-sized fish rarely measuring more than 10 cm, with an elongate, often cylindrical shaped body. Gobies can be distinguished from their close relatives, the blennies, by their two dorsal fins, which are more or less separate depending on the genus (most blennies having a single dorsal fin). Their ventral fins join up underneath the belly to form a disc similar to a suction pad. They have a short snout and their eyes set high on the head show their ability to keep watch for predators. For gobies are indeed the prey of many other fishes. The Gobiidae are the largest family of marine fishes in the tropical and subtropical zones of the planet. The family comprises over 1,850 species belonging to 212 genera. In the Indo-Pacific region alone, there are more than 500 species. With such a wide range of species, identifying certain gobies can be problematical and it is considered that many species still remain to be described. Although they are less numerous, there are some fresh-water and brackish-water species as well as a few amphidromous species like the famous “bichique” (Sicyopterus lagocephalus), which is highly prized in the cuisine of Reunion Island. The smallest vertebrate on earth is a fresh-water goby (6 mm when adult). Most of the carnivorous species live directly on the seafloor, on a sandy, muddy, shingle or coral bottom. Some gobies, like those in the genus Bryaninops, stay constantly perched on branches of black coral (Antipatharia), gorgonians or alcyonarians and roll long filaments with their eggs around this host. Gobies which live on the sand protect themselves by sharing a burrow with an alpheid shrimp. These shrimp are virtually blind and need the goby as a sentry to warn them when a predator is near. Using one of its antennae, the shrimp is almost always in physical contact with its goby so that it can react instantly at the slightest movement of the lookout. In exchange, the goby is accepted in the burrow where the shrimp is constantly cleaning, stabilising or fixing up the entrance, the galleries and the bigger chambers. Females deposit their elliptical eggs in a nest guarded by the male. There are also a few “cleaner” gobies which feed on the parasites of bigger fish. With the exception of a few species commercialised in the islands of the Indian Ocean, under the name of “bichique”, the vast majority of the other species hold no interest for fisheries. However, their size, colourful patterns and above all, their specific behaviour, are all assets for use by aquarists. To observe them, in some cases divers must be very patient and wait until they are good and ready to come out of their hiding place.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

Horseshoe shrimpgoby Gobie sabot Amblyeleotris arcupinna It is grey-beige, sporting five wide orange-brown bands on the body. Small blue patches fleck the lighter areas between them. The head and dorsal fin have light blue dash marks on them. It shares its burrow with the shrimp Alpheus bellilus, keeping watch, nose to the current, and only moves in order to catch some passing food item. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-50 m

Detritic sand

Pinkbar goby Gobie magnifique Amblyeleotris aurora Amongst the large number of quite similar species, i.e., light-coloured with reddish oblique bars, this one can be distinguished by a red bar under its eye and behind the mouth and the red spots on the yellow fringe of its tail. Alone or in pairs, it shares a burrow in detritic sand with a shrimp (Alpheus randalli). Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-35 m

Burrows in sandy-muddy bottoms, flats, outer slopes

Spotted shrimpgoby Gobie grimé Amblyeleotris guttata Its breast and pelvic fins are dark grey. There are orange spots covering the head, dorsal fin and body. They live on detritic seabeds, often in pairs along with a blind shrimp, in a tunnel reinforced with small pebbles. Size 9 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-35 m

Outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 550 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

Masked shrimpgoby Gobie masqué Amblyeleotris gymnocephala The masked shrimpgoby displays oblique red-brown bars like the other Amblyeleotris, but it can be differentiated from them by the irregular brown patches on the light coloured spaces between them and by the thin red line on the edges of its dorsal fins. It occupies the sandy or muddy seabed and shares its hole with a burrowing shrimp, or sometimes with a partner of the same species. The species is indicated as occurring in the East of the Indian Ocean and is also present in the Mascarenes. Size 12 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

6-40 m

Burrows in sandy-muddy bottoms

Wide-barred shrimpgoby Gobie métallique Amblyeleotris latifasciata Its colouration has alternating vertical orange bands against a background of red-brown and lighter areas. This colour pattern is complemented by blueish spots on the head and vertical yellow lines on the hindpart of the body. The tail and dorsal fin have bright orange patches on their fringes. When it is on light-coloured sand, its colouration is paler. This goby is known in South-East Asia and is also present in the west of the Indian Ocean, at least in Reunion Islands, below depths of 30 m. It lives in a burrow in association with a shrimp. Size

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

10 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

15-55 m

Burrows in sandy-muddy bottoms, flats, outer slopes

Periophthalma prawn-goby Gobie périophtalme Amblyeleotris periophtalma Its light colour base, obliquely striped with red-brown is spotted with reddish dots. Often in mated pairs, this one can do without the services of a shrimp, and establishes its hide in coral gravel. Size 8 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-35 m

Flats, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

551

Gobies

Randall’s shrimpgoby Gobie de Randall Amblyeleotrys randalli A sandy-coloured base sporting six orange bars topped by a large whiteedged dorsal fin with a large black spot describes this species. It favours sandy beaches under vaults at the foot of drop-offs. Several pairs can share the entrance to a large cave. An Alpheus burrowing shrimp ensures the upkeep of their galleries. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

25-50 m

Vaults

Steinitz’ prawn-goby Gobie de Steinitz Amblyeleotris steinitzi The alternating black and white pattern around the eye is what characterises this light-coloured prawn-goby which has five oblique bars. Although wary, it can be approached and prefers to be on fine sand. The burrowing shrimp keeps an antenna in contact with the goby’s body at all time, so it is alerted at the slightest quiver. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-45 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Gorgeous prawn-goby Gobie splendide Amblyeleotris wheeleri The red bars are wider than the lightcoloured ones. The entire colour base is spotted with blue dots. One or two of the first dorsal fin’s rays stick well out from it. The top of the head is red. This goby often chooses its burrow near a stone which it props itself on to see further, while maintaining the contact with its shrimp (Alpheus ochrostriatus). When a mated pair occupies the hole, the other mate keeps watch over another part of the horizon. Size 10 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 552 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

Flagtail shrimpgoby Gobie à caudale peinte Amblyeleotris yanoi It adapts its general colouration to that of the sand where it lives. There are quite conspicuous orangey bars on its body, but its long pointed tail with two bright yellow bands is what is really distinctive about the flagtail. It shares its tunnel with Alpheus randalli, a blind red and white shrimp. Size

Zone

13 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Sand

Hector’s goby Gobie d’Hector Amblygobius hectori This fish has the silhouette of a small wrasse, and is dark grey with three longitudinal yellow line and three ocelli, the largest of them, behind the second dorsal fin, being highly visible. It is territorial, taking over a small sandy beach in a zone rich with coral in calm water. They are plankton-eaters. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Lagoons, sheltered bays, flats, mixed bottoms

Dusky barred goby Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Gobie annelé Amblygobius phalaena The dusky bars on its body have got light blue borders. The gills, the rear of the first dorsal fin and the top of the tail are all marked with black. It can be confused with other Amblygobius species in the Red Sea, A. albimaculatus or A. semicinctus in the Indian Ocean. It establishes its burrow under a stone on the detritic seabeds of reef flats. It swallows up mouthfuls of sand which are then rejected through the gills after it has filtered out the microalgae and invertebrates to eat. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Flat

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

553

Gobies

Half-banded goby Gobie à demi-bandes Amblygobius semicinctus The beige colouration displays irregularly scattered brown patches over the head and body. The underside is marked with five to six vertical white bars with black borders. The first dorsal fin is tall and exhibits a black ocellus, as does the edge of the gill cover. There is a black spot on the upper part of the fin at the base of the tail. The half-banded goby is monogamous. It digs its burrow under coral rubble, where it filters sand to recover the algae and invertebrates it feeds on. Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-10 m

Lagoons, sheltered bays, soft bottoms

Blue-speckled rubble goby Gobie de Miller Asterropteryx ensifera This massive goby seems to be black when seen from a distance. In reality it is speckled with small blue dots. It settles in its hole on sandy substrate where it catches passing plankton carried by the current. Size

Zone

3 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-40 m

Sand

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Dwarf gobies These small gobies look a lot alike. It is possible to differentiate between them above all by the medium that they live on (usually in mated pairs) and where the females deposit their eggs.

Large whip goby Gobie nain des gorgones Bryaninops amplus Its eyes are red and its bones and viscera are visible in its transparent body. Its skin is red to brown in places. This dwarf goby likes gorgonians, but can also live on black corals (Antipatharia) and soft corals (Alcyonaria). From there, it grabs its planktonic prey and then resumes its

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Gobies

position. Its presence is revealed by the gorgonian polyps or “flowers” retracting. It winds its eggs in a ribbon around the branches of its host. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Unbranched gorgonian whip corals (Junceella spp.)

Whip coral goby Gobie nain des antipathaires Bryaninops yongei Smaller and more beige in colour than the previous species, it only lives on antipatharians, i.e. Cirripathes anguina. They settle in pairs on the last 20 cm of the antipatharian’s whip, digging a groove in the host’s tissue to deposit its eggs, as seen in the photograph. Size

Zone

3 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-50 m

Black coral (Cirripathes anguina)

Harlequin prawn-goby Gobie arlequin

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Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus The harlequin prawn-goby is greybeige with red ocelli rimmed in sky blue on its head and its two large dorsal fins. Thin oblique bars mark the posterior half of the body. It shares a burrow with a big burrowing shrimp on coarse sandy bottoms in areas with a slight current.

Size 13 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Soft sandy-muddy bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

555

Gobies

Y-bar shrimp goby Gobie sellé Cryptocentrus fasciatus This goby is very dark, with small blue dots, and white saddles covering the front half of its back. Its dorsal fins are also white. They occupy sandy areas around reefs in shallow water.

Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-15 m

Sand

Pinkspotted shrimpgoby Gobie à points roses Cryptocentrus leptocephalus This goby has a dusky colouration on its head and back. Its cheeks and underside are pale, as are the oblique bars running down its sides. Big pink spots and white dots are scattered over the body and dorsal fin. Mated pairs share a burrow with the Alpheus shrimp in the sand and in holes in the coral at the foot of reefs. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Sand

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Target shrimp goby Gobie-cible Cryptocentrus strigilliceps It is light grey and sports wide dusky bars on its body. It can be recognised by the big midnight blue spots accentuating the middle of its sides. They prefer shallow, muddy or silty bottoms, and live there with an alpheid shrimp. Size 6 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-6 m

Muddy bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 556 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

Gold-streaked prawn-goby Gobie à traits d’or Ctenogobiops aurocingulus The colouring of this goby is beige with dark blurry patches and numerous orange- to gold-coloured dots and dashes. There is a white spot on the top part of the base of the pectoral fin as well as one on the fins itself. In lagoons and on outer reef slopes, it shares a burrow with an alpheid shrimp. This species’ range of distribution is rather centred in the Western Pacific. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Lagoons, outer reef slopes

Silverspot shrimpgoby Gobie à points argentés Ctenogobius crocineus It is light-coloured with brown blotches on the back and flanks. It displays a series of orange spots arranged in diagonal lines starting at the eye and of silvery dots on its sides along the back. It is quite frequently sighted in lagoons and on patches of sand, often living with a shrimp. Size

Zone

7 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Sand

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Spotfin shrimpgoby Gobie à taches dorées Ctenogobiops pomastictus This is a fairly elongate goby with a sandy colour base and orangey brown patches on the head and body. Living near reefs, on sometimes muddy sand, it shares its burrow with an Alpheus shrimp.

Size 6 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Sand

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

557

Gobies

Prawn-goby Gobie de sable de la mer Rouge Ctenogobiops sp. Its light-coloured transparent body has golden spots and patches from the snout to the tail. It is common and is mostly found in sandy shallow lagoon areas. Its burrow, dug by a shrimp, has several exits. Size

Zone

4 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Soft sandy-muddy bottoms

Spotted pygmy goby Gobie pygmée tacheté Eviota guttata There are large coral-pink coloured patches on its cylindrical, translucent body, arranged in lines which fade towards the rear and it is covered from head to tail by small brown dots and flecks. It has protruding eyes and white nostrils. These gobies live in thin seaweeds which colonise dead coral, forming very discreet small groups. They can be observed in very shallow water from the South of the Red Sea to Sri Lanka. Size

Zone

2.4 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Corals

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Dwarfgoby Gobie pygmée à ventre noir Eviota pellucida It is pink and transparent, with a red central part where bright yellow lines running from the eye to the front of the body stand out clearly. The ventral part displays a black patch with a white line. They are present on coral heads, where they catch the plankton carried along on the current. Size 3.5 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Corals

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 558 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

Seebree’s pygmy goby Gobie pygmée de Seebree Eviota sebreei Its body seems to be transparent, except for an internal black line highlighted by white spots. They live on top of corals and move about making small leaps to catch zooplankton. Size

Zone

3 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-25 m

Corals

Filamented sand goby Gobie de vase Exyrias belissimus It has a massive head. Its fins are light coloured but the body is dusky grey, with whitish saddles spread over the back or coming up from the belly. They are numerous in places, but are solitary individuals, living near the base of corals. They filter microorganisms from the mouthfuls of sand that they then expel through their gills. Size

Zone

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15 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-20 m

Sand, mud

Common fusegoby Gobie des sables Fusigobius neophytus Light-coloured with a dusting of spots, its dorsal fin sometimes looks more yellow. It occurs in rubble and sandy-muddy bottoms of lagoons and flats.

Size 7 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Soft sandy-muddy bottoms in lagoons on reef flats

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

559

Gobies

Eyebar goby Gobie à épaule tachée Gnatholepis scapulostigma Like its close relative, the other eye-bar goby (G. cauerensis), it is small with darker dots on the body and a thin bar running down from the eye. However, it can be distinguished from its cousin by the dark spot speckled with yellow on the top of its operculum, giving it its other name of shoulder-spot goby. Size

Zone

4 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Soft sandy-muddy bottoms in lagoons on reef flats

Poison goby Gobie citron Gobiodon citrinus This stocky, entirely yellow fish displays two blueish stripes coming down from the eye, and two others on the gill cover. It occupies the top of coral tables and branched acropora. It is protected by a bitter mucus which keeps predators away. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Fivelined coral goby

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Gobiodon à cinq lignes Gobiodon quinquestrigatus Its oblong-shaped body can take on numerous colours of red, grey, black, orange, and so on, depending on its surroundings. It has five thin lines on its cheeks. Its ventral fins form a suction disc which enables it to stick to the coral and resist the currents. The poisonous mucus secreted on its epidermis defends it from predators and from the “cnidoblasts” or stinging cells of coral. Juveniles go in pairs, the smaller of them becoming a female and the bigger one a male! They live at the top of branching coral and “strip” the surface on a branch of acropora to deposit the eggs which the father will protect and aerate. Size 3.5 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-15 m

Acropora

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 560 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

Decorated goby Gobie décoré Istigobius decoratus It is light-coloured with a darker lattice pattern over the entire body. Very common, it favours sheltered areas where it is active. It likes to nibble in the sand near fallen coral where it can find a shelter. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Bays, mangroves, coral pans

Whitecap goby Gobie gracieux Lotilia graciliosa

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Called the graceful goby in French, but nothing could be further from the truth! It has a ponderous black body with a broad white band from the nose to the dorsal fin. Its conspecifics in the Red Sea also have a big black spot ringed in orange on the first dorsal fin. It lives alone, lurking at the foot of a drop-off or the entrance to a hole amidst coral rubble. It leaves just enough room for its partner shrimp to work, endlessly evacuating the rubble from the hole. The whitecap goby almost never ventures out.

Size 4 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-25 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

561

Gobies

Smiling shrimpgoby Gobie à drapeau Mahidolia mystacina Oblique bars that can be black, beige or bright yellow cross the hindpart of its body. It has very well developed fins. Its big mouth is often held in a fully open gape. It lives at the entrance to a gallery shared with a burrowing shrimp, on the sandymuddy bottoms of bays which are sheltered from the swell. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Muddy sand

Michel’s ghost goby Gobie de Michel Pleurosicya micheli This species is almost identical to P. mossambica whose specificity lies in its red eyes. These gobies share the same geographical range of distribution. They differ by the substrate they live on: in the first case, hard corals for P. micheli and in the second, sea cucumbers, sponges, soft corals and antipatharians for P. mossambica. Their eggs are deposited on the host-surface and protected by the male. Size

Zone

3 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

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Toothy goby Gobie dentu Pleurosicya mossambica From brown to red in colour, it sports a series of white dashes along its back. Its eyes are red. It is found on soft corals and on sponges, seaweed, ascidians, or even sea cucumbers. The eggs are glued directly onto the host and are mainly protected by the males. They avoid turbulent water. Size 2.5 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Corals, sponges

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 562 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

Filament-finned prawn-goby Gobie à filament Stonogobiobs nematodes Very closely related to S. dracula, it is distinguished by the first rays of the dorsal fin which are very long, black and curved. It shares the same behaviour pattern and also lives with the red and white Randall’s pistol shrimp. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-70 m

Sandy bottoms adjacent to coral reef areas

Dracula shrimp-goby Gobie Dracula Stonogobiops dracula Four oblique black bars stand out on its white body. It has a yellow face. The first dorsal fin is rounded and its black edge connect the first two bars. In mated pairs, they hunt in the current, just above the sandy bottom, without straying from the burrow they share with a shrimp (Alpheus randalli). They are present in the Maldives and Seychelles, and this photo was taken in Reunion Island at a depth of 50 m. Size

Zone

6 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-70 m

Sandy bottoms adjacent to coral reef areas

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Girdled goby Gobie à brides Priolepis cinctus Against its beige to yellow colour base, thin light-coloured bars alternate with wider, darker ones. Cryptic and reclusive, it lives under stones and in deep caves (often against the ceiling). The girdled goby is monogamous. Size 7 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-70 m

Outer reef slopes, drop-offs, caves

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

563

Gobies

Ring-eyed pyjama goby Gobie pygmée à œil cerclé Trimma benjamin There are nearly 80 species of Trimma. They are hard to see and many have not yet been described. This goby is entirely red, with a bright yellow ring around its eye. It stays resting on sponges on the currentswept drop-offs. Size

Zone

4 cm

Depth

Habitat

6-50 m

Sponges

Twostripe goby Gobie à ruban Valenciennea helsdingenii This big goby has two red-brown lines, running from the snout and upper lip to the two tips extending out from the tail. A large black teardrop marks the rear of the first dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin has a black fringe. Often in mated pairs, it is monogamous and stays near its burrow dug in the sand. The species V. immaculata, (from the north-west of Australia) resembles it, although it is lighter in hue with a pointed tail. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-45 m

Outer reef slopes, rocky or coral drop-offs

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Maiden goby Gobie à taches orange Valenciennea puellaris This pale grey goby displays (in the Indian Ocean) thin bright orange bars on the back with an orange spot between them. There are light blue ocelli ringed in dark brown on the cheeks. They dig galleries in the coarse sand under calm waters. Male and female keep watch in turn while the other filters the sand to feed on invertebrates. They are monogamous. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Lagoons, sandy areas, outer reef slopes

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Gobies

Sixspot goby Gobie à six taches Valenciennea sexguttata They are sandy grey in colour, with two distinctive orange-brown stripes which extend from the pectoral fin to the rhomboid-shaped caudal fin. There are light blue spots on the cheeks. Each mated pair, often within the same colony, constructs its burrow above twenty metres on a muddy-fine sandy bottom. The colouration and patterns of these gobies can be different from one place to another. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, bays, sandy zones

Blueband goby Gobie à raies bleues Valenciennea strigata A more or less dusky pearl grey, it has a bright yellow head and cheeks. A sky blue band with a black border runs along below the eye to the operculum. They choose hard substrates or shallow sandy areas. Juveniles live in small colonies, whereas adults associate in pairs near their shared burrow. They can be seen filtering the sand and spitting it out via their gills. Size

Zone

1-25 m

18 cm

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Depth

Habitat Lagoons, bays, sandy or rocky areas, outer slopes, drop-offs

Twin-spotted shrimp-goby Gobie d’Ambanoro Vanderhorstia ambanoro This big goby takes on the colouring of the seabed and has a line of black spots running from the eye to the tail. They hunt around a burrow situated in a sandy zone of a lagoon or sheltered bay.

Size 13 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, bays, sheltered sandy areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

565

Gobies

Ornate prawn-goby Gobie orné Vanderhorstia ornatissima The grey patches on its flanks alternate with golden dots and patterns. They live in colonies on sandy-muddy bottoms or in shallow seagrass meadows, in association with an alpheid shrimp. This photo was taken in Reunion Island, where the species was unknown. Size

Zone

8 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, bays, sheltered sandy areas

Goby - undetermined Tomiyamichthys sp.

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This little mottled brown goby flutters its first dorsal in like a fan. The fin is dusky with a blue false eyespot to the rear. The body displays light-coloured saddles. Although it was sighted on numerous sites, we have been unable to formally identify it. It comes out of a hole in the sand in detritic areas. It is always on watch and sometimes shares its burrow with a conspecific.

Size 6 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

20-40 m

Detritic areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 566 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Gobies

◗◗

Family Tripterygiidae

Highcrest triplefin Triptérygion à haute crête Enneapterygius pusillus The triplefins have three dorsal fins. The species can be recognised by the first dorsal which is tall and lightcoloured whilst the following two are clear. It has a pointed snout. It glides over the sponges and crusting corals from the first metres of water under the surface, including under waves. It preys on tiny invertebrates. Size

Zone

2.5 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Yellowback threefin Triptérygion noir et jaune Helcogramma decurrens With its three dorsal fins, the lower half of the body is black and the back is greenish yellow, with more or less conspicuous lighter bars. The female is duller in colour. They live in the shelter of seaweed and crevices in coastal reefs, rushing to catch prey in the surrounding area between two wave movements. Size

Zone

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6.5 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-10 m

Rocks

High-hat triplefin Triptérygion haut chapeau Enneapterygius tutuilae The male’s first dorsal fin is white and he flies it like a banner in the courtship display. The female has a more transparent body. The high-hat triplefins live on sponges and are always hard to see, except when they move around. Size 4 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

567

Gobies

Striped triplefin Triptérygion strié Helcogramma striatum The striped triplefin is red with thin white longitudinal stripes. In the Maldives and in Sri Lanka, the local species H. maldivensis can be distinguished by the lines which are dotted. They live on hard coral, as well as on sponges, where they can gather with other conspecifics, feeding on microcrustaceans. Their larvae are pelagic and drop down to the seafloor when they reach 10 mm in length. Size

Zone

4 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-10 m

Lagoons, flats, outer slopes

Common threefin Tripterigion de Clark Trinorfolkia clarkei Its colour varies with the substrate, ranging from brown to grey, orange or yellow. The body is cylindrical and the dorsal fin has three parts, the first two being spiny. There are often seven dusky bars streaking its back, with two narrower ones running down over the eye and the operculum. Often in rocks on the shore, it can settle on deep sponges and adapt its colour to them. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Rocks

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12 cm

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Gobies

◗◗

Family Gobiesocidae

Western cleaner clingfish Gobie nettoyeur Cochleoceps bicolor This little goby is orangey in colour, growing darker towards the tail. It is covered with tiny dark dots and blueish stripes. When it lives in deep areas, it becomes redder. Its pelvic fins form a suction pad. It waits, fastened to sponges or seaweeds, for fish that want to be cleaned to come along. It then moves onto its “patient” and removes its parasites. Endemic to Southern Australia, it can be found to the south-west of the continent. Size

Zone

7 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Sponges, ascidians

Twostripe featherstar clingfish Poisson crampon

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Discotrema lineata Its highly elongate body is red, with two white lines running from the nose to the tail. It has no scales. Its welded pelvic fins form a suction disc which enable it to attach itself to the arms of feather stars, preferably ones that are dark in colour. It can also be seen on sea urchins. Size 3 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-40 m

Comatulida feather stars

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

569

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Tripterygion sp. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Bryaninops http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

amplus (family Gobiidae)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Acanthurus mata (family Acanthuridae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes Les chirurgiens et licornes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Acanthuridae

The fishes belonging to this family are characterised by an ovate silhouette and a strongly compressed body. They have a single continuous dorsal fin, with no indentations, comprising 4 to 9 spines and 19 to 31 soft rays. The distance separating the eye from the jaw, which is called the suborbital distance, is large in most of these species. The scales are minute, giving the skin a leathery appearance. Their caudal peduncle is armed with one or several razor-sharp bony plates shaped like scalpels. The number and shape of the scalpels is what enables the various species to be put into one of three distinct sub-families. The surgeonfishes (Acanthurinae) have a single blade-like scalpel lying within a groove in the caudal peduncle. It flicks out of its sheath when the fish folds its tail. The Nasinae or unicornfishes have from one to three external fixed scalpel blades. The “sawtail” surgeonfishes (Prionurinae), which have a series of at least three scalpels on the caudal peduncle, make up the third sub-family but are not represented in the Indian Ocean. These sharp scalpels present a real danger for any potential attacker threatening a surgeonfish, and that includes fishermen. In some unicornfishes, these scalpels have proved to be venomous, although this has not be demonstrated in other surgeonfishes. The scalpels often have bright colours, as if to exhibit this arm as a deterrent to attacks. In all, the family Acanthuridae holds 72 species belonging to 6 genera. With the exception of five Atlantic species, all the others inhabit the Indo-Pacific region. All the species are marine, tropical and demersal and live in coastal areas around coral reefs. When adult, their sizes vary from about fifteen centimetres for the smallest of them (Acanthurus nigricans), to one metre for the biggest (Naso annulatus). Juveniles most often live alone and stay discreetly concealed in the branches of coral. Adults generally live in small groups, but some species, like the convict surgeonfish (A. triostegus), the powderblue surgeonfish (A. leucosternon) or the whitespotted surgeonfish (A. guttatus) can form large sized shoals (> 100 individuals). Most of the surgeonfishes are herbivorous, other feeding mostly on plankton, but all of them occasionally feed on various types of debris. The surgeonfishes play a crucial role in the equilibrium of coral environments, by limiting uncontrolled growth of algae on coral reef zones. They also help other marine creatures, like sea turtles, by ridding them of parasitic algae growing on them. Surgeonfish spawn their eggs in open water and they are then dispersed wherever marine currents take them.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Having a long larval stage contributes to giving them a broad geographical range of distribution. Several species live in surf zones where waves break, or in coral barrier reefs, in passes or in the upper metres of the outer reef slope. This family is not particularly useful as a foodfish for fisheries. In the Indian Ocean, no species is truly targeted in catches, except in the context of highly marginal small tropical fisheries which trap them in fish traps baited with seaweeds. Surgeonfishes tend more to be by-catch victims, caught in fisheries using nets and targeting other species. In fact, official statistics from FAO only indicate a few hundred tonnes declared in annual landings for this entire family in the Indian Ocean. With their sparkling colours, several species are the delight of aquarium keepers.

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It should be noted that in Reunion Island and Mauritius, the whitespotted surgeonfish (A. guttatus), being toxic, is sought out by some people for the hallucinogenic effect obtained from eating its flesh. We have not tried to verify these hypothetical properties, preferring to let ourselves be simply carried away by the dizzying dance of their spectacular colours, swaying in the southern ocean’s swell above a reef! Surgeonfishes are generally not very shy and readily let divers come close to them. Two species use their mimicry abilities to escape from their predators. The Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish (A. tritis) copies the colour pattern of the blacktail angelfish (Centropyge eibli) and the Pacific Ocean mimic surgeonfish (A. pyroferus) is capable of taking on the appearance of several other pygmy angelfish (Centropyge spp.). Amongst the surgeonfish, tang and unicornfish species frequently sighted in the Indian Ocean, 40 species belonging to 5 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Surgeonfish cleaners ridding a hawksbill turtle of its parasitic algae

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Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Unicornfishes Family Acanthuridae, sub-family Nasinae ◗◗

White-margin unicornfish Licorne à bords blancs Naso annulatus When juvenile, it is light grey and the caudal peduncle is encircled with white. This ring disappears as it grows older and a long horn appears in front of the eye. The edges of its tail become whiter and end in long filaments. It is sighted quite deep, swimming along reef drop-offs.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

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90 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-50 m

Outer slopes

Humpback unicornfish Licorne bossue Naso brachycentron Not frequently seen, this unicornfish can be distinguished by its prominent hump ahead of the dorsal fin. Its greygreen colouring on the back becomes whitish on the underside, following a complex separation along the middle of the body. They are present all over the Indo-Pacific and often found in mated pairs or loosely scattered groups. The largest specimens can measure up to 90 cm.

Male

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

575

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Female Size

Zone

75 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Spotted unicornfish Licorne pointue

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Naso brevirostris The rostrum gets big on this species very early and quickly overshoots the tip of the snout. Its colouration is very changeable, becoming light grey or dusky grey, sallow olive or brownish in turn. There are spots at the base of the light-coloured tail. In the mating period, males are covered with spots and vertical lines, and a diffuse white scarf can appear behind their head. This species is present over the entire range of the Indo-Pacific.

Male

Juvenile Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

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Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Elegant unicornfish Licorne à épines orange de l’océan Indien Naso elegans This is the most colourful of the unicornfishes. It has a dark grey colour base and a head marked with a black mask edged in yellow, encompassing the mouth, nose and eyes. The forehead, fins and scalpels are orangey in colour. The male develops long caudal filaments. They occur in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and are often sighted in large numbers in shallow water. At nightfall, they settle into holes. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Sleek unicornfish Licorne grise Naso hexacanthus Its back is dusky grey and the belly is lighter-coloured. Frequently the entire body has a yellowish tint to it. The edges of the gills are black and the tail is blueish. Very frequently found all over the Indo-Pacific region, sleek unicornfishes often travel in large shoals and feed on algae and plankton. Size

Zone

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75 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Elongate unicornfish Licorne argentée Naso lopezi Its silvery-coloured elongate body is studded with numerous dark coloured spots on the upper part. This species was photographed here in the Philippines and is certainly not present in the Indian Ocean. Size 60 cm

Zone Western Pacific

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

577

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Slender unicorn Petite licorne Naso minor Light blue-grey, with a duskier back, it can be recognised by its black caudal peduncle which is armed with a single blade. The base of its tail is white and the two lobes are yellow. This is an unobtrusive little unicornfish, travelling in small shoals on the outer slopes. They are widely distributed in the Western IndoPacific region. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Single-spined unicornfish Licorne à une épine Naso thynnoides Its grey colouration turns yellow on its sides which are finely stripped with faint lines. It has a single scalpel blade. These fishes gather, often in large shoals, to take advantage of plankton in the current, at the top of reef plateaux.

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Day

Night Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-35 m

Edges of drop-offs

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Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Humpnose unicornfish Licorne à points noirs Naso tuberosus Several similar species, all having a hump above the mouth, mingle in the Indo-Pacific. This one can be distinguished by an oblique black line in front of the eye and a half-moon shaped patch under the operculum ahead of the pectoral fin. As they become adult, they lose most of the black spots on the back and tail. They are sighted both in murky estuaries and reefs, and in passes and clear waters further seaward. They form small shoals and feed on algae. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Bluespine unicornfish Licorne à éperons bleus Naso unicornis

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Its colouration ranges from dark grey to light beige. The plates of the two blue spurs or spines are characteristic of this large species which can reach 70 cm in length. The male’s long horn does not extend beyond the vertical of the mouth. Although juveniles show a preference for lagoons and sheltered areas, adults can adapt to various biotopes, including turbulent nearshore waters. They are herbivorous and widely distributed in the Western Indo-Pacific region. Size

Zone

70 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-80 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Bignose unicornfish Licorne à gros nez Naso vlamingii Its lips are purple-blue, as are the spots and vertical lines adorning its flanks. Its colour changes are spectacular. The tail is rounded between its two filaments. Males have noses which develop into a humped shape. Bignose unicornfishes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

579

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

travel in fairly unstructured shoals, capturing plankton in deep lagoons and above outer slopes at depths reaching around 50 m. They love to have their parasites removed by the small cleanerfish wrasses, and turn a light blue in colour while the operation is underway. Size

Zone

55 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Surgeonfishes Family Acanthuridae, sub-family Acanthurinae ◗◗

Eyestripe surgeonfish Chirurgien couronné Acanthurus dussumieri

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Th e e y e s t r i p e s u r g e o n f i s h ’s colouration is yellow-brown with a multitude of thin, wavy longitudinal blue lines. The same type of lines, but much thicker, are present on its head, mainly on the cheeks. Its eyes are barred with a yellow mask. The crescent-shaped blue tail has a scattering of black dots. The white scalpel is surrounded by a black ocellus rimmed in yellow and the dorsal and anal fins are mainly yellow, with some blue at their posterior tips. This surgeonfish feeds on algae and various types of detritus on the seabed as well as on plankton in open water. They occur on outer reef slopes and have a wide bathymetric distribution range going deeper than 100 m. On the Seychelles shelf, we sighted an individual with very particular yellow colouration. This is probably due to a genetic anomaly which we have seen in other species, such as A. mata, for instance.

Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-130 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 580 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Black surgeonfish Chirurgien religieux Acanthurus gahm This is the Red Sea version of A. nigricauda, and mainly differs from it by not having the black stripe which covers the scalpel and tapers off towards the middle of the body. They explore sandy and pebbly seafloors in sparse groups. They are present around the Arabian peninsula. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Detritic sand

Whitespotted surgeonfish Chirurgien pintade Acanthurus guttatus Its brown colour base is striped with two vertical grey bands, the first located on the head behind the eye and the second slightly ahead of the mid-body, behind the pectoral fin. The second half of the body is dotted with small round white spots. Its tail is yellow and black and the ventral fins are yellow. This surgeonfish lives in large shoals, just on the coral barrier, in the surf zone or in turbulent passes, where the spots on its body blend with the bubbles in the surf and wash. Size

Zone

26 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-10 m

Lagoons, passes, barrier reefs, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Japan surgeonfish Chirurgien à nez blanc Acanthurus japonicus It is quite similar to A. nigricans in both behaviour and looks. Its colour base can be distinguished by the large white patch covering the side of its snout from the eye to the lip and by the yellow bar on the tail, closer to the body. Likewise, it grazes in small groups on seagrasses covering the top of reefs, not at all put out by the movements of the surf. They are present in the Pacific and found in Malaysia and Indonesia. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

21 cm

Indonesia

5-20 m

Reef crest

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

581

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Palelipped surgeonfish Chirurgien à épine blanche Acanthurus leucocheilus The colouration is dark brown. Its head has several white or much lighter areas (depending on the individual), particularly underneath the chin and above the eyes. Its mouth and scalpel are white. A white band surrounds the base of the tail. Juveniles have yellow tails. This species occurs on drop-offs and outer reef slopes. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Powderblue surgeonfish Chirurgien bleu Acanthurus leucosternon Its colouration is very distinctive. With its black head, blue body, yellow dorsal and white anal fins, there is no possible doubt in identifying it. The powderblue surgeonfish lives in shoals, sometimes made up of a large number of individuals, in shallow water, above reef flats, in passes or on the upper metres of the outer reef slope. Its maximum size reaches 54 cm. Size

Zone

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30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, barrier reefs, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Lined surgeonfish Chirurgien zèbre Acanthurus lineatus With its yellow, blue and black striped colour pattern, this very attractive surgeonfish is easily identifiable. The lobes of the tail taper off into long pointed tips. This surgeonfish is territorial. The male controls a shallow reef zone where he lives with a small harem made up

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 582 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

of several females. This species forms large aggregations in the spawning period. Their scalpel is thought to be venomous. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, barrier reefs, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Elongate surgeonfish Chirurgien pâle Acanthurus mata Its colouration displaying thin brown and blue longitudinal stripes sometimes takes on a light grey tone. It can be easily identified thanks to the yellow mask covering its eyes and the black scalpel. Usually in a group, these fish feed preferentially on plankton above reef slope and rocky drop-offs.

Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-100 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Whitecheek surgeonfish Chirurgien velours

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Acanthurus nigricans The colour base is brown-black. There is a conspicuous white patch under the eye and a white ring around its mouth. Its white tail has a vertical yellow bar. The scalpel and the base at the rear of its dorsal and anal fins are yellow. They are territorial and monogamous and are seen in coral reef areas and on outer reef slopes. It is small in size, with the biggest specimens hardly exceeding 20 cm. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-70 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

583

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Epaulette surgeonfish Chirurgien à épaulette Acanthurus nigricauda Its grey-green colour base is marked behind the eye by an elongate black patch often outlined with a thin lighter-coloured line. A second slender black line covers its scalpel. On the tail, there is a white ring and the upper and lower lobes are whitish in colour. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are finely edged in blue. This surgeonfish tends to occur in sandy areas on the outskirts of coral reefs. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, sandy bottoms coral beds, outer reef slopes

Brown surgeonfish Chirurgien brun Acanthurus nigrofuscus The colour base is brown. Its lighter-coloured head is dotted with numerous small round orange spots. The scalpel and its sheath are black. Two black patches can be seen on the hindpart, at the base of the dorsal and anal fins, vertical to the scalpel. The brown surgeonfish occurs in the shallow waters of coral reef areas where it mostly feeds on filamentous algae. These fish form large aggregations in the breeding season, but they also gather sometimes simply to feed on the reef. Their strategy of “strength in numbers” enables them to ignore the intimidations of other bigger and more territorial herbivorous surgeonfishes. Size

Zone

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20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Orangespot surgeonfish Chirurgien à tache orange Acanthurus olivaceus Its colour base is neatly divided into two parts: grey in front and dark olive brown on the hindpart. A long orange patch rimmed in blue stretches back from behind the eye. Its light grey tail with irregular brown dash marks has a wide white terminal border between the two lobes. Juveniles are yellow, with a blue border on the anal fin.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 584 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Their range of distribution is mostly centred on the Pacific, but they can also be found in the East of the Indian Ocean. This species likes sandy areas around coral reefs where they find a variety of food sources (seaweeds, diatoms, etc.).

Juvenile Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Lagoons, sandy bottoms coral beds, outer reef slopes

Thomson’s surgeonfish Chirurgien nuit Acanthurus thomsoni This small surgeonfish has an all white tail and a dusky plain body. When the body grows lighter, a black patch can be made out at the base of the peduncle under the dorsal fin. They forage at the base of reefs in small, calm groups. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-150 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Chirurgien mimétique indien Acanthurus tristis When they reach adulthood, their colour base is dark brown, with a lighter-coloured head and a blackbrown disc around its eye. The edge of its tail is bordered with white. Juveniles mimic the colouring of the blacktail angelfish Centropyge eibli. By thus imitating a rapid, agile fish, it can feed far from shelter, since predators convinced by its mimicry will not even try to catch what they think is a difficult prey. They occur in lagoons and shallow reef areas, often in the company of chocolate surgeonfishes (A. pyropherus). Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

585

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Chocolate surgeonfish Chirurgien chocolat Acanthurus pyroferus In the adult form, its colouration is tricoloured, with orangey brown on the body, orange on the front part of the belly and from the upper corner of the operculum to below the mouth and then light grey on the snout and head. The juveniles are mimetic of several pygmy angelfishes (Centropyge spp.) and imitate their appearance perfectly. The chocolate surgeonfish occurs in mixed reef areas, coral, sand and rocks. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, sandy bottoms coral beds, outer reef slopes

Sohal surgeonfish Chirurgien sohal Acanthurus sohal This lovely surgeonfish can be easily identified by its fine black and sky blue stripes and yellow scalpel. It is territorial and aggressive towards other herbivorous species that want to graze in its favourite pastures of filamentous green algae in shallow areas. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-15 m

Lagoons, sandy bottoms coral beds, outer reef slopes

Doubleband surgeonfish Chirurgien-lieutenant Acanthurus tennentii With its olive brown colouration, the two small black bars located behind the eye look like a lieutenant’s stripes. A dark ovate patch ringed in light blue covers its scalpel. Its eyes are highlighted by two small orangey lines, as if it were wearing make-up. Often in small groups, they graze on benthic seaweeds in shallow coral beds. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 586 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Convict surgeonfish Chirurgien bagnard Acanthurus triostegus Easily identified thanks to six vertical black bars, like the stripes on a prison uniform, on its silvery grey base tinted with yellow on the back. The first bar crosses through the eye and the last crosses the caudal peduncle. The convict surgeonfish almost always lives in shoals, sometimes made up of very large numbers of individuals. Groups of them graze on filamentous algae growing on dead corals. These surgeonfishes also form big aggregations at spawning time. Size

Zone

26 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-90 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Black-barred surgeonfish Chirurgien barré Acanthurus polyzona Its silvery grey colouration displays nine vertical dark brown bars. This surgeonfish bears a great resemblance to the convict surgeonfish, A. triostegus, in appearance, but the latter has only six vertical black bars on its body. Endemic to the Mascarene Islands, the black-barred surgeonfish lives in shoals in the lagoon, on barrier reefs and on the top few metres of the outer reef slope where it mixes with convict surgeonfishes. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-15 m

Lagoons, sandy bottoms coral beds, outer reef slopes

Yellowfin surgeonfish Chirurgien à masque jaune Acanthurus xanthopterus Its profile and yellow mask give it a similar appearance to that of the eyestripe surgeonfish A. dussumieri, but its general hue is more blueish and the thin wavy lines on its colour base are not as well formed as on that of its close cousin. In addition,

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

587

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

its scalpel is black (and white in A. dussumieri). They favour sandy areas on the outskirts of coral reefs. Their diet is varied, made up of algae, plankton and various types of detritus found on the sand. They even go for the bait (bits of fish) in fish traps or on fishermen’s hooks. Size

Zone

Depth 0-100 m

50 cm

Habitat Lagoons, sandy bottoms and coral beds, outer reef slopes

Twospot surgeonfish Chirurgien à deux points Ctenochaetus binotatus The colouration is an orangey brown. Its head is studded with small round light blue spots which turn into more or less dotted lines of the same colour on the body. The eye is finely ringed with blue. It gets its name from the two black spots located on the posterior base of its dorsal and anal fins on either side of the caudal peduncle. In juveniles, the tail is often yellow. This smallsized surgeonfish feeds on various unicellular algae and in particular on the well-known dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus toxicus, which is responsible for ciguatera poisoning. It is thus unfortunately an important link in the food chain which leads to the acute toxicity of large predatory fish in the reef areas infested by this dinoflagellate. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-50 m

Sandy bottoms and coral beds, outer reef slopes

Striated surgeonfish Chirurgien à lignes orange

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Ctenochaetus striatus Their colour base has longitudinal orange and blue lines. Its dorsal and anal fins have finely rimmed light blue edges. These surgeonfishes can form shoals made up of many fish. They feed on various single-celled algae, including the dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus toxicus. Therefore, they too are part of the ciguatera chain. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 588 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Truncated surgeonfish Chirurgien anneau d’or indien Ctenochaetus truncatus Its orangey brown colouration is spotted with small, round blueish patches. Its eye has a golden ring around it. The tail is truncated. It lives in small groups in sheltered, shallow areas of reefs. Size

Zone

16 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds

Palette surgeonfish Chirurgien palette Paracanthurus hepatus This fish’s blue colouration with its fine black pattern and yellow tail inspired the friendly, helpful character of Dory in the animated film “Finding Nemo”. Juveniles live around coral banks where they can hide at the slightest alarm. Adults tend to be in groups, feeding on zooplankton circulating in the water body. This species is in particularly great demand by aquarists. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Spotted tang Chirurgien voile moucheté Zebrasoma gemmatum Like all members of the genus Zebrasoma, its dorsal and anal fins are much more developed than those of other tangs and surgeonfishes. Its brown colouration is speckled with small, round white spots. There are also spots on its yellow tail. It is solitary and very territorial on portions of reef or on rocky drop-offs. The juveniles stay in shallow, sheltered water. Size 18 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

589

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Indian Sailfin tang Chirurgien voile indien Zebrasoma desjardinii With its well-developed dorsal and anal fins and its finely decorated colour pattern of stripes and spots in yellow and white, this tang is easy to identify. It corresponds to the Pacific species better known by the name of Z. veliferum. Juveniles are solitary, living in the shelter of coral banks, whereas adults are much braver and often travel around mixed seabeds in reef zones in pairs or small groups.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

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Spotted tang Chirurgien voile brun Zebrasoma scopas This spotted tang, also called brown tang, has a long white longitudinal stripe in the middle of its brown body. Its scalpel is also white. The colouration varies from one region to another. The white stripe is sometimes replaced by a black one. Juveniles often sport numerous vertical white continuous or dotted lines on their body and light-coloured spots on the snout, and are often solitary and concealed in the coral. Adults move about more frequently in small groups in shallow reef areas.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 590 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Juvenile Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-60 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Pacific sailfin tang Chirurgien voile du Pacifique Zebrosoma veliferum

Adult

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Its dusky flanks are striped with yellow lines down to the bottom of the body, which distinguishes it from Z. desjardinii with which it shares the eastern fringe of the Indian Ocean. Juveniles are yellow and play hide and seek in the acropora of the lagoon. Adults only form large shoals in order to spawn. They feed on seaweeds around reefs.

Juvenile Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Coastal reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

591

Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes

Yellowtail tang Chirurgien à queue jaune Zebrasoma xanthurum The bright yellow tail clearly contrasts with its deep blue body. Small dark spots on its head become dash marks, then longitudinal lines extending towards the rear. They live in small groups in shallow reef areas or on the outer slopes. Size

Zone

25 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Family Zanclidae

Moorish idol Idole maure

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Zanclus cornutus This is the only member of this family that is close to the surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), but which has no scalpel on the caudal peduncle. Its body is strongly laterally compressed. The first three dorsal spines extend into a long filament. With its highly typical colouring (black, white and yellow) and its small pointed snout, it is easy to identify. They often live in mated pairs or groups in lagoons, on outer reef slopes down to great depths (180 m). Their diet is composed of sponges, algae and benthic invertebrates. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-180 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 592 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Zanclus cornutus

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Siganus corallinus (family Siganidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rabbitfishes Les cordonniers

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Familys Siganidae

They have an ovate profile, more or less high depending on the species, with a small terminal mouth. The rounded shape of the snout just above the mouth makes their head look like that of a rabbit, which is the origin of their Latin name and common name in English. The very tiny scales give their skin a leathery appearance. The single continuous dorsal fin comprises 13 spines and 10 soft rays. A small, forward-projecting spine is located just in front of the dorsal fin. The anal fin has 7 spines and 9 soft rays and the pelvic fins also have two strong spines. All of them are venomous. The colouration of rabbitfishes varies significantly from one species to another. Those inhabiting reef areas are generally very colourful, whilst those occurring in sandy areas or seagrass meadows are drabber. Rabbitfishes often adopt “camouflage” type colour patterns to avoid being detected by their predators. The distribution range of this family is in the Indo-Pacific region and the East of the Mediterranean. In all, there are 25 species belonging to 2 genera. All of them are marine demersal fish, but some come into brackish waters of estuaries or mangroves. They are medium-sized fish, measuring between 25 and 50 cm when adult. They are herbivorous and above all active in daytime, feeding on seagrass beds or benthic seaweeds in mixed coral reef areas. Males and females form two distinct genders, with no known hermaphroditism. Spawning takes place in the open sea and the eggs and larvae drift with marine currents. Some species gather in shoals that can contain a hundred individuals. Others, on the contrary, move about in mated pairs or small groups of just a few individuals. This family is a significant foodfish resource for some small-scale tropical fisheries. They are mainly caught with nets or using fish traps. Catches worldwide reach 32,000 t per year, of which 12,000 t from the West of the Indian Ocean. Some reef species which are especially colourful and swim in pairs interest aquarists. Amongst the rabbitfishes sighted in the Indian Ocean, 15 species belonging to the genus Siganus are presented in this guidebook.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rabbitfishes

Forktail rabbitfish Cordonnier vermiculé Siganus argenteus I t s s i l ve r y b l u e c o l o u r b a s e displays numerous vermiculated y e l l o w p a t c h e s . Th e d o r s a l profile, from the head to the caudal peduncle, is bright yellow. On the caudal peduncle, this yellow colouring can form a more or less clearly visible saddle. There is a yellow bar running along the edge of the gill opening, just behind the operculum. The tail is forked. This rabbitfish sometimes takes on a camouflage colour pattern. They live in shoals which can reach a hundred individuals, but are also found in small groups, feeding on benthic algae on the seabed.

Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, sheltered bays, coral reef areas, outer slopes

Blue-spotted rabbitfish Cordonnier corail

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Siganus corallinus Its orangey yellow colour base is sprinkled with small round sky blue spots. Its eye is covered by an oblique, diffuse black patch. Adults most often swim in pairs above coral reefs. The juveniles tend to be sighted in small groups, in seagrass meadows or in zones which are rich in acropora where they can take shelter. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Coral reef areas, seagrass meadows, outer slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 596 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rabbitfishes

Orange-spotted rabbitfish Cordonnier doré Siganus guttatus Their brassy or golden-coloured background is marked with silvery, sky blue vermiculated lines on the head. These blue lines join up on the body to form a honeycomb pattern of golden cells. A large golden yellow spot is located at the posterior base of the dorsal fin. In small groups or in shoals, they occur in rich coral reef areas as well as in lagoons and mangroves. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Lagoons, mangroves, coral reef areas

Streaked rabbitfish Cordonnier ondulé Siganus javus Its dark grey base is scattered with small round sky blue spots on the head and back. These spots become progressively more elongate from midway down the body, becoming continuous lines on the belly. The snout and the suborbital part of the cheek are yellow. The anterior part of the dorsal and anal fins sport yellow marks on them. The streaked rabbitfish can tolerate the brackish waters of mangroves and estuaries, but also occurs in rich coral reef areas. The largest individuals can measure up to 50 cm. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, mangroves, coral reef areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Starry rabbitfish Cordonnier à queue grise Siganus laqueus Its plain coloured base can vary from grey to beige, however it is entirely covered with fine black dots. This rabbitfish greatly resembles its conspecific S. stellatus which is endemic to the Red Sea, with a yellow tail and a space with no spots between the eyes and the dorsal fin. Generally seen in mated pairs, they graze on filamentous algae in very shallow water, often in the waves or currents. We have noted that they live deeper in the Maldives. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Seaweed beds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

597

Rabbitfishes

Golden-lined spine foot Masked rabbitfish Siganus lineatus It can be recognised thanks to the bright yellow spot at the top of the caudal peduncle and its body is covered with yellow lines, which differentiates it from S. guttatus. From the Maldives to Vanuatu, it favours the inside of reefs where it finds seaweeds and sponges. From Sri Lanka to the north of the Maldives, there is a very similar species but whose stripes are wider. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Inner reefs

Squaretail rabbitfish Cordonnier brun Siganus luridus Greenish yellow to brown, it can be sighted in shallow water, amidst seaweeds and slide rubble. Juveniles can form huge shoals in sheltered bays, but the adults scatter into small groups, mixing with other herbivorous species. They are colonising the Eastern Mediterranean basin via the Suez canal. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

25 cm

+

1-20 m

Seaweed and detritic areas

Masked rabbitfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Cordonnier à lignes bleues Siganus puellus Against its yellow colour base, there are sky blue spots that are round-shaped on its back, stretch into dashes on the flanks and then join up on the underside to form a honeycomb pattern. A dark brown bar starts on the forehead in front of the dorsal fin and goes to the corner of the mouth, crossing the eye. The juveniles often shoal, whereas the adults tend to stay in mated pairs in rich coral reef areas. Adults supplement their benthic algae-based diet with sponges. Size 35 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 598 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rabbitfishes

Goldspotted rabbitfish Cordonnier à taches orange Siganus punctatus Its blue-grey colouring is scattered with very many black-ringed, orange ocelli. A dusky patch can often be seen to the rear of the top corner of the operculum. A lighter-coloured saddle sometimes appears on the top of the caudal peduncle. Juveniles tend to live in shoals in the shallow waters of lagoons and protected areas. Adults live in pairs in reef areas. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Rivulated rabbitfish Cordonnier de mer Rouge Siganus rivulatus Its grey colour base often takes on a yellowish tint on the back and forehead and displays thin wavy brownish lines on the bottom of the body. More often in small groups, they exploit the seagrass beds on sandy plains. They are also invading the Mediterranean and hold interest for small local fisheries. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

40 cm

+

1-20 m

Seaweed and sandy areas

Brownspotted rabbitfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Cordonnier marguerite Siganus stellatus The brownspotted rabbitfish has a brown colour base covered with round, darker brown spots. The caudal fin and the rear parts of the dorsal and anal fins have white borders. A fleeting, duskier, round patch can sometimes be seen to the rear of the top corner of the operculum. Juveniles form shoals, in shallow waters reaching into estuaries. Adults move about in mated pairs in reef zones where they feed on benthic seaweed. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-20 m

Lagoons, estuaries, coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

599

Rabbitfishes

Shoemaker rabbitfish Cordonnier Siganus sutor With its camouflage pattern, it is quite difficult to detect in the seagrass meadows where it spends the majority of its time. They sometimes gather in shoals. Although they are consumed as foodfish, their flesh is said to be toxic in some regions. Night Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

50 cm

Siganus corallinus Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 600 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Rabbitfishes

Threeblotched rabbitfish Cordonnier à trois points Siganus trispilos It is bright yellow with three blotchy black patches lined up on its back. They are only sighted, in mated pairs, on the crests of coral reefs in Northwestern Australia. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-10 m

Reefs and coral beds

Double-barred rabbitfish Cordonnier à double barre Siganus virgatus Two black bars mask the eye and the rear of the gill. The white underside becomes yellowish up towards the back. Blue vermiculate spots and dots are seen on the head. The juveniles feed in mangroves and fresh water, the adults form mated pairs on coastal reef flats. They are present from India to Australia. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Coastal reefs

Foxface Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Cordonnier à tête de renard Siganus (Lo) vulpinus The foxface is one of the species of the sub-genus Lo which all have an elongate snout. All of them are distributed in the East of the Indian Ocean and in the Pacific. A short black band runs from the snout to the start of the dorsal fin and a black triangle covers the front of the throat. The rest of the front part is white and the body is yellow. Juveniles form small groups and adults go in pairs on coral reefs sheltered from the waves. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Coral reefs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

601

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Coryphaena hippurus (Coryphaenidae) and Thunnus albacares (Scombridae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes Les thons et autres grands poissons pélagiques

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Scombridae

The members of this family are characterised by an elongate and streamlined fusiform body with small scales which often cover only part of the body. There are two series of finlets (like small additional fins) on the back to the rear of the second dorsal fin and on the underside to the rear of the anal fin. The two dorsal fins are clearly separate. The first is composed of spiny rays and can lie completely folded into a groove on the fish’s back. The second is made up of soft rays. In some species like the yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), the first rays of the second dorsal and the anal fins can become much longer with age, transforming the fins into long whip-like appendages. The caudal peduncle has four lateral fleshy keels, as well as a more developed median keel in most species. Although the patterns on the body vary from one species to another, the fishes in this family are usually blue on the back and white on the underside. Worldwide, the family Scombridae comprises 51 species belonging to 15 genera. Some twenty species occur in the tropical or subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Their size varies significantly from one species to another, going from 35 cm for the Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) to over 2 m for the yellowfin tuna (T. albacares). It should be noted that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) largely exceeds this size, since it can reach 4.50 m in length and weigh up to 700 kg. The estimated lifespan for this species can range from 20 to 40 years. That of tropical species in the Indian Ocean is shorter, being about ten years for yellowfin tunas. All the species are pelagic, those of the genera Acanthocybium, Thunnus and Katsuwonus are deep-sea species and the others tend to be coastal. Most of them are gregarious, and tunas (genus Thunnus) are capable of forming shoals of considerable size, made up of several thousand individuals and representing a biomass of several hundred tonnes. Species in the genus Rastrelliger mainly feed on plankton. All of the other species are active top predators which feed on prey grouped in shoals like small pelagic fishes, but also on other marine fauna like cephalopods or crustaceans. Tunas are often associated with the thermocline which creates a zone where preys are found in large concentrations. Several species of tuna have the ability to regulate their body temperature thanks to a very special bloodstream circulation system. This physiological adaptation enables them to achieve exceptional performance levels in terms of swimming (speed and stamina) and their depth-range behaviour. Effectively, thanks to the electronic tagging done in the Indian Ocean (Fadio project), we were able to log a “record” dive by a yellowfin tuna to a depth of 1,160 m. The ambient temperature difference endured by the animal during this dive

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

was 23 °C. Most species are very susceptible to the aggregation phenomenon, gathering in large numbers under natural flotsam or objects (tree trunks, branches, ropes, nets, buoys, etc.), drifting offshore or under FADs deployed by fishermen. All of the Scombridae spawn in the pelagic environment and their eggs and larvae are carried seaward by large marine currents. In the tropical zone, these are mainly sequential spawns which are spread over long periods of the year. Males and females are distinct individuals, and there is no hermaphroditism in these species. This family is of major commercial value for fisheries, both small-scale tropical fisheries and ocean-going industrial fleets. It is also targeted by big-game fishermen who have developed a significant economic activity based on sport-fishing tourism to catch tuna species. In smallscale fisheries, tunas, seerfishes and skipjacks are most often caught on trolling lines with artificial lures in either coastal areas or zones far offshore, around moored Fish Aggregating Devices. Tuna species in the Indian Ocean are caught using one of three techniques: industrial purse-seining using drifting FADs, deep-sea drifting longlines and rod fishing with live bait. Catches of Scombridae worldwide currently amount to nearly 9.5 million tonnes, of which 1.7 million come from the Indian Ocean. Tunas are very shy and usually not accessible by divers. Diving underneath FADs and beneath natural drifting flotsam remain the surest way to be able to encounter them. However, these fish remain very difficult to photograph, because they swim fast and often at depths where divers cannot go. Some species, like the wahoo (A. solandri) or the seerfishes (Scomberomorus spp.) can show threatening behaviour towards divers.

Wahoo Thon banane ou thazard bâtard

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Acanthocybium solandri Very elongated and cylindrical in shape, they sport a blue colour pattern on the back and silvery grey on the underside. Juveniles, but also adults when they are excited, display a blue-striped colouration on their backs. They have a pointed snout and the lower jaw is slighter larger than the upper one. Inexperienced novices sometimes confuse the wahoo with the barracuda (Sphraenidae). Very big individuals are sometimes solitary, but the younger ones are most often in groups which can count up to a hundred individuals (particularly around FADs and drifting flotsam). Their favourite preys are squid and small fish. A deep-sea pelagic species, wahoos also come close to shore to seabeds above 20 m and readily aggregate around coastal moorings. The biggest specimen recorded was 2.50 m long and weighed 83 kg. Size 1.20 m

Zone

Depth 0-60 m

Habitat Deep-sea and coastal pelagic environments, FADs and drifting flotsam

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 604 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

Kawakawa Thonine orientale Euthynnus affinis It has a streamlined profile. Its body only has scales on the front part of it, forming a corselet ending in a point to the rear of the pectoral fin. Its back displays oblique blueish streaks or stripes. There are several diffuse black patches (usually three in number) visible on its silvery underside to the vertical of and above the pelvic fins. A coastal pelagic species, it gathers in shoals which are often very large. They feed on small pelagic fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, as well as on zooplankton. Size

Zone

1m

Depth

Habitat

0-200 m

Coastal pelagic environment

Double-lined mackerel Thazard Kusara Grammatorcynos bilineatus Their bodies are elongate and slightly compressed. They are blue on the back and sides to the middle of the body and silvery white below. The body is entirely covered with small scales. Two distinct lateral lines meet on the flank above the pectoral fin. This Indo-Pacific species is only present in the North of the Indian Ocean where they live in inshore areas around coral reefs. Their maximum size is around one metre. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-15 m

Coastal pelagic environment above reef areas

Dogtooth tuna Thon dents de chien Gymnosarda unicolor Its body is quite elongate and slightly compressed, but the bigger specimens get rounder-bodied with age. The mouth is large and robust, set with large canines which are visible from the outside. It also has large eyes. It has dusky grey colouring on the back

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

605

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

and a silvery underside. The male can become black in colour in the breeding period. These fierce predators are a coastal pelagic species and travel in small groups, usually composed of a large female and several smaller males, above reef zones. They sometimes go to cleaning stations on the reef where small wrasses (L. dimidiatus) will patiently remove the parasites on their bodies. The biggest specimen was reportedly about 2.50 m long and weighed over 130 kg. Size

Zone

Depth 10-100 m

1.50 m

Habitat Coastal pelagic environment above reef zones and outer slopes

Skipjack tuna Bonite à ventre rayé ou listao Katsuwonus pelamis Its body is fusiform in shape. It has midnight blue colouring on the back with a silvery underside. From four to six horizontal dark-coloured bands stretch from the edge of the corselet to the tail. The posterior tip of the corselet reaches mid-body at the level of the lateral line. With nearly two million tonnes caught annually worldwide, 500,000 t of them in the Indian Ocean, this species is a highly important resource for industrial tuna fleets in the three oceans. They live in shoals of several thousand individuals and are especially susceptible to the aggregation phenomenon. They are found both in the deep sea and close to shore. Size

Zone

Depth 0-250 m

80 cm

Habitat Deep-sea and coastal pelagic environments, moored and drifting FADs

Indian mackerel Maquereau des Indes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Rastrelliger kanagurta The blue or dark green colouring on its back is marked with two rows of small round black spots along the dorsal fin. The median part of the body displays two thin horizontal golden lines stretching all along it. A round or oval black patch is seen just behind the pectoral fin. A small coastal pelagic fish, the Indian mackerel adopts a specific attitude, swimming rapidly in shoals with its gape wide open to filter suspended particles in the water, rather like a pelagic trawl. It also feeds occasionally on small fish, crustaceans or cephalopods. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-100 m

Coastal pelagic environment

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 606 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

Narrowbarred Spanish mackerel Thazard rayé Scomberomorus commerson Its slender, compressed body is silvery with dark stripes. It resembles Acanthocybium solandri but its body is taller and its snout is shorter. It is a very swift-moving predator which attacks shoals of anchovies, sardines, horse mackerel or squid. That is very often the moment when it can be seen by divers, as it approaches the reef. It will swim past once and disappear. It is a commercially valuable species and sought after by game fishermen too. Present all over the Indo-Pacific region, it goes up into the Atlantic as far as Saint-Helena and can use the Suez canal to come live in the Mediterranean. Its maximum size reaches 2.40 m. Size

Zone

1.50 m

Depth

Habitat

10-100 m

Coastal pelagic environment

Kanadi kingfish Thazard Kanadi Scomberomorus plurilineatus Like the wahoo, it is elongate in shape, but it is laterally compressed. The snout is pointed and it has an impressive gape. Its silvery colour base is marked with lines of orangey dots and dashes arranged lengthwise on its body. A coastal pelagic species, they sometimes form large shoals. They mainly feed on sardines and anchovies, but also eat squids and mantis shrimps. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

1.20 m

Depth

Habitat

10-200 m

Coastal pelagic environment

Yellowfin tuna Albacore Thunnus albacares Its colour morph is midnight blue on the back, going to silvery white on the belly, with yellow tints. The fins are yellow. Series of white dotted lines extend diagonally along its grey underside. In large adults, the second dorsal fin and the anal fin are longer, forming two large whips. A gregarious deep-sea pelagic species which is

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

607

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

susceptible to the aggregation phenomenon, the yellowfin tuna is a major fisheries stock for industrial tuna fleets in the three oceans. Annual catches worldwide represent 1.3 million tonnes, of which 300,000 t come from the Indian Ocean. The largest yellowfins measure up to 2 m. Size

Zone

◗◗

Depth 0-1160 m

1.50 m

Habitat Deep-sea pelagic environment, moored and drifting FADs

Family Coryphaenidae

Common dolphinfish Grande coryphène

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Coryphaena hippurus The body of the common dolphinfish is elongate and strongly laterally compressed. Its long, continuous dorsal fin stretches from the back of the head to the caudal peduncle. The sexual dimorphism they display affects the shape of the head, enabling the male, with its very high forehead with a vertical edge to be distinguished from the female whose head has a rounder profile. Its colour base changes depending on its mood, silvery blue when it is calm and becoming a very bright golden green colour when it is caught on a line. Likewise, it takes on a very special striped colour pattern just before attacking a prey. The common dolphinfish is a deep-sea epipelagic, and shows very marked aggregating behaviour which leads it to associate with natural or artificial (FAD) floating objects. Its range of bathymetric distribution is usually quite close to the surface (0-20 m) but in our electronic tagging work, we recorded excursions to depths lower than 200 m. The maximum size reached by this species is 2.10 m. Size 1.20 m

Zone

Depth 0-20 m

Habitat Deep-sea pelagic environment, moored and drifting FADs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 608 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

Pompano dolphinfish Petite coryphène Coryphaena equiselis The Pompano looks a great deal like the common dolphinfish, but it remains much smaller in adulthood. Its profile is also a bit higher for the same size. The criteria which can be used to distinguish between them (i.e. the number of rays on the dorsal fin, the tooth patch on the tongue, etc.) are very difficult to observe while diving. They share similar behaviour, but C. equiselis seems to be much less abundant than C. hippurus. We have occasionally observed shoals containing both of these species in the wild. The mean size of adults hardly exceeds 60 cm, but the maximum size reported is said to be 1.20 m. Size

Zone

0-20 m

60 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat Deep-sea pelagic environment, moored and drifting FADs

Family Istiophoridae

Indo-Pacific sailfish Voilier

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Istiophorus platypterus Although its overall shape and colour resemble those of the blue marlin, the sailfish differs from it by a much more laterally compressed body and by a huge dorsal fin which is raised like a large sail over the better part of its back. Its pelvic fins are also very long, practically reaching the anus. Although they can travel in the deep-sea oceanic environment, the distribution range of sailfish is much more coastal than that of marlins. They are often observed above coral beds near the shore (bottoms of 20 m), near passes where they do not hesitate to hunt shoals of coastal fishes like sea chubs (Kyphosidae). Its maximum size is close to 3.50 m. Size 3m

Zone

Depth 0-200 m

Habitat Coastal and deep-sea pelagic environments, moored and drifting FADs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

609

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

Indo-Pacific blue marlin Marlin ou makaire bleu Makaira nigricans Its large size, slender body, long round rostrum and big, crescentshaped caudal fin are the distinctive features of this lord of the seas. The deep blue colouring of its back changes mid-flank to become a silvery blue. Darker-coloured thin vertical bars are distributed regularly all over the body. It can be easily confused with the striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax), very similar in colour but whose dorsal fin is much taller, or with the black marlin (Makaira indicus), which has no stripes on its sides and whose curved pectoral fins are particularly stiff (they do not fold against the body). Until quite recently, the Atlantic blue marlins (Makaira nigricans) and the Indo-Pacific blue marlins (Makaira mazara) were considered to be separate species, but more thorough genetic studies have shown that this differentiation was not justified. They are large deep-sea predators which hunt on the edges of tuna shoals and visit floating objects and FADs searching for various prey (tunas, skipjack tunas, dolphinfishes, squid, etc.). Around ocean islands, they can sometimes come closer to shore. The largest recorded specimen caught weighed over 900 kg. Size

Zone

0-200 m

5m

◗◗

Depth

Habitat Deep-sea pelagic environment, moored and drifting FADs

Family Xiphiidae

Swordfish Espadon

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Xiphias gladius Sole representative of the family Xiphiidae, the swordfish can be differentiated from the marlins by its long rostrum flattened like a two-edged sword. Its big-sized eyes show that it is capable of hunting at night or in the darkness at great depths. It is very widely distributed in temperate tropical waters and sometimes even in cold waters worldwide. Its tolerance to a broad range of temperatures (from 3° to 30°C) gives it a significant bathymetric range, going from the surface to depths of several hundred metres. Forays down to minus 900 m were recorded for a swordfish in the Pacific using an archive tag. In tropical zones, they stay in deep water during the day and come up towards the surface at night, returning to the deep again at daybreak. It is a solitary fish, with groups of a few individuals being observed only on spawning grounds. The traditional practice of harpoon fishing, particularly in the Mediterranean, has been progressively replaced by fisheries using longlines or driftnets. Annual catches worldwide amount to 100,000 tonnes, with 20,000 t of them coming from the Indian Ocean. The species can reach a maximum size of 4.50 m (approximately 600 kg). Size 3m

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-900 m

Deep-sea pelagic environment

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 610 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Tunas and other large pelagic fishes

Istiophorus platypterus © A. Diringer

Makaira nigricans © A. Diringer

Makaira indicus

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

© A. Diringer

Tetrapturus audax © A. Diringer

Xiphias gladius © A. Diringer Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

611

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Bothus mancus (family Bothidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Flounders and soles Les poissons plats

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

In this chapter, we have grouped together species belong to different families, sharing the specificity of having one side of the body in contact with the bottom (right or left side depending on the family). In fact, in the fingerling phase, before going to join their benthic habitat on the sand or mud, these fish swim in the open water above the seafloor and like other fishes, have a right and left side, with an eye on each one. Before they settle on the bottom, some anatomical modifications begin to take place on their bones, muscles, skin and eyes, notably leading to the migration of one of the eyes to the same side as the other eye (left or right). The pigmentation of their skin alters to become white or light-coloured on the side in contact with the seabed and a shade of brown with various patterns on the other side. This flattened form enables them to bury themselves in the sediment, thus eluding predators or being discreet enough to grab their own prey. This system is further complemented by exceptional mimicry abilities, perfectly imitating the colour and type of seafloor and sometimes rendering them impossible to detect. Their eyes are very mobile and can make large rotations, enabling them to explore their close surroundings from every angle. Unlike the species in temperate zones, whose abundance and quality of the flesh make them very important economically for fisheries, the tropical species are much less sought after. No tropical fleets target them. The difficulty for the diver lies more in trying to detect them on the bottom rather than to approach them. ■

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Flounders and soles

◗◗

Family Samaridae

Their eyes are generally on the right side of the body.

Three-spot righteye flounder Plie à trois ocelles Samariscus triocellatus Although its body is ovoid in shape, its mouth forms a distinctive acute angle. Its variable camouflage made up of irregular markings reveals two or three darker ocelli along the middle of the body. The base of the pectoral fin is dusky. This flounder is solitary, staying buried in the sand during the day very often under a reef ledge and hunting at night. Size

Zone

10 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral areas

Family Soleidae

Their eyes are generally on the right side.

Diringer’s sole Sole de Diringer

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Aseraggodes diringeri This small sole has no pectoral fins. A long tubular naris, or nostril, hangs over the mouth. Its plain colour morph mimics the environment surrounding it. It is sighted in lagoons, from the first centimetres of water. Its small scales and camouflage make it very inconspicuous. This species was discovered by the authors in 1988 in the waters of Reunion Island, and was determined and described by Jean-Claude Quéro. Since then, other specimens have been discovered in the Comoros Islands and on the coast of Africa. Size 11 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, mixed coral areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 614 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Flounders and soles

Finless sole Sole de lait Pardachirus marmoratus It has an ovate, flat body. Its eyes are on the right side and it has no pectoral fins. Mimicking its substrate, it has irregular, light- or dark-coloured ocelli and small dusky dots which improve its camouflage. They move over sandy-muddy seabeds along the coasts. They protect themselves by secreting a toxic substance which repels predators. Size

Zone

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-15 m

Lagoons, sandy-muddy bottoms in coral reef areas

Peacock sole Sole ocellée Pardachirus pavoninus

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Identical in shape to P. marmoratus, it can be distinguished from it by its more distinct light-coloured ocelli and its yellow dots. They live in the East of the Indian Ocean and also protect themselves with a repellent which is even effective against sharks. This has led research scientists to try and synthesize this toxin for use as anti-shark protection.

Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Lagoons, sandy-muddy bottoms in coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

615

Flounders and soles

Banded sole Sole zèbre Soleichthys heterorhinos This sole can be differentiated by the fact that its back is entirely covered with irregular, slightly duskier bands. The undersides of the anal and dorsal fins are black, like the fringe of its tail. Hidden under the sand in shallow water, they remain motionless with only their eyes emerging. They flee very rapidly in the case of danger. They are more active at night and even venture out to hunt on rocks. Size

Zone

18 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

2-10 m

Sand

Family Cynoglossidae

Their eyes are generally on the left side of the body.

Lachner’s tonguesole Sole de Lachner

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Cynoglossus lachneri Its body is tongue-shaped and the dorsal, caudal and anal fins are combined to form a single fin. Its blind side (the right) is white and the visible side is a plain cream or sandy tone. This sole lies on the bottom, buried in the sand under a ledge with its eyes just showing at the surface of the sediment, invisible by day. At night it goes hunting, but without leaving the soft bottom areas. Size 46 cm

◗◗

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Lagoons, sandy-muddy bottoms in coral reef areas

Family Bothidae

Their eyes and mouth are theoretically on the left side, but this can vary from one individual to another. They have an ovate, flat body, with the tail clearly separate from the other fins. Males have a highly developed pectoral fin that they wave in the courtship display. Their very mobile eyes can move independently. They have bumps just above the eyes.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 616 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Flounders and soles

Leopard flounder Turbot léopard Bothus pantherinus The leopard flounder can be distinguished from B. mancus by its less cryptic brown colour pattern, studded with lighter- and darkercoloured spots. In the Indian Ocean, it is not present around oceanic islands, but lives on continental shelves in sandy-muddy areas, entering estuaries and lagoons. It feeds on benthic fauna. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-150 m

Lagoons, estuaries, sandy-muddy bottoms

Flowery flounder Turbot tropical Bothus mancus The flowery flounder exhibits light blue ocellated spots and patches on its base colour mimicking rocky seabeds. A large dusky patch can be seen in the middle of its body. It is often resting on a promontory where its telescopic eyes enable it to take stock of any threat. Size

Zone

45 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

3-150 m

Lagoons, sandy-muddy and rocky bottoms

Family Paralichthyidae

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Ocellated flounder Flet ocellé Pseudorhombus dupliciocellatus This is a rhomboid-shaped flat fish. On its back, whose colour adapts to the surrounding seafloor, there are a few ocellated spots that look like “skulls”. The bulge of the eyes is black, with the colour spreading towards the mouth. They live resting on or buried in sandy-muddy bottoms around reefs. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

20-80 m

Sand

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

617

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Balistoides viridescens (family Balistidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes Les balistes et monacanthes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Families of triggerfishes and filefishes Their diamond-shaped bodies are laterally compressed. The dorsal fin is made up of two parts. The front part has three spines, the first of them is long and strong and can be locked into an erect position by a “trigger” system formed by the second fin. These families use this feature to defend themselves against predators or to anchor themselves, once wedged into small crevices, so that they cannot be extracted from them. The pelvic fins are no more than an encysted double spine. Some species have several more or less blunt-tipped spines on the caudal peduncle. Their skin is thick and covered with large, hard scales which fit together and do not overlap. Their eyes are far from the mouth to protect them from the spines of urchins. These fish have a typical way of swimming, using their dorsal and anal fins in a sculling movement. The family Balistidae comprises 40 species belonging to 11 genera and there are 95 species in 31 genera for their close relatives the Monacanthidae. Triggerfishes, and most of the filefishes, are demersal fish which live above all in the tropical waters of the three oceans, but some species occur in temperate waters. Their round eyes can turn independently in their sockets, enabling the triggerfish to keep one eye turned towards its nest to protect its eggs, and the other on the look out to detect any predators in the surroundings. The jaws are armed with powerful teeth that can cause serious wounds to any foolhardy intruder. They are often solitary and primarily active in daytime. In many species, the female deposits her eggs in a nest prepared on the seabed and fiercely guards her offspring until they hatch. The male sometimes takes part in defending the nest. For others, spawning takes place in open water, meaning that the eggs are subjected to any chance meetings. The sizes vary, depending on the species, going from about ten centimetres for the mimic filefish to 80 cm (maximum size) for the titan triggerfish, or even over a metre for the leatherjacket. Their diet is quite varied. Thanks to their powerful jaws, they can crush urchins, shellfish, gastropods, crabs, and so on.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

These fishes hold little interest for fisheries. Officially declared catches in the Indian Ocean are limited to a few hundred tonnes. And yet, triggerfish are the by-catch victims on lines or in nets in small local tropical fisheries. Some pelagic species which aggregate in large numbers under floating objects, such as Canthidermis maculatus, Aluterus scriptus and Aluterus monoceros, are also caught accidentally in the seine nets of industrial tuna boats which fish for tunas around drifting FADs. Because of their lovely colours and special behaviour, the small species are of great interest to aquarium keepers and fish enthusiasts. However, their aggressiveness towards the other occupants in the tank is a serious handicap for keeping them. The risks of being bitten are very real for unwise divers who do not keep their distance from triggerfishes guarding their nest. They can be highly toxic in some zones. Amongst the species present in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, 41 species belonging to 23 genera are presented in this guidebook.

◗◗

Family Balistidae

Starry triggerfish Baliste étoilé Abalistes stellatus It is yellowish grey in colour with three fleeting white patches on the sides and large yellow spots on the belly. Its caudal peduncle is very narrow. It lives on sandy and muddy bottoms, often on deep seabeds, either alone or in small discreet groups. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-120 m

Mixed sandy-muddy bottoms, outer reef slopes

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Orange-lined triggerfish Baliste strié Balistapus undulatus The body is green, with curved orange lines. The lines covering the face disappear in mature males, except for those highlighting the mouth. They are common, seen prospecting in detritic areas at the foot of reefs, readily approaching divers, and always hiding in the same crevice to sleep. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-50 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 620 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Clown triggerfish Baliste-clown Balistoides conspicillum The clown triggerfish sports big white spots on its underside which spread out with age. Its tail is yellow and edged in black, its mouth is rimmed in orange. It is solitary and forages on scarped slopes. When danger draws near, it swims away and locks itself into a hole using its erectile dorsal spine.

Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-75 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Titan triggerfish Baliste titan Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Balistoides viridescens This is the largest of the triggerfish, mustard yellow in colour, with a lattice of dusky diamond shapes on its sides. Its chin and the base of the tail are lighter-coloured. The cheek, between its very mobile eye and the moustache running along the mouth, is yellow. It has huge, conical canines which it uses to crush shellfish. This fish is able to turn over large plaques of dead coral, giant clams and acropora to uncover urchins and other hidden treats there. It swims on its side, keeping watch over its territory with one eye and inspecting the seafloor with the other. In the nesting period in particular, it can be aggressive. After digging a nest, the female deposits a clutch of eggs (in a pinky gelatinous mass). In turn, the mates aerate the

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

621

Triggerfishes and filefishes

eggs by “blowing” on them and protect them by chasing off the numerous predators, attacking anything and anyone that comes within their safety zone, including divers. Indeed the titan can violently crash into a diver’s mask or camera lens. We can testify to the power of their bite! Size

Zone

80 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-40 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Yellowmargin triggerfish Baliste géant Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus Similar to the titan triggerfish, it is paler, with no moustache, a pink and grey face and short parallel lines at the eye. It is smaller than its cousin. Like the latter, it can be toxic with ciguatera. It is shyer and not seen as often. The yellowmargin shows the same behaviour pattern and also feeds on invertebrates and seaweeds. It is common in the Red Sea. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-50 m

Coral beds, outer reef slopes

Largescale triggerfish Baliste océanique de mer Rouge

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Canthidermis macrolepis Grey with large scales, it has darkfringed edges on its fins. The tail is trilobate with long pointed tips. Endemic to the Red Sea, it has a more elongate body than that of Canthidermis macula, found in tropical waters the world over. They are pelagic fish which live in large shoals offshore and aggregate under flotsam. They come closer to shore to spawn and to watch over their nest dug in the sand on outer slopes. They can be observed aerating their spawn by blowing on it and gulping down any unfertilised eggs. Size 60 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

+ Aden

1-60 m

Reef areas, coastal and deep-sea pelagic environments

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 622 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Oceanic triggerfish Baliste océanique Canthidermis maculata It is grey and elongate, and can be recognised by its pointed dorsal and anal fins which are set far to the rear of its body. Its colour base is often scattered with round white spots. Generally pelagic, living in large shoals, aggregating under objects adrift offshore (flotsam or FADs) just under the surface, it can also be found inshore, most likely in places where the flotsam providing its haven was washed up. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Deep-sea pelagic environment

Indian triggerfish Baliste indien Melichthys indicus It is greenish or black, with a white line running along the base of the anal and dorsal fins and the fringe of the tail, which is slightly rounded. With the exception of the pectoral, its fins are black. A solitary and timid fish, it quickly hides in crevices on coral-rich flats. The male stands guard over the nest and probably over the larvae too before they move off. Present in the South of the Red Sea, this fish is rare in the Arabian Gulf. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Rich coral seabeds, outer reef slopes

Black triggerfish Baliste noir Melichthys niger Very closely related to the Indian triggerfish, it can be distinguished from it by the truncated shape of its tail. Its head sometimes displays a yellow colouring on the cheeks. It feeds on drifting seaweed and zooplankton. It can be observed from the surface on down, in large shoals in some areas and rather rarely in others. Size 40 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-75 m

Rich coral seabeds, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

623

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Paddlefin triggerfish Baliste à queue rose Melichthys vidua It is dark green and is characterised by its pink and white tail. The dorsal and anal fins are light grey, with black edges. They prefer areas with lots of invertebrates, but also feed on seaweeds and fish. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-120 m

Outer slopes

Redtooth triggerfish Baliste bleu Odonus niger Blue or dark grey, its face and chin are paler. The tips of its tail are well developed. Its jaw is armed with a pair of big red canine teeth. They form large shoals in open water, hunting for plankton in the current. The various individuals in the shoal all dive down to the bottom together to nestle in a hole at nightfall, or in daytime if they feel threatened. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-55 m

Rich coral seabeds, outer reef slopes

Blue triggerfish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Baliste vermiculé Pseudobalistes fuscus Juveniles are yellow with blue vermiculated patterns. As they grow older, the colour base becomes darker and the network of blue lines becomes less visible. Below the eye, there is a series of horizontal parallel lines formed by rigid grooves in the skin. The outer rays of the tail have pointed tips. Always found close Adult to sandy bottoms, they turn over stones and “blow” the sand away from the invertebrates there, like brittle stars, shellfish, crustaceans, which often attracts a following of wrasse ready to freeload on their finds and scraps. They prefer the clear water of outer slopes.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 624 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Sub-adult

Juveniles Size

Zone

55 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Mixed coral seabeds with areas of sand

Picasso triggerfish Baliste Picasso de la mer Rouge Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Rhinecanthus assasi It is beige with a white underside. Colourful bars of orange, light blue and black run from the eye to the base of the pectoral fin. A fine orange spot around the anus distinguishes it from the other Picasso triggerfishes. It occurs on shallow detritic sandy zones. Juveniles often dodge into empty shells to hide. The maximum size reaches 30 cm. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

15 cm

+

0-25 m

Lagoons, mixed coral seabeds with areas of sand

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

625

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Blackbar triggerfish Baliste Picasso clair Rhinecanthus aculeatus Its light-coloured body displays a large, dusky, diffuse patch on the flank, crossed by white bars on the back and the belly. Between its eyes there are alternating blue and black bars and a yellow moustache extends towards the base of the gill cover. They are abundant and very active in shallow water, foraging the top layers of the lagoon in detritic areas and seagrass beds. They expend a great deal of energy defending their territory, and are sometimes even aggressive with tourists visiting the lagoon. Its maximum size reaches 30 cm. Size

Zone

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-10 m

Lagoons, mixed coral seabeds with areas of sand

Picasso triggerfish Baliste Picasso des Mascareignes Rhinecanthus cinereus

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

This yellow-grey triggerfish can be recognised by the black ring rimmed in white that surrounds its caudal peduncle, preceded by two white bars. A dark-coloured bar runs down from the eye towards the base of the pectoral fin. A rare and unobtrusive fish, as well as solitary, it explores the foot of drop-offs. It is present in the Mascarene Islands and the Maldives.

Juvenile

Adult Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

15-30 m

Outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 626 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Wedge-tail triggerfish Baliste Picasso à bandeau Rhinecanthus rectangulus A black band coming down from the eye spreads widely over the belly. A trimmed black triangle tightly encircles the caudal peduncle. This triggerfish chooses surf zone areas to stay in and defend its territory. It feeds on echinoderms and can tolerate murky water. Its maximum size reaches 30 cm. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Lagoons, flats, beginning of reef slope

Bluethroat triggerfish Baliste à queue blanche Sufflamen albicaudatum Endemic to the Red Sea and Oman, it differs from S. chrysopterum (which occupies the entire zone, from Africa to Japan) by a white band which covers the caudal peduncle and edges the tail. It makes do with sparse detritic zones where it can rush to hide under a stone if frightened. Size

Zone

22 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Detritic areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Boomerang triggerfish Baliste carène Sufflamen bursa Its silhouette is similar to that of the Picasso triggerfish species, but its colour base is beige with just a black or yellow (depending on the regions) V-shaped mark coming up from the base of the pectoral fin towards the eye. They live in the surf zone where waves break, close to the shelter provided by coral and rocks, but also occasionally at great depths at the foot of rocky drop-offs. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-90 m

Lagoons, flats, outer reef slopes, rocky drop-offs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

627

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Flagtail triggerfish Baliste à gorge bleue Sufflamen chrysopterum It is dark brown with a blue throat and a long curved yellow line linking the eye to the base of the pectoral fin. Its yellow tail is edged in white on three sides. Generally solitary, it lives in shallow areas of sand and coral reefs where it can hide at the slightest alert. Adult

Juvenile Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral areas

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Bridled triggerfish Baliste à muselière Sufflamen fraenatum Against its dark brown base, a white line prolongs its moustache to the gill. The female can display a white spot on the tail. They tend to like deep water, preferring detritic and sandy bottoms which are in keeping with their omnivorous diet. They are rare in the Red Sea and common elsewhere. Size 38 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

8-186 m

Mixed coral areas, detritic and sandy bottoms

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 628 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Gilded triggerfish Baliste à bord jaune Xanthichthys auromarginatus The female is grey, with black bases of the dorsal and anal fins. The male is grey or blue, with a royal blue throat and and golden yellow edges on the fins. They live at the top of deep drop-offs, in groups of various sizes, intercepting plankton passing in the current. Juveniles live together in the same fault or crack, but each mated pair of adults chooses its own hole.

Male

Female Size

Zone

20 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

10-150 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes, rocky drop-offs

Family Monacanthidae

These are the filefishes: they have a more flattened body than the Balistidae as well as a softer, more leathery looking skin. Their first dorsal fins have two spines.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Unicorn leatherjacket Poisson-lime licorne Aluterus monoceros They are very flat and their leathery skin is grey, but can take on a vermiculated pattern. These fish feed on invertebrates and plant rubble. They are pelagic and aggregate around drifting and floating objects (flotsam or FADs) and sargassum. Juveniles can accompany jellyfish as they migrate. Size 75 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Deep-sea environment, aggregating at FADs

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

629

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Leatherjacket Baliste écriture Aluterus scriptus Its grey or beige body is covered with sky blue lines and marks. The tail stretches out into a broad brush which is rarely spread out. Juveniles live in small groups in the pelagic environment under floating debris. Once adult, and back at the coast after their pelagic phase, they can settle near the seabed with a predilection for drop-offs and wrecks. However, some adults remain aggregated under flotsam and FADs drifting in the deep-sea environment. The leatherjacket can reach a maximum length of 1.10 m.

Size

Zone

Depth 0-120 m

60 cm

Habitat Deep-sea environment, aggregating under FADs, rocky bottoms, drop-offs, wrecks

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Pygmy leatherjacket Poisson-lime pygmée Brachaluteres jacksonianus The juvenile is yellow, adorned with lines of ocelli. It becomes greenish, with lines of grey spots and can puff itself up to avoid being attacked. It hides in seagrass meadows in calm water. At night, it sleeps hanging on to a blade of seaweed with its teeth. It is endemic from the south of Perth as far as Sydney. Size 9 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-30 m

Seagrass meadows

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Triggerfishes and filefishes

Whitespotted filefish Monacanthe rayé Cantherhines dumerilii Its leathery colour base is grey-brown with duskier bars on its flanks. Males have more yellowy eyes and fins. Juveniles are grey with round white spots regularly distributed over the head and body. Generally in mated pairs, they favour areas rich in branching corals, whose tips they bite off, but they also feed on urchins, seaweeds and sponges. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-35 m

Rich coral areas

Spectacled filefish Poisson-lime à lunette Cantherhines fronticinctus Rusty beige in colour, it has a white ring around the tail and a blue line circling the eye. It prefers flats and coral lagoons, grazing on acropora and related food items. It can conceal itself very well there.

Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

25 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-45 m

Lagoons, flats, rich coral reef areas

Wirenet filefish Poisson-lime panthère Cantherhines pardalis It is grey-beige, with polygonalshaped brown patches on the body and tightly spaced lines on its face. A white saddle overlaps the base of the tail. It is solitary and wary, hiding in seagrass beds and the acropora which it eats. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-25 m

Lagoons, flats, rich coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

631

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Mosaic leatherjacket Poisson-lime mosaïque Eubalichthys mosaicus It has a flat body, elongate snout and incisors protruding forward. There is a large spine underlying the first dorsal fin. Juveniles are ochre-coloured with blueish lines, becoming bluegrey with streaked yellow patches. The female is duller in colour. It is timid and lives in the southern half of Australia, preferring seagrass beds with stones and it feeds on sponges and alcyonarians. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-140 m

Seagrass meadows

Yellow-striped leatherjacket Monacanthe à rayure jaune Meuschenia flavolineata Its first dorsal fin is barbed, positioned level with the front of the eye. An orangey yellow ring encircles the base of the tail and extends frontward in a more diffuse, yellow band. They occur on rocky bottoms and in seagrass meadows. Size

Zone

30 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Rocky bottoms, seagrass meadows

Six-pine leatherjacket Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-lime à six éperons Meuschenia freycineti Although the female is grey with large dusky bands from the gill to the tail, the male is blueish with reticulated patterns. There is often a patch becoming yellow on the head and the centre of the body. Both sexes have three pairs of spines at the base of the tail. They feed on soft corals and sponges, seeking out jetties and rocky areas from the coast to very deep water. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-100 m

Seagrass meadows

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 632 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Blue-lined leatherjacket Poisson-lime à lignes bleues Meuschenia galii Variable in colour, from greenish to brown to orangey, it can be recognised by the series of blue lines which begin behind the eye and become fainter mid-body. It sports small spines on the caudal peduncle. When deployed, the tail becomes a bright orange fan. They are present in shallow water, in inshore seagrass meadows and are mainly visible in the springtime and summer to the south of Shark Bay. Size

Zone

40 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-40 m

Seagrass meadows and rocky seabeds

Horseshoe leatherjacket Poisson-lime fer à cheval Meuschenia hippocrepis With a highly variable colouration, it can be recognised by its blue spot inside a black “horseshoe” in the middle of a yellow zone. They are present in coastal seagrass meadows and as far as deep rocks, and can form large shoals. Juveniles prefer estuaries, calm bays and the shelter of jetties. Size

Zone

60 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-120 m

Seagrass meadows and rocky seabeds

Harlequin filefish Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson-lime à taches orange Oxymonacanthus longirostris Its colour base is magnificent, with round orange spots against a light green background. There is a black spot on its tail. The elongated snout and the teeth far to the front enable it to cut off the polyps of acropora. They are found in mated pairs in reef zones which are rich in acropora, where they can both hide and feed. Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-35 m

Lagoons, flats, rich coral reef areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

633

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Red Sea longnose filefish Poisson-lime à long nez de mer Rouge Oxymonacanthus halli This species is endemic to the Red Sea, and only differs from its “Indian Ocean cousin” by its smaller size, a longer nose and a black bar replacing the spot on the tail. They share the same behaviours, living in mated pairs, head downward to swallow the polyps of branching coral. They spawn their eggs in toxic seaweeds which protect them from predators. Size

Zone

7 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-25 m

Branching coral

Mimic filefish Monacanthe à selles noires Paraluteres prionurus

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

It is white, dotted with black and sports four black saddles on its back and head. The tail and bases of the fins are yellow. This is one clever little fish! It mimics, in shape, colour and b e h av i o u r, t h e t o x i c d i o d o n t Canthigaster valentini. However, it differs from it by having two dorsal fins, as well as by the size of the second dorsal and the anal fin. It feeds on alcyonarians and moves around without a care since it is protected by its pseudo-toxicity. Juveniles sleep in gorgonians, hanging on to them with their teeth. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas

Hairfinned leatherjacket Poisson-lime japonais Paramonacanthus japonicus Its ovate, compressed body is covered with rough patches. It is generally grey to beige in colour and depending on its surroundings, takes on patches, bands and other tones. A large oval patch can be seen on the upper mid-

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 634 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Triggerfishes and filefishes

body. It can deploy a keel on its underside. An opportunistic feeder, it eats anything: seaweed, carcasses, crustaceans that it finds in shallow seagrass beds and sand. Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-120 m

Seagrass meadows and sandy areas

Rhino leatherjacket Poisson-lime rhinocéros Pseudalutarius nasicornis It has a light-coloured body with two wide ochre bands from the snout to the tail. The female is more elongate than the male. This filefish has a long stiff ray above its eye. They live in pairs, and hide in beds of seagrass and soft coral, happy to wait head down, motionless and camouflaged until night falls to move around. Size

Zone

Depth 1-55 m

20 cm

Habitat Lagoons, estuaries, sandy bottoms and seagrass meadows

Stap-weed filefish Poisson-lime pointillé

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Pseudomonacanthus macrurus It is generally light-coloured, spotted with small dark dots on its compressed and ovate sides and with a scattering of dashes on the underside. It can rapidly alter its appearance to improve its camouflage. They occur in areas of seaweed and sand, knowing that they will find both shelter and a variety of food sources there. They often live in mated pairs, spawning eggs in a nest which the male will protect and take care of. Size 24 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-120 m

Mixed sandy-muddy bottoms, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Description of groups

635

Triggerfishes and filefishes

Black bar filefish Poisson-lime à bande noire Pervagor janthinosoma The front of the body is blue-grey, turning to grey-green on the back and it has an orange tail. A black band encompasses the gill. It is timid and inconspicuous, and often only one of the mates can be seen. It hides in coral when any potential danger draws near. A vegetarian, it becomes very active when food is present. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Lagoons, outer slopes

Orangetail filefish Poisson-lime à queue orange Pervagor aspricaudatus Although the front part of the body is deep blue and dotted, the hindpart turns to orange. It does not display a black patch around the gill like P. janthinosoma, which it greatly resembles. The first ray of its dorsal fin is strong and rigid so that it can lock itself into holes in the coral. A timid fish, it occurs in seaweed-covered coral, both in and outside of lagoons, with a preference for clear water. It is present in Indonesia and further east and can also be sighted in Mauritius and Reunion Island. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-25 m

Corals

Leather jacket Monacanthe inconnu Paramonacanthus sp. The identification of this little leatherjacket, with mottled brown and beige colouring remains uncertain. It was found aggregating under a drifting FAD in the deep-sea oceanic environment very far off the Seychelles and it was not possible to take a specimen in order to identify it accurately in the laboratory. Seeing its size, it was most likely a juvenile.

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Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Canthidermis http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

maculata (family Balistidae)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Juvenile Ostracion cubicus (family Ostraciidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Boxfishes Les poissons-coffres ou poissons-vaches

Families Ostraciidae and Aracanidae

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

◗◗

Family Ostraciidae

Boxfishes have cube-shaped or tetrahedral-shaped bodies. They are protected by bony plates and have no scales. Species in the genus Lactoria have developed two spines of varying length on the forehead in front of the eyes that are similar to horns, which is why one of their common names is the cowfish. The dorsal and anal fins are located far to the rear of the body and activated with a sculling motion which ensures the fish’s slow movement. The caudal peduncle coming out of the “carapace” formed by the bony plates extends into a tail, often of an impressive size, which enables it to flee rapidly. The small mouth is turned obliquely towards the bottom and is very well adapted to their diet, mainly made up of benthic invertebrates, sponges, seaweeds and tunicate worms. The family comprises 33 species belonging to 14 genera. These are demersal marine fish which live in the tropical waters of three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian). For the most part, they live in harems and defend their territory. The females spawn their pelagic eggs in open water, usually in the evening, which are then carried off by marine currents. Boxfishes are generally small in size, in the Indian Ocean reaching up to 45 cm for the biggest ones. When exposed to stress, they produce a poison called “ostracitoxin” which can be lethal for other fish and makes them unfit for consumption. This defence mechanism is the major drawback to their use in aquariums. These venomous fish are of no value for fisheries. Their behaviour with regard to divers generally consists in their moving slowly away, dodging between coral banks until they find refuge in a hole or under a rock. Amongst the Ostraciidae which can be sighted in the Indian Ocean, 8 species belonging to 2 genera are presented in this guidebook.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Boxfishes

Longhorn cowfish Poisson-vache à longues cornes Lactoria cornuta It can be recognised by its angular shapes, the long horns on its forehead and those that protect the rear of its underside. It has a very long tail like a paintbrush which, along with the eyes and the small pectoral fins, seem to be the only moving parts of its body. Its mottled appearance changes colour but the white dots on the top of its body remain. It is solitary, skimming along the bottom and stopping to uncover its prey by “blowing” on the sediment. Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-50 m

Lagoons, mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

Thornback cowfish Poisson-coffre à épine dorsale Lactoria fornasini Smaller and stockier than L. cornuta, it sports a spine on its back. A marbled beige, it is covered with small light blue marks and lines. It is discreetly present in estuaries and lagoons, on slopes with varied relief, and only speeds up when it is being chased, turning to face its predators with its horns out first. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

15 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, estuaries, mixed coral seafloors

Yellow boxfish Poisson-coffre jaune Ostracion cubicus The juveniles look like playing dice: yellow with black spots. As they grow older, their bodies get longer and become ochre, then blue-grey for large males. The body is covered with light-coloured spots, outlined in black. Black spots are also quite conspicuous on the mobile part of its

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 640 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Boxfishes

tail. Juveniles are solitary, hiding in branches of acropora, whilst adults patrol in detritic zones and on small drop-offs, looking for seaweed and invertebrates.

Size

Zone

45 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, coral beds, outer reef slopes

Bluetail trunkfish Poisson-coffre à points bleus Ostracion cyanurus The juveniles and females are yellow with black dots, with their tint getting darker with age. Males are blue with dots, except on the flat area of their back which is khaki green. Solitary, timid and inconspicuous, it never leaves the shelter of coral reefs on detritic sandy bottoms. This species is endemic to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

15 cm

+

2-25 m

Lagoons, mixed coral seabeds

Whitespotted boxfish Poisson-coffre pintade

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Ostracion meleagris Juveniles and females have the same colour pattern which is dark and speckled with white dots like a guinea-fowl. The male has orange spots on the sides and white dots on the top. An orange line marks the upper edge of his coffer shape. They live in harems and the males fight to defend their territory. There are frequently battles where they butt heads! They feed on sponges and the associated invertebrates. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, mixed coral seabeds

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

641

Boxfishes

Reticulate boxfish Poisson-coffre réticulé Ostracion solorensis In the juvenile and the female, the body is greenish brown, covered with a white pattern mimicking the coral. This pattern disappears in the mature male, which has only a few lines and dots of sky blue against a navy blue colour base. This dark colour conceals it under overhangs of dropoffs and channels with lots of coral.

Size

Zone

12 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Mixed coral bottoms, outer reef slopes

Roughskin trunkfish Poisson-coffre à peau dure Ostracion trachys

Male

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All of them are black, the female having white spots all over the body, except on the top of the “coffer”. It is the opposite for the male, which is plain on the sides and dotted on the top of his trunk-like body. A white line runs along the upper edge of its coffer shape. This fish is endemic to the Mascarene Islands, solitary, rarely leaving the cracks and overhangs of drop-offs.

Female Size 12 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

15-30 m

Outer reef slopes, drop-offs, caves

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 642 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Boxfishes

Horn-nosed boxfish Poisson-coffre rhinocéros Ostracion rhinorhynchos It is grey and its polygonal plates are blotched with beige as well as each having several black dots. Its prominent, bumpy nose protects its lips. Generally living in deep water at the foot of drop-offs, it almost never leaves its shelter, except to nibble on seaweed or search for invertebrates. Size

Zone

35 cm

◗◗

Depth

Habitat

10-50 m

Outer reef slopes, drop-offs, caves

Family Aracanidae

Long considered to be a sub-family of the Ostraciidae, since 1980 the Aracanidae have been deemed to be a family in their own right made up of 13 species (6 genera). This new classification is based on the study of a set of anatomical and morphological features.

Western smooth boxfish Poisson-coffre australien

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Anoplocapros amygdaloides A carapace of triangular plates, fitted together in hexagons or squares, fully protects its light-coloured body with its rusty-hued diffuse blotches. The snout is pointed. They meticulously forage on the bottom looking for small prey and stopping only to check the situation in their surroundings. Generally present in shallow water, they can adapt to murky water in harbours, under jetties and in seagrass meadows along the coast between Shark Bay and Adelaide. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-15 m

Seagrass meadows

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

643

Boxfishes

White-barred boxfish Poisson-coffre à bosse Anoplocapros lenticularis Its long snout extends back into a large hump. There are wide, complex white and dark bands which disrupt the orangey silhouette of juveniles and females, whilst the colour pattern of the male is simpler. They can be seen blowing on the sediment to uncover their prey, in harbours and at the foot of jetties. Although not frequently seen near the shore, they are more numerous in deep areas. Size

Zone

20 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-220 m

Outer reef slopes, drop-offs, caves

Shaw’s cowfish Poisson-coffre de Shaw

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Aracana aurita This is a massive, ovoid or eggshaped fish that bears protective spines on its back; the female also has some on her underside. The latter has a brown maze pattern against a orangey background. As for the male, the colouring displays rather light-coloured patterns on his ochre skin, and a blue belly with ocellated spots. They prefer seagrass meadows and deep shelters where they crush crustaceans and echinoderms. Size 15 cm

Zone

Male

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Lagoons, estuaries, mixed coral seafloors

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 644 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Aracana aurita (female)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Diodon hystrix (family Diodontidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Puffers and porcupinefishes Les tétraodons, diodons et canthigasters

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Families of puffers and porcupinefishes These two families belong to the order Tetraodontiformes. Most of their members have the ability to inflate their bodies with water to to reach a much more imposing size. This system, combined with the presence of numerous spines on their scaleless skin, deters any potential predators. However this defensive system comes at the expense of mobility and swimming ability which are much reduced when the fish are puffed up. Their dentition is comparable to the beaks of parrotfishes, made up of dental plates. There are two of these plates on each jaw for the Diodontidae, and four in the Tetraodontidae, two on each of the lower and upper jaws. They have a single dorsal fin, without spiny rays, placed far back on the body, at the same level as the anal fin. Their slow swimming style is produced by alternate “sculling” movements by these two fins (dorsal and anal) but when they must flee rapidly, it is the caudal fin that provides speed. In species in the genera Chilomycterus and Cyclichthys (Diodontidae), the spines on the skin stick up at all times, whereas for other species in the genus Diodon the spines are only erect when the fish is inflated. The Diodontidae family is made up of 19 species belonging to 6 genera, that of the Tetraodontidae comprises 121 species in 19 genera, generally broken down into two divisions: the larger species, with great capacity to inflate; are grouped into the sub-family Tetraodontinae, and the smaller ones (particularly those in the genus Canthigaster) are grouped together in the sub-family Canthigasterinae. Diodontidae are demersal fish which occur in tropical marine waters of the three oceans. The adults live in inshore areas and spawn in open water. Due to this, the eggs and larvae are carried off seaward by marine currents. Juveniles have a pelagic phase which varies in length before they come across a coast. The family Tetraodontidae likewise comprises many demersal marine species but also holds several brackish-water and fresh-water species. The breeding strategy of the Tetraodontidae is different from that of the Diodonts since, for most species, it relies on spawn being deposited in a nest prepared on the seafloor and which may be defended by the parents. All of these species feed on crustaceans, invertebrates and shellfish which they can crush using their powerful beaks.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Puffers and porcupinefishes

In adulthood, these species are solitary or live in small groups, but in the juvenile phase, some of them, such as Diodon hystrix, sometimes form huge aggregations offshore to the delight of tunas and other big deep-sea pelagic fishes. Although the Canthigasters are small in size, on average about twelve centimetres long, the largest of the pufferfishes, Arothron stellatus, can reach a length of 1.20 m. These fish have no interest for fisheries, all the more so since many of the species are toxic and consequently prohibited from being sold in many countries. Their toxicity is due to the secretion of a sometimes lethal, violent poison called tetrodotoxin, which is concentrated in the viscera, gonads, skin and mucus. The especially toxic species in the genus Fugu are in great demand in Japan where a special culinary tradition has developed using these very risky food items. Chefs who are authorised to prepare the “Fugu” must take training courses lasting several years before being allowed to practice their art. The largest species of diodonts are capable of inflicting deep bites on their aggressors, but these are always reactions in defence since these species are peaceful, easy-going and not very shy. Amongst the fishes in these two families which can be sighted in the Indian Ocean, we have chosen to present 29 species, belonging to 9 genera.

◗◗

Family Tetraodontidae

Evileye blassop Poisson-ballon sournois Amblyrhynchotes honckenii It has a globose body, but an elongate tail. The back is black, studded with white patches of varying sizes and it has a light-coloured belly. The iris of its eye is a brilliant green rimmed in red. They live along beaches and reefs, where they pounce on their prey of crustaceans and small fish, as well as the bait on fishermen’s hooks. Their flesh is very toxic. They puff up if threatened. Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

10-400 m

Estuaries and deep benthic areas

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Puffers and porcupinefishes

Blue-spotted puffer Poisson-ballon à taches bleues Arothron caeruleopunctatus Except for the underside, the entire body’s surface is covered with light blueish patches. Its eye is encircled with dark concentric rings. A patchy black plaque spreads out at the base of the pectoral fin. It spends its days in coral reefs, calmly searching for crustaceans and shellfish to grind up in its jaws. At night, it sleeps in a cave or in a dip in the sand. Its maximum size reaches 80 cm.

Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

2-50 m

Lagoons, coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Masked puffer Poisson-ballon masqué

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Arothron diadematus Grey-beige in colouration, it has a distinctive black mask over its eyes which stretches all around the pectoral fin. Solitary except in the breeding period, it can be sighted at the top of reefs but also in bays and lagoons, often resting on the bottom. This species is endemic to the Red Sea and replaced elsewhere by A. nigropunctatus. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Lagoons, bays, mixed coral areas

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

649

Puffers and porcupinefishes

White-spotted puffer Poisson-ballon à taches blanches Arothron hispidus This puffer is also grey-beige, scattered with white spots and displaying white bands on the underside and thin concentric lines around the eyes and the gills. It is active by day and can be sighted on every sort of seabed, particularly in detritic valleys and seagrass meadows where it adapts to the potential food sources, like seaweeds, anemones and starfishes. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-50 m

Mixed coral areas, seagrass meadows, outer slopes

Immaculate puffer Poisson-ballon à lignes brunes Arothron immaculatus Its golden eye stands out against its dull grey-beige colour base. It also has a noticeable dark patch around the pectoral fin and a black border on the tail. Some individuals have faint brown lines on the body. The immaculate puffer is solitary, living on sandy-muddy bottoms or in seagrass beds in lagoons, mangroves or bays. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

28 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-20 m

Lagoons, bays, mangroves, seagrass meadows

Striped puffer Poisson-globe pyjama Arothron manilensis Its elongate, globose body is grey or tan, with thin darker-coloured stripes between the head and the tail. There is a black spot surrounding the base of the pectoral fins. It has smooth, scaleless skin. Juveniles grow in mangroves and estuaries. Adults favour seagrass meadows and shallow, quiet, sandy areas. They can also settle in a sandy depression. They feed on small crustaceans and echinoderms. Size 30 cm

Zone +

Depth

Habitat

2-20 m

Sand, seagrass beds

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Puffers and porcupinefishes

Map puffer Poisson-ballon griffonné Arothron mappa This is a big, light-coloured puffer with a vermiculated pattern which is more or less patchy, resembling brain corals. These black lines converge towards the eye and there are irregular patches spreading over the lower flanks. It is active during the day, but sometimes takes shelter in caves. It preys on benthic invertebrates. Size

Zone

65 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-30 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes,caves

Guineafowl puffer Poisson-ballon pintade Arothron meleagris

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Generally very dusky-coloured in shades of brown or blue-black, the entire body is covered in white spots but some individuals can also be lemon-yellow. They prefer outer reefs, where they chomp on the tips of acropora corals or scrape off seaweeds.

Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-25 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

651

Puffers and porcupinefishes

Blackspotted puffer Poisson-ballon jaune Arothron nigropunctatus This species can take on very different colour morphs depending on the individuals, i.e. grey, yellow or blueish, with very conspicuous black spots. It lives on the outer slope, searching for sponges, seaweeds and corals. Size

Zone

33 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-35 m

Outer reef slopes

Starry toadfish Poisson-ballon étoilé Arothron stellatus

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This is the largest and most massive of the puffers and toadfishes. Its light colour base can be plain or mottled, covered with a lattice of dashes similar to the patterns of coral. Juveniles are yellow, with black spots on the back and black bars on the belly. Once old enough, they leave the shallow areas of seaweed and sand for passes and the outer slope. Solitary and shy, the starry toadfish does not let anyone get too close. Sometimes it hovers near an anemone to take advantage of the associated cleaner shrimp and get rid of its parasites, but it can also choose the faster service of a cleaner wrasse, It can reach 1.20 m at most.

Juvenile Size 70 cm

Zone

Adult

Juvenile in intermediate phase Depth

Habitat

3-50 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes,caves

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Puffers and porcupinefishes

Spider-eye puffer Canthigaster d’Amboine Canthigaster amboinensis Its brown globose body is studded with blueish spots. Sky blue lines converge towards the eye. It can swim quickly, at ease in the surf zone where it feeds on calcareous algae, coral and small invertebrates. The toxic mucus or slime covering the skin of the canthigasters repels predators. Size

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-5 m

Coral reef areas, flats and beginning of outer slopes

14 cm

Bennett’s sharpnose puffer Canthigaster de Bennett Canthigaster bennetti Sky blue lines coming from its grey back and pale chin converge towards the eye. Others stretch back towards the tail. There is a black spot ringed with blue surrounding the base of the dorsal fin. This fish has a penchant for shallow areas of sand and rubble in lagoons and on flats where it sometimes lives with its mate, grazing on the seaweeds or munching on crustaceans. At night, it sleeps with its tail folded against its side. Juveniles like to gather in groups. Size

Zone

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-30 m

Mixed coral areas, sandy areas, outer slopes

Sharpnose puffer Canthigaster couronné de l’océan Indien Canthigaster cyanospilota In 2008, three species were determined starting from C. coronata, which now corresponds to the endemic species of Hawaii. C. axiologus is the species in the Pacific Ocean. It has orange stripes and is present to the east of Exmouth in Western Australia. For the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, C. cyanospilota is the new name which should be used. This canthigaster has a globose body and an elongate snout. It is white,

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Description http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of groups

653

Puffers and porcupinefishes

with three dark-coloured saddles ending mid-body. A black patch extends over its head between the eyes. Blue dots and dashes cover the lighter-coloured areas, particularly around the eyes and on the tail. Red Sea specimens additionally have dots on the dorsal patches. They are omnivorous and find their food of microalgae, crustaceans, larvae, etc. in detritic zones. The toxicity of their skin and organs protect them from predators. For that reason, the mimic filefish P. prionurus imitates its colour pattern. Size

Zone

14 cm

Depth

Habitat

5-25 m

Detritic bottoms

Honeycomb toby Cantigasther alvéolé Canthigaster janthinoptera Its orangey colour base which is redder on its back, is dotted with green spots with darker edges. Green lines diverge around the eye. The fins are transparent. More reclusive than the other cantigasthers, they slip into holes in live or dead corals to hide, often in mated pairs. Their main menu consists of sponges and seaweeds, but they also ingest small vertebrates. They are found both in lagoons and on outer slopes. Very closely related species live in the Pacific, particularly in Hawaii. Size

Zone

9 cm

Depth

Habitat

6-30 m

Corals

Natal toby Canthigaster du Natal

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Canthigaster natalensis Its colour base resembles that of C. amboinensis but can be differentiated from it by the light-coloured spots on its body which are proportionately bigger and slightly elongated. It occurs in rough waters on reefs in the West of the Indian Ocean. Size 15 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

1-20 m

Coral reef areas, flats and beginning of outer slopes

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Puffers and porcupinefishes

Shy toby Canthigaster ocellé Canthigaster ocellicincta Similar to the colouration of the very common C. cyanospilota, it can be distinguished from it by the thin blueish lines straddling its snout and forehead. The first saddle, rimmed in white, covers the gill, the second is shorter and the third forms a dark patch inside a yellow ring. Usually unobtrusive, it hides alone or in pairs on drop-offs that are rich in invertebrates, going from one hiding place to another, where only the light of a diver’s light can drive them out. Size

Zone

7.5 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-50 m

Cavities

Bicolored toby Canthigaster bicolore Canthigaster smithae Its white underside exhibits two horizontal orange lines. The upper line bounds the dusky upper part of its body. Its eyes are bright yellow. This is a deep species which darts around along drop-offs. Although it occurs in the south-western part of the Indian Ocean, it is found in the Maldives. Size

Zone

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13 cm

Depth

Habitat

20-55 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Spotted sharpnose Canthigaster tacheté Canthigaster solandri Its back is chocolate brown, studded with sky blue dots and dash marks. There is a black ocellus ringed with blue extending at the base of the dorsal fin. Its belly is white. Alone or in mated pairs, it is mainly found where filamentous or calcareous algae grow. A species in the Pacific, C. papua, is distinguished by the blue lines on its nape. The Red Sea variant, C. margaritata, has blue lines on its back, but no black ocellus at the base of the dorsal fin.

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of groups

655

Puffers and porcupinefishes

Canthigaster papua (variant of C. solandri)

Size

Zone

11 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Coral reef areas, outer slopes

Valentin’s sharpnose puffer Canthigaster à selles Canthigaster valentini This species displays four black saddles, with the two middle ones running down to the belly. The tail and patches on the body are yellow. Blue and orange lines alternate around the eye. The dorsal and anal fins are small and set well back. They are omnivorous, occupying a variety of seabeds on which the male claims a territory, spawning with a different female every day. The eggs are deposited in a nest of seaweed. Three to five days later, the larvae leave to migrate for a period lasting from nine to fifteen weeks. The repulsive mucus covering this canthigaster protects it. It also protects Paraluteres prionurus (Monacanthidae), which carefully mimics this sharpnose puffer! Size

Zone

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10 cm

Depth

Habitat

1-55 m

Coral reef areas, outer reef slopes

Ringed toadfish Poisson-ballon cerclé Omegophora armilla This tetraodont has a long, conical nose and a light-coloured body with dark patches on the back and sides and between the eye and the chin. Its distinctive feature is the black ring around its pectoral fin. It can live at any depth, in seagrass meadows of estuaries and sandy inshore areas. Size 25 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

5-150 m

Seagrass meadows and sandy areas

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Puffers and porcupinefishes

Orange-barred pufferfish Poisson-ballon barré orange Polyspina piosae This small tetraodont has light skin, covered with tiny spines and studded with dark spots on its back. It exhibits orange bands and patches, particularly between the chin and the eye. It is sighted on sand, around small reefs where it can gather with its conspecifics. They prefer calm bays. Size

Zone

10 cm

Depth

Habitat

3-40 m

Sandy and mixed seabeds

Shortfin puffer Poisson-ballon à nageoires courtes Torquigener brevipinnis Its back is brown with numerous small round white spots and the underside is white or beige. There is a brown band in the middle of the flanks behind the pectoral fin, extending as far as the caudal peduncle. Four vertical white bars under the eye are usually easy to see. Their range is limited to the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, sometimes forming small groups in seagrass meadows or on deep sandy-muddy bottoms. Size

Zone

Depth 20-100 m

14 cm

Habitat Sandy-muddy bottoms, seagrass meadows, outer reef slopes

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Weeping toado Poisson-ballon pleureur Torquigener pleurogramma A lateral brown line, from the top of the pectoral fin to the base of the tail, separates the white underside and the brown-grey back covered with light-coloured spots. It has a golden eye. They are common and can form large shoals in bays where they are half-buried in the sand. Like the other tetraodonts, they are toxic and must not be consumed. Size 20 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

3-30 m

Sand

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Description of groups

657

Puffers and porcupinefishes

◗◗

Family Diodontidae

Spotted burrfish Diodon à nageoires tachetées Chilomycterus reticulatus Its body, with beige and brown on the b a ck a n d a l i g h t e r c o l o u r e d underside, is dotted with round black spots. There are also smaller black dots on the fins. It has short spines. This fish is present throughout the tropical belt, either solitary or in small groups on coral beds and sandy bottoms. They can also be sighted in wrecks.

Size

Zone

55 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-100 m

Mixed coral seabeds, outer slopes, wrecks

Orbiculate burrfish Poisson porc-épic orbiculaire

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Cyclichthys orbicularis Shaped like a “deflated balloon”, it is grey-brown on the back and lighter on the belly. The back and flanks are covered with short, non-retractable spines, and black patches which can be arranged in bands. Rather inactive during the day, at night it crushes the invertebrates it finds on sandy-muddy rubble bottoms. Size 30 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

2-30 m

Coral reefs and sandy areas

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Puffers and porcupinefishes

Yellowspotted burrfish Diodon à taches jaunes Cyclichthys spilostylus Its elongate body is covered with short spines whose bases are rather light-coloured on the back, black on the underside and bright yellow on the sides. Its marbled beige body lets it camouflage itself on sandy bottoms. Not very active in daytime, it rests in seagrass beds, inside a cave or in a wreck. At night it hunts for shellfish, urchins and crustaceans, which its jaws can crush with no problem. Size

Zone

35 cm

Depth

Habitat

10-90 m

Mixed coral seabeds, seagrass meadows, outer slopes

Spot-fin porcupinefish Diodon ou porc-épic

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Diodon hystrix Its body stretches out behind a massive head and protruding eyes. Its fairly long and numerous spines stand out on its beige or grey colour base, which can be mottled or plain, but is always scattered with black dots. It generally drowses in the open water or in protective darkness. When attacked, it swells up with water, becoming a prickly ball that careless predators like sharks or groupers, can neither swallow nor spit out. Generally, after spending a few minutes stuck in the throat of the predator, it deflates itself, thus enabling both of the protagonists to escape death. Juveniles sometimes form large pelagic shoals at the surface, making them easy prey for schools of tuna. Diodon histrix can reach 90 cm. Size 50 cm

Zone

Depth 0-50 m

Habitat Mixed coral bottoms, outer reef slopes, deep-sea environment for juveniles

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Description of groups

659

Puffers and porcupinefishes

Long-spine porcupinefish Diodon à longues épines Diodon holocanthus It is grey or beige, sporting large brown patches on its back, one of which masks it eye and runs down on the cheek. Its head and body are covered with long spines which it can raise by sucking in water to swell up. This strategy protects it from predators, but not always from playful divers - who are wrong to provoke this reaction! This is stressful for the fish, whose stings are poisonous and which can also inflict deep bites. Not very mobile, it hunts at night on any type of seabed and rests during the day. Juveniles are pelagic until they reach the size of 7 cm. Size

Zone

50 cm

Depth

Habitat

0-100 m

Mixed coral bottoms, outer reef slopes

Black-blotched porcupinefish Diodon à taches auréolées Diodon liturosus

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It looks like D. holacanthus, but its spines are very short and the patches are a bold black colour, ringed with white. Juveniles prefer calm lagoons, whereas adults favour reef areas with lots of life. They are inactive and stay hidden in daytime, coming out to forage in the sand at night.

Size 45 cm

Zone

Depth

Habitat

0-90 m

Mixed coral beds, outer reef slopes

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(variant of C. solandri)

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Cephalopholis sexmaculata (family Serranidae) http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

References and recommended reading Allen G., 2000. Marine Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and South-East Asia, a field guide for anglers and divers. Western Australian Museum, Perth, 292 p. Allen G., Steene R., Humann P., Deloach N., 2003. Reef Fish Identification. Tropical Pacific. New World Publications, Inc., Jacksonville, FL, 480 p. Debelius H., 2001. Indian Ocean Reef Guide. IKAN Editions, Frankfurt, 321 p. Debelius H., Kuiter R. H., 2001. Poissons-chirurgiens et espèces apparentées, Acanthuroïdes. Traduction française de A. Filleul & F. Teletchea. Éditions Eugen Ulmer, Paris, 208 p. Debelius H., Kuiter R. H., 2002. Poissons-anges, Pomacanthidés. French translation by P. Louisy. Éditions Eugen Ulmer, Paris, 208 p. Fischer W., Bianchi G. (eds), 1984. FAO Species Identification Sheets for Fishery purposes, Western Indian Ocean, Fishing area 51. FAO, Rome, vol.1-6 : pag. var. Heemstra P. C., Randall J. E., 1993. Groupers of the World. FAO Species Catalogue, Rome, vol.16, 382 p. Heemstra P. C., Heemstra E., 2004. Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and National Inquiry Service Centre, Grahamstown, 488 p. Hennemann R., 2001. Sharks and Rays elasmobranch guide of the world. IKAN Editions, Frankfurt, 304 p. Kuiter R. H., 2001. Hippocampes, poissons-aiguilles et espèces apparentées, Syngnathiformes. French translation by P. Louisy. Éditions Eugen Ulmer, Paris, 240 p. Kuiter R. H., 2002. Labres et girelles, Labridés. French translation by P. Louisy. Éditions Eugen Ulmer, Paris, 208 p. Kuiter R. H., Debelius H., 2003. Poissons-papillons et espèces apparentées, Chaetodontidés. French translation by P. Louisy. Éditions Eugen Ulmer, Paris, 208 p. Kuiter R. H., Debelius H., 2007. Atlas mondial des poissons marins. French translation by P. Louisy. Éditions Eugen Ulmer, Paris, 728 p. Lieske E., Myers R. F., 1995. Guide des poissons des récifs coralliens : région Caraïbe, océan Indien, océan Pacifique, mer Rouge. French adaptation by Y. Bouchon-Navaro, Éditions Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris, 400 p. Lieske E., Myers R. F., 2004. Coral Reef Guide of the Red Sea. Harper Collins Editions, London, 384 p.

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Masuda H., Amaoka K., Araga C., Uyeno T., Yoshino T. (eds), 1984. The Fishes of Japanese Archipelago.Tokai University Press, Tokyo, vol.1-2 : pag. var. Randall J. E., 2007. Reef and Shore Fishes of the Hawaiian Islands. Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, 546 p. Randall J. E., Allen G. R., Steene R., 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crowford House Publishing Pty Ltd, Bathurs, NSW, 557 p. Smith M. M., Heemstra P. C. (eds), 1986. Smiths’ Sea Fishes. J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, 1047 p. Taquet M., Diringer A., 1992. Mérous de l’océan Indien. Azalées Éditions, Saint-Denis, Réunion, 104 p. Taquet M., Diringer A., 2007. Poissons de l’océan Indien et de la mer Rouge. Éditions Quæ, Versailles, 528 p. Thabit Zahran Salim Al-Abdessalaam, 1995. Marine species of the Sultanate of Oman. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sultanate of Oman, 412 p. Van Grevelynghe G., Diringer A., Séret B., 1999. Tous les requins du monde : 300 espèces des mers du globe. Éditions Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris, 336 p. www.fishbase.org was used as a reference website to ensure that this book is consistent and coherent in terms of ichthyology and taxonomy. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, References and recommended http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

reading

663

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Acknowledgements The authors would like to express their special thanks to Mr. Jérôme Bignon and Mr. Olivier Laroussinie, respectively the president and director of the French Agency for marine protected areas (AAMP), for the significant support they have given to this guide. The convergence of our objectives for the protection of marine areas was obvious from the very outset of our cooperative work carried out with the Agency’s team! Our warm thanks go to Dr. Julius Francis, executive secretary of WIOMSA and all the members of the board of directors, for their active support in publishing this guidebook. Many thanks as well go to the SIDA for the allocation of funding which made this publication project possible. Without the scientific and logistic support of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), we could not have acquired deeper knowledge about the fabulous ichthyological fauna on the Seychelles shelf. That is why we want to sincerely thank Mr. Rondolphe Payet, general director and Mr. Riaz Aumeeruddy, scientific director, of the SFA for the help they provided during sea cruises off the Seychelles. Warm thanks go to Gérard Ernesta, the captain of RV L’Amitié, and his crew, for hosting us on board and for sharing their precious knowledge about the Seychelles shelf with us. We extend our grateful thanks to Mr. Jean-Yves Perrot, the chief executive officer of Ifremer, as well as to the Institute’s managers and teams who actively supported this project. It is both as our friend and colleague that our very special thanks go to Nelly Courtay from Ifremer, for supporting the project from the very start, as well as for the corrections and improvements made to the manuscript during editing and proofreading. Special thanks to Jean-Claude Quéro who led me to discover ichthyology at the beginning of my career at ISTPM in La Rochelle, a long time ago! We are grateful for his invaluable assistance and for having accepted to preface this guidebook. We extend our heartfelt thanks and deep respect to Dr. John E. Randall, for agreeing to write the foreword to this new edition and for the help he gave us in identifying some rare and difficult species. This book has greatly benefited from his expertise through the large number of excellent scientific journals he published, and particularly in the framework of his ichthyological studies at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu (Hawaii).

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Some large, very hard to find pelagic species were photographed in the framework of the European Fadio research project. We give our warm thanks to Dr. Laurent Dagorn, general coordinator of the project and to Marie-Noëlle Favier, communications director at IRD, for the scientific and logistic support they gave us during underwater photo shoots around FADs. Great thanks to Dr. Jean-Claude Gaertner, from the University of French Polynesia, who allowed us to benefit from his expertise on marine diversity, both on the research cruises he was able to make with us and in examining ichthyological data on land. Amongst all the diving guides who helped us in looking for rare specimens, we want to particularly thank Charles Savy, who is absolutely familiar with dive sites in the waters of the Seychelles that he plies aboard his catamaran King Bamboo (kingbmbo@ seychelles.net), and in Mauritius, Hugues Vitry, a remarkable underwater photographer, who knows everything about the fauna in the region and who helped us discover the most secretive of species, from his diving club at Trou aux Biches: the Blue Water Diving Center ([email protected]). Their considerable knowledge is matched only by their kindness and professionalism.

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Acknowledgements

665

We would like to sincerely thank Guy, Marie-France, Nicolas and Jo Savy, of Bird Island (Seychelles), for the very warm welcome they gave us to their island and for their advice on the best diving sites in the region. We were able to appreciate the efforts made to protect the flora and fauna there, and especially to protect the populations of sea turtles and birds. All our thanks go to our friend Éric Lancelot who, as well as being an excellent underwater photographer, helped us to technically optimise our collection of images. Our grateful thanks go to the entire team at Éditions Quæ, and in particular to Jean Arbeille, Martine Seguier-Guis, Laurence Rodriguez, Nelly Courtay, Jean-Paul Langénieux and Carine Gillot (DESK). Special thanks to Janet Heard-Carnot for her ever so faithful translation of our texts!

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Finally, we also express our gratitude to all those who supported us by their friendship and who gave us their help, advice or support.

These laced morays give their friend Hugues Vitry a warm welcome (photo © Marc Fermon) Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 666 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Glossary Anthropization: the footprint of humans and their activities on the environment. Bathymetric: related to depth; a fish’s bathymetric distribution indicates the (lower and upper) boundaries of the depths where it lives. Benthic: term used for an organism which lives on or near the sea floor. Breeding: related to reproduction, such as breeding migration for reproductive purposes. Ciguatera: food poisoning which results from a process of toxins concentrating in the flesh of fish. At the outset, the “ciguatoxin” is produced by the dinoflagellate microalgae Gambierdiscus toxicus. Herbivorous fish eat these microalgae and become toxic. By eating these herbivorous fish in turn, predators like groupers or barracuda bioaccumulate, i.e. concentrate this toxin in their bodies. They then become unfit for human consumption. Circumtropical: describes a species which is present in all tropical zones around the world. Claspers: paired sexual organs in sharks and rays, also called pterygopodia, which enable the male to fertilise the female’s eggs internally during copulation. Demersal: term used for an organism which lives on or near the sea floor (syn. for benthic). Dorade: acronym for a European research project on the dynamics and organisation of resources aggregated around epipelagic devices, conducted from 2000 to 2004, by Ifremer in Reunion islands, around FADs present in the South West Indian Ocean. Echinoderms: animals with spiny skin, like urchins or sea stars. Endemic: means a species whose geographical distribution is limited to a single region. Epipelagic: living in the surface layer of oceans (between 0 and 200 m). FAD: acronym for Fish Aggregating Device. These are natural or artificial objects floating on the sea’s surface, around which large numbers of some pelagic species come and aggregate.

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Fadio: acronym for the European research project on “Fish Aggregating Devices as Instrumented Observatories of pelagic ecosystem”, coordinated by the Institute for research and development (IRD), with the participation of Ifremer (France), the University of Hawaii (USA), Azti (Spain), ULPGC (Spain), Serpe (France), IMR (Norway), the Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), the University of the Aegean (Greece) and SFA (Seychelles). Finning: a process which consists in catching sharks to cut off their fins so that they can be dried and sold. The fish is often thrown back into the sea still alive, after being thus amputated. This barbaric practice, encouraged by the high price of dried shark fins on Asian markets, contributes to the overfishing of shark stocks. Hermaphrodite: describes a species which will be male and female, during its life. If it is female first, then becomes male, this is called protogynous hermaphroditism. If, on the contrary, it is male first, then female, this is called protandrous hermaphroditism. Ichthyology: the science devoted to the study of fish. Lateral line: sense organ located along the side of the fish, made up of a series of pores which put the sensitive cells of this organ into contact with the surrounding environment. Leptocephalus: the larval form of some fish early in their life cycle, such as eels or congers, which features a transparent knife-blade shape. Long-line: fishing gear made up of a main line to which smaller lengths called gangeons or snoods, with hooks at their tips, are attached. Some long-lines, used to catch large pelagic fish, can reach one hundred kilometres in length. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Glossary

667

Molecular biology: study of biological phenomena on the molecular scale. Morphometric: related to measuring the body shapes of living creatures. Mucus: viscous secretion or slime which protects the skin of fish. Ocellus: (plural: ocelli) a round spot whose centre and edges are of different colours, a.k.a. ocellated spots or false eyespots. Ovoviviparous: describes a fish which gives birth to live young, after the eggs are incubated in the genital tract of the female. Pelagic: living in the open sea, in the mid-water, without any direct relation to the sea floor. Phylogeny: how species are formed in the evolution of living organisms. Protractile: describes the mouth of a fish which can be protruded or extended outward. Scute: outer, sharp raised part of a fish scale or dermal denticle. Sec: in French, a term commonly used by fishermen and divers to designate a rocky rise located in the open sea, where abundant submarine fauna generally congregate - good dive sites. Sexual dimorphism: in the same species, the presence of visible morphological differences between the male and female. Viviparous: form of reproduction in which the female gives birth to the young, after a gestation period during which the embryos are nourished via a placenta and umbilical cord.

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Zooplankton: the part of plankton made up of very small sized animals (less than 1 mm).

In the welcoming waters of Reunion Island, humpback whales come to give birth during winter in the Southern Hemisphere (photo © Éric Lancelot) Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 668 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Index of scientific names

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

A Abalistes stellatus..........................................620 Ablabys binotatus .........................................181 Ablabys macracanthus..................................181 Ablabys taenianotus .....................................182 Ablennes hians ...............................................96 Abudefduf margariteus .................................414 Abudefduf notatus ........................................414 Abudefduf septemfasciatus ...........................414 Abudefduf sexfasciatus .................................415 Abudefduf sordidus ......................................415 Abudefduf sparoides.....................................415 Abudefduf vaigiensis.....................................416 Acanthochromis polyacanthus ......................416 Acanthocybium solandri ...............................604 Acanthopagrus bifasciatus ............................310 Acanthurus dussumieri .................................580 Acanthurus gahm .........................................581 Acanthurus guttatus ......................................581 Acanthurus japonicus ...................................581 Acanthurus leucocheilus ...............................582 Acanthurus leucosternon ..............................582 Acanthurus lineatus ......................................582 Acanthurus mata ..................................572, 583 Acanthurus nigricans ....................................583 Acanthurus nigricauda ..................................584 Acanthurus nigrofuscus ................................584 Acanthurus olivaceus ....................................584 Acanthurus polyzona ....................................587 Acanthurus pyroferus....................................586 Acanthurus sohal ..........................................586 Acanthurus tennentii.....................................586 Acanthurus thomsoni....................................585 Acanthurus triostegus ...................................587 Acanthurus tristis ..........................................585 Acanthurus xanthopterus ..............................587 Acentronura breviperula ...............................152 Acentronura mossambica .............................152 Aeoliscus punctulatus ...................................147 Aeoliscus strigatus ........................................148 Aethaloperca rogaa ......................................200 Aetobatus narinari ..........................................56 Albula glossodonta .......................................135 Alectis ciliaris ................................................260 Alopias pelagicus ............................................36 Aluterus monoceros......................................629 Aluterus scriptus ...........................................630 Ambassis sp. .................................................140 Amblycirrithus bimacula ...............................238 Amblyeleotris arcupinna ...............................550

Amblyeleotris aurora ....................................550 Amblyeleotris guttata ....................................550 Amblyeleotris gymnocephala ........................551 Amblyeleotris latifasciata ..............................551 Amblyeleotris periophtalma ..........................551 Amblyeleotris steinitzi ...................................552 Amblyeleotris wheeleri .................................552 Amblyeleotris yanoi ......................................553 Amblyeleotrys randalli ..................................552 Amblyglyphidodon aureus ............................417 Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus.........................417 Amblyglyphidodon indicus ...........................417 Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster ....................418 Amblygobius hectori.....................................553 Amblygobius phalaena .................................553 Amblygobius semicinctus .............................554 Amblypomacentrus breviceps.......................418 Amblyrhynchotes honckenii .........................648 Amphiprion akallopisos ................................408 Amphiprion allardi........................................408 Amphiprion bicinctus ...................................409 Amphiprion chrysogaster ..............................409 Amphiprion clarkii ........................................410 Amphiprion ephippium ................................410 Amphiprion fuscocaudatus ...........................410 Amphiprion latifasciatus ...............................411 Amphiprion nigripes .....................................411 Amphiprion ocellaris ....................................412 Amphiprion perideraion ...............................412 Amphiprion polymnus ..................................412 Amphiprion sandaracinos .............................413 Amphiprion sebae ........................................413 Anampses caeruleopunctatus .......................452 Anampses lineatus ........................................453 Anampses meleagrides .................................453 Anampses twistii ...........................................454 Anchichoerops natalensis .............................454 Anoplocapros amygdaloides .........................643 Anoplocapros lenticularis .............................644 Antennarius commerson .......................102, 104 Antennarius striatus ..............................104, 107 Anyperodon leucogrammicus .......................200 Aphareus furca .............................................276 Aphareus rutilans ..........................................276 Aplodactylus westralis ..................................449 Apogon angustatus .......................................246 Apogon apogonoides ...........................246, 257 Apogon aureus .............................................246 Apogon compressus .....................................247 Apogon cyanosoma ......................................247 Apogon dispar ..............................................247

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of scientific names

669

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Apogon doederleini ......................................248 Apogon fleurieu ............................................248 Apogon fraenatus .........................................248 Apogon hartzfeldii ........................................249 Apogon kallopterus ......................................249 Apogon nigrofasciatus ..................................249 Apogon nitidus .............................................250 Apogon rhodopterus ....................................250 Apogon rueppelli ..........................................250 Apogon savayensis .......................................251 Apogon sp. ...................................................252 Apogon taeniophorus ...................................251 Apogon taeniopterus ....................................251 Apogon victoriae ..........................................252 Apogon zebrinus ..........................................252 Apolemichthys kingi .....................................392 Apolemichthys trimaculatus ..........................392 Apolemichthys xanthurus..............................393 Apolemichthys x armitagei ............................393 Aprion virescens ...........................................276 Aracana aurita ......................................644, 645 Archamia fucata ...........................................253 Argyrosomus japonicus ................................136 Ariosoma anago .............................................72 Arothron caeruleopunctatus .........................649 Arothron diadematus ....................................649 Arothron hispidus .........................................650 Arothron immaculatus ..................................650 Arothron manilensis ......................................650 Arothron mappa ...........................................651 Arothron meleagris .......................................651 Arothron nigropunctatus...............................652 Arothron stellatus .........................................652 Arripis georgiana ..........................................273 Aseraggodes diringeri ...................................614 Aspidontus dussumieri ..................................532 Aspidontus taeniatus ....................................532 Asterropteryx ensifera ...................................554 Atherinomorus lacunosa .................................92 Aulacocephalus temminckii ..........................227 Aulostomus chinensis ...........................144, 145 Austrolabrus maculatus ................................455

B Balistapus undulatus .....................................620 Balistoides conspicillum ................................621 Balistoides viridescens ..........................618, 621 Belonoperca chabanaudi ..............................228 Blenniella chrysospilos..................................533 Bodianus anthioides .....................................455 Bodianus axillaris ..........................................456 Bodianus bilunulatus ....................................457 Bodianus bimaculatus...................................456 Bodianus diana .............................................459 Bodianus macrourus .....................................458

Bodianus mesothorax ...................................457 Bodianus neilli ..............................................459 Bodianus opercularis ....................................460 Bodianus perditio .........................................460 Bolbometopon muricatum ....................506, 508 Boopsoidea inornata.....................................310 Bothus mancus .....................................612, 617 Bothus pantherinus .......................................617 Brachaluteres jacksonianus ...........................630 Brotula multibarbata .......................................79 Bryaninops amplus ...............................554, 571 Bryaninops yongei ................................548, 555

C Caesio caerulaurea .......................................290 Caesio cf. caerulaureus .................................290 Caesio cuning ...............................................290 Caesio erythrogaster .....................................291 Caesio lunaris ...............................................291 Caesio striata ................................................291 Caesio suevica ..............................................292 Caesio teres ..................................................292 Caesio varilineata .........................................292 Caesio xanthonota ........................................293 Callechelys marmorata ...................................70 Callionymus sp. ..............................................88 Calloplesiops altivelis ....................................128 Calotomus carolinus .....................................509 Calotomus spinidens.....................................509 Calotomus viridescens ..................................510 Cantherhines dumerilii ..................................631 Cantherhines fronticinctus ............................631 Cantherhines pardalis ...................................631 Canthidermis macrolepis ..............................622 Canthidermis maculata .........................623, 637 Canthigaster amboinensis .............................653 Canthigaster bennetti ....................................653 Canthigaster cyanospilota .............................653 Canthigaster janthinoptera ............................654 Canthigaster natalensis .................................654 Canthigaster ocellicincta ...............................655 Canthigaster papua...............................656, 661 Canthigaster smithae ....................................655 Canthigaster solandri ....................................655 Canthigaster valentini ...................................656 Caracanthus madagascariensis .............128, 143 Carangoides armatus ....................................261 Carangoides bajad ........................................261 Carangoides chrysophrys ..............................261 Carangoides ferdau.......................................262 Carangoides fulvoguttatus.............................262 Carangoides gymnostethus ...........................262 Carangoides orthogrammus ..........................263 Caranx heberi ...............................................263 Caranx ignobilis ....................................258, 263

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 670 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

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Caranx lugubris.............................................264 Caranx melampygus .....................................264 Caranx papuensis .........................................264 Caranx sexfasciatus ...............................265, 271 Caranx tille ...................................................265 Carcharhinus albimarginatus ..........................39 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos .........................39 Carcharhinus falciformis .................................41 Carcharhinus leucas .......................................41 Carcharhinus limbatus ....................................40 Carcharhinus longimanus .........................28, 42 Carcharhinus melanopterus ............................42 Carcharhinus wheeleri ....................................40 Carcharias taurus ............................................34 Carcharodon carcharias..................................34 Centriscus cristatus .......................................149 Centriscus scutatus .......................................147 Centropyge acanthops ..................................394 Centropyge bicolor .......................................394 Centropyge bispinosa ...................................394 Centropyge debelius .....................................395 Centropyge eibli ...........................................395 Centropyge flavissima ...................................395 Centropyge multispinis .................................396 Centropyge tibicien ......................................396 Centropyge vrolickii ......................................397 Cephalopholis argus .....................................201 Cephalopholis aurantia .................................201 Cephalopholis boenak ..................................202 Cephalopholis cyanostigma ..........................202 Cephalopholis formosa .................................202 Cephalopholis hemistiktos ............................203 Cephalopholis leopardus ..............................203 Cephalopholis miniata ..................................204 Cephalopholis nigripinnis..............................206 Cephalopholis polleni ...................................204 Cephalopholis sexmaculata...................205, 662 Cephalopholis sonnerati .......................198, 205 Cephalopholis spiloparaea ............................205 Cephalopholis urodeta..................................206 Cetoscarus bicolor ........................................510 Chaetodon adiergastos .................................366 Chaetodon andamanensis ............................366 Chaetodon aureofasciatus ............................367 Chaetodon auriga .........................................367 Chaetodon austriacus ...................................368 Chaetodon baronessa ...................................368 Chaetodon bennetti ......................................369 Chaetodon blackburnii .................................369 Chaetodon citrinellus ....................................369 Chaetodon collare ........................................370 Chaetodon decussatus ..................................371 Chaetodon dolosus .......................................370 Chaetodon ephippium ..................................371 Chaetodon falcula ........................................372 Chaetodon fasciatus .....................................376

Chaetodon guttatissimus ...............................376 Chaetodon interruptus ..................................377 Chaetodon kleinii .........................................378 Chaetodon lineolatus ....................................373 Chaetodon lunula .........................................375 Chaetodon madagaskariensis........................378 Chaetodon marleyi .......................................373 Chaetodon melannotus ................................379 Chaetodon melapterus .................................368 Chaetodon mesoleucos ................................379 Chaetodon meyeri ........................................380 Chaetodon mitratus ......................................380 Chaetodon ocellicaudus ...............................373 Chaetodon octofasciatus ..............................374 Chaetodon ornatissimus ...............................381 Chaetodon paucifasciatus .............................378 Chaetodon plebeius......................................374 Chaetodon punctatofasciatus .......................377 Chaetodon rafflesi ........................................374 Chaetodon reticulatus...................................375 Chaetodon semilarvatus ...............................381 Chaetodon speculum ...................................375 Chaetodontoplus duboulayi ..........................397 Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus .......................398 Chaetodon triangulum ..................................381 Chaetodon trifascialis ...................................382 Chaetodon trifasciatus ..................................382 Chaetodon ulietensis ....................................372 Chaetodon unimaculatus ..............................377 Chaetodon vagabundus ................................371 Chaetodon xanthocephalus ..........................372 Cheilinus bimaculatus ...................................460 Cheilinus chlorourus .....................................461 Cheilinus fasciatus ........................................461 Cheilinus lunulatus .......................................461 Cheilinus quinquecinctus..............................462 Cheilinus trilobatus .......................450, 462, 468 Cheilinus undulatus ..............................463, 505 Cheilio inermis..............................................463 Cheilodactylus fasciatus ........................446, 448 Cheilodactylus pixi .......................................446 Cheilodactylus rubrolabiatus ........................444 Cheilodipterus artus ......................................253 Cheilodipterus lineatus ex caninus ................253 Cheilodipterus macrodon .....................244, 254 Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus.....................254 Chelmon marginalis ......................................383 Chelmon rostratus ........................................383 Chilomycterus reticulatus..............................658 Chirodactylus brachydactylus .......................446 Chirodactylus grandis ...................................447 Chirodactylus jessicalenorum .......................447 Chlorurus cyanescens ...................................511 Chlorurus gibbus ..........................................516 Chlorurus sordidus .......................................511 Choerodon cauteroma..................................466

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of scientific names

671

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Choerodon cephalotes .................................467 Choerodon fasciatus .....................................464 Choerodon robustus .....................................467 Choerodon schoenleinii ................................467 Choerodon zosterophorus ............................468 Choeroichthys valencienni ............................155 Chromis atripectoralis ...................................418 Chromis chrysura .........................................419 Chromis dimidiata ........................................419 Chromis flavaxilla..........................................420 Chromis lepidolepis ......................................420 Chromis leucura ...........................................421 Chromis nigrura ............................................421 Chromis opercularis ......................................421 Chromis pembae ..........................................422 Chromis ternatensis ......................................420 Chromis viridis..............................................422 Chromis weberi ............................................422 Chrysiptera annulata.....................................423 Chrysiptera glauca ........................................423 Chrysiptera rollandi ......................................423 Chrysoblephus anglicus ................................311 Chrysoblephus gibbiceps ..............................311 Chrysoblephus laticeps .................................312 Chrysoblephus puniceus...............................312 Cirrhilabrus blatteus......................................464 Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura...............................465 Cirrhilabrus exquisitus ...................................465 Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis..............................466 Cirrhilabrus sanguineus.................................466 Cirrhitichthys aprinus ....................................238 Cirrhitichthys calliurus ..................................238 Cirrhitichthys falco ........................................239 Cirrhitichthys guichenoti ...............................239 Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus ............................239 Cirrhitops fasciatus ...............................240, 243 Cirrhitus pinnulatus ......................................240 Cirripectes castaneus ....................................533 Cirripectes filamentosus ................................533 Clinus superciliosus ......................................319 Cnidoglanis macrocephalus ............................78 Cochleoceps bicolor .....................................569 Conger cinereus..............................................72 Coradion altivelis ..........................................383 Coradion chrysozonus ..................................384 Coradion melanopus ....................................384 Coris aygula ..................................................470 Coris caudimaculata .....................................469 Coris cuvieri .................................................471 Coris dorsomaculata .....................................471 Coris formosa ...............................................472 Coris gaimard ...............................................473 Coris schroederii ...........................................473 Coris variegata ..............................................474 Coryphaena equiselis....................................609 Coryphaena hippurus ...........................602, 608

Corythoichthys flavofasciatus ........................155 Corythoichthys schultzi ................................156 Corythoichthys sp. 11 ...................................156 Corytoichthys sp. 10 .....................................156 Cromileptes altivelis ......................................207 Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus .................555 Cryptocentrus fasciatus.................................556 Cryptocentrus leptocephalus ........................556 Cryptocentrus strigilliceps .............................556 Ctenochaetus binotatus ................................588 Ctenochaetus striatus....................................588 Ctenochaetus truncatus ................................589 Ctenogobiops aurocingulus ..........................557 Ctenogobiops pomastictus............................557 Ctenogobiops sp...........................................558 Ctenogobius crocineus .................................557 Cyclichthys orbicularis ..................................658 Cyclichthys spilostylus ..................................659 Cymatoceps nasutus .....................................312 Cymbacephalus beauforti ...............................83 Cynoglossus lachneri ....................................616 Cyprinocirrhites polyactis .............................240

D Dactylophora nigricans.................................447 Dactyloptena macracantha...........................127 Dactyloptena orientalis .........................122, 127 Dactylopus dactylopus ...................................86 Dactylopus kuiteri ..........................................87 Dascyllus aruanus.........................................424 Dascyllus carneus .........................................424 Dascyllus marginatus ....................................425 Dascyllus reticulatus .....................................425 Dascyllus trimaculatus ..................................426 Dasyatis brevicaudata .....................................52 Dasyatis chrysonota........................................52 Dasyatis kuhlii ................................................53 Dasyatis violacea ............................................53 Decapterus macarellus .................................266 Dendrochirus biocellatus ..............................166 Dendrochirus brachypterus ..........................166 Dendrochirus zebra ......................................166 Dermatolepis striolata ...................................207 Diagramma centurio .....................................298 Diagramma labiosum ...................................298 Diagramma melanacrum ..............................298 Diagramma pictum .......................................299 Dichistius capensis .......................................133 Dichistius multifasciatus................................134 Dinolestes lewini ..........................................140 Dinoperca petersi .........................................129 Diodon holocanthus .....................................660 Diodon hystrix ......................................646, 659 Diodon liturosus ...........................................660 Diplodus capensis ........................................313

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 672 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Diplodus hottentatus ....................................313 Diploprion bifasciatum .................................228 Diploprion drachi .........................................228 Diproctacanthus xanthurus ...........................474 Discotrema lineata........................................569 Doryrhamphus bicarinatus ...........................157 Dunckerocampus boylei ...............................157 Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus .................157

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E Echeneis naucrates .......................................123 Echidna nebulosa ...........................................62 Ecsenius bathi ...............................................534 Ecsenius gravieri ...........................................534 Ecsenius lineatus ...................................534, 541 Ecsenius midas .............................530, 535, 539 Ecsenius nalolo .............................................535 Elagatis bipinnulata .......................................266 Elops machnata ............................................141 Enchelycore bayeri .........................................62 Enchelycore pardalis .......................................62 Enchelycore schismatorhynchus .....................63 Enchelynassa canina .......................................63 Enneapterygius pusillus.................................567 Enneapterygius tutuilae.................................567 Enoplosus armatus ........................................134 Epibulus insidiator ........................................474 Epinephelides armatus ..................................208 Epinephelus andersoni ..................................208 Epinephelus areolatus ...................................208 Epinephelus bilobatus ...................................209 Epinephelus chlorostigma .............................209 Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus ....................210 Epinephelus coioides ....................................210 Epinephelus erythrurus .................................210 Epinephelus fasciatus ............................211, 231 Epinephelus flavocaeruleus ...................211, 225 Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ............................212 Epinephelus hexagonatus..............................212 Epinephelus lanceolatus ...............................213 Epinephelus longispinis .................................213 Epinephelus macrospilos ..............................214 Epinephelus maculatus .................................214 Epinephelus malabaricus ..............................214 Epinephelus marginatus ................................215 Epinephelus merra ........................................215 Epinephelus multinotatus ..............................216 Epinephelus ongus ........................................216 Epinephelus polyphekadion ..........................217 Epinephelus quoyanus ..................................217 Epinephelus rivulatus ....................................217 Epinephelus spilotoceps................................218 Epinephelus summana ..................................218 Epinephelus tauvina......................................219 Epinephelus tukula .......................................219

Eptatretus hexatrema ....................................142 Eubalichthys mosaicus ..................................632 Eurycephalus arenicola ...................................84 Eurypegasus draconis ...................................162 Euthynnus affinis ...........................................605 Eviota guttata................................................558 Eviota pellucida ............................................558 Eviota sebreei ...............................................559 Exallias brevis ...............................................535 Exyrias bellissimu ..........................................559

F Fistularia commersonii ..................................146 Forcipiger flavissimus ....................................385 Forcipiger longirostris....................................385 Fowleria vaiulae ............................................255 Fusigobius neophytus ...................................559

G Galeichthys feliceps ........................................77 Galeocerdo cuvier ..........................................43 Genicanthus caudovittatus ...................390, 398 Genicanthus lamarck ....................................399 Gerres longirostris .........................................130 Girella zebra .................................................353 Glaucosoma magnificum ..............................139 Gnathanodon speciosus ...............................266 Gnathodentex aureolineatus .........................322 Gnatholepis scapulostigma ...........................560 Gobiodon citrinus.........................................560 Gobiodon quinquestrigatus ..........................560 Gomphosus caeruleus ..................................475 Gomphosus varius ........................................476 Goniistius gibbosus .......................................448 Gorgasia maculata..........................................73 Gorgasia preclara ...........................................73 Gracilla albomarginata .................................220 Grammatorcynos bilineatus ..........................605 Grammistes sexlineatus .................................229 Gunnelichthys monostigma ..........................545 Gunnellichthys curiosus ................................545 Gymnocranius grandoculis ...................320, 322 Gymnocranius griseus ..................................323 Gymnocrotaphus curvidens..........................314 Gymnomuraena zebra ..............................63, 75 Gymnosarda unicolor ...................................605 Gymnothorax breedeni ...................................64 Gymnothorax eurostus ...................................64 Gymnothorax favagineus ..........................60, 64 Gymnothorax fimbriatus .................................65 Gymnothorax flavimarginatus .........................65 Gymnothorax griseus ......................................66 Gymnothorax javanicus ..................................66 Gymnothorax margaritophorus .......................67 Gymnothorax melatremus ..............................67

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of scientific names

673

Gymnothorax meleagris ..................................67 Gymnothorax nudivomer................................68 Gymnothorax permistus..................................65 Gymnothorax undulatus .................................68

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H Halichoeres biocellatus.................................477 Halichoeres brownfieldi ................................477 Halichoeres cosmetus ...................................477 Halichoeres hortulanus .................................478 Halichoeres iridis ..........................................479 Halichoeres lamarii .......................................479 Halichoeres lapillus ......................................480 Halichoeres leucoxanthus .............................480 Halichoeres nebulosus..................................480 Halichoeres pelicieri .....................................481 Halichoeres prosopeion ................................481 Halichoeres scapularis ..................................482 Halichoeres trimaculatus ..............................482 Halichoeres trispilus .....................................483 Haploblepharus edwardsii ..............................36 Haploblepharus fuscus ...................................37 Haploblepharus pictus....................................37 Helcogramma decurrens ..............................567 Helcogramma striatum .................................568 Hemigymnus fasciatus ..................................483 Hemigymnus melapterus ..............................483 Hemiramphus far............................................98 Hemitaurichthys polylepis ............................386 Hemitaurichthys zoster .................................386 Heniochus acuminatus .........................364, 386 Heniochus chrysostomus ..............................387 Heniochus diphreutes...................................387 Heniochus intermedius .................................388 Heniochus monoceros..................................389 Heniochus pleurotaenia................................388 Heniochus singularius...................................389 Heniochus varius ..........................................389 Heteroconger hassi .........................................74 Heterodontus portusjacksoni ..........................33 Heteropriacanthus cruentatus .......................119 Himantura fai .................................................54 Himantura jenkinsii ........................................54 Himantura uarnak ..........................................54 Hippocampus bargibanti ......................159, 163 Hippocampus borboniensis ..........................153 Hippocampus capensis ................................153 Hippocampus histrix.............................150, 154 Hippocampus kuda ......................................154 Hippocampus taeniopterus...........................155 Hipposcarus harid ........................................512 Histrio histrio ................................................105 Hologymnosus annulatus .............................484 Hologymnosus doliatus ................................485 Hoplolatilus cuniculus ..................................124

Hypoplectrodes nigroruber...........................189 Hyporhamphus gamberur ..............................98

I Iniistius aneitensis .........................................503 Iniistius pavo.................................................502 Inimicus caledonicus ....................................167 Inimicus didactylus .......................................167 Inimicus filamentosus ...................................168 Iracundus signifer .........................................168 Istiblennius edentulus ...................................536 Istigobius decoratus ......................................561 Istiophorus platypterus .................................609 Isurus oxyrinchus ............................................35

K Katsuwonus pelamis .....................................606 Kuhlia caudavittata .................................95, 101 Kuhlia mugil ...................................................95 Kyphosus cinerascens ...................................355 Kyphosus sydneyanus ...................................356 Kyphosus vaigiensis ..............................352, 355

L Labrichthys unilineatus .................................485 Labroides bicolor ..........................................486 Labroides dimidiatus .....................................486 Labropsis xanthonota ....................................487 Lactoria cornuta............................................640 Lactoria fornasini ..........................................640 Larabiscus quadrilineatus ..............................487 Lepidozygus tapeinosoma .............................426 Leptoscarus vaigiensis ...................................513 Lethrinus atkinsoni ........................................323 Lethrinus borbonicus ....................................323 Lethrinus crocineus .......................................324 Lethrinus erythracanthus ...............................324 Lethrinus harak .............................................325 Lethrinus laticaudus ......................................325 Lethrinus lentjan ...........................................325 Lethrinus mashena ........................................326 Lethrinus microdon .......................................326 Lethrinus miniatus .........................................327 Lethrinus nebulosus ......................................327 Lethrinus obsoletus .......................................328 Lethrinus olivaceus .......................................328 Lethrinus rubrioperculatus ............................329 Lethrinus variegatus ......................................329 Liopropoma tonstrinum ................................220 Lithognathus lithognathus .............................314 Lithognathus mormyrus ................................314 Lobotes surinamensis ....................................230 Lotilia graciliosa ............................................561 Lutjanus argentimaculatus.............................277 Lutjanus bengalensis .....................................278

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 674 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Lutjanus biguttatus ........................................277 Lutjanus bohar ..............................................278 Lutjanus carponotatus ...................................279 Lutjanus coeruleolineatus..............................279 Lutjanus decussatus ......................................279 Lutjanus ehrenbergii .....................................280 Lutjanus fulviflamma .....................................280 Lutjanus fulvus ..............................................280 Lutjanus gibbus .............................................281 Lutjanus kasmira ...........................................283 Lutjanus lemniscatus .....................................281 Lutjanus lunulatus .........................................287 Lutjanus lutjanus ...................................274, 282 Lutjanus monostigma ....................................282 Lutjanus notatus............................................282 Lutjanus quinquelineatus ..............................283 Lutjanus rivulatus ..........................................283 Lutjanus russellii............................................284 Lutjanus sebae ......................................284, 287 Lutjanus vitta ................................................284

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M Macolor macularis ........................................285 Macolor niger ...............................................285 Macropharyngodon bipartitus bipartitus .......487 Macropharyngodon cyanoguttatus ...............488 Macropharyngodon ornatus .........................488 Macroramphosus scolopax ...........................149 Mahidolia mystacina .....................................562 Makaira nigricans .........................................610 Malacanthus brevirostris ...............................125 Malacanthus latovittatus ...............................125 Manta alfredi ............................................51, 59 Manta birostris................................................58 Megalaspis cordyla .......................................267 Megalops cyprinoide ....................................141 Meiacanthus grammistes...............................536 Meiacanthus nigrolineatus ............................536 Meiacanthus smithi.......................................537 Melichthys indicus ........................................623 Melichthys niger ...........................................623 Melichthys vidua ..........................................624 Meuschenia flavolineata ...............................632 Meuschenia frecineti ....................................632 Meuschenia galii...........................................633 Meuschenia hippocrepis ...............................633 Mobula†thurstoni ...........................................58 Monocentris japonica ...................................126 Monodactylus argenteus.................................99 Monodactylus falciformis ................................99 Monotaxis grandoculis ..........................330, 331 Moringua microchir ........................................75 Mulloidichthys flavolineatus ..........................342 Mulloidichthys mimicus ........................340, 342 Mulloidichthys pflugeri .................................343

Mulloidichthys vanicolensis ..........................343 Mustelus antarcticus .......................................38 Myliobatis aquila ............................................57 Myliobatis australis .........................................57 Myrichthys maculosus ....................................70 Myripristis adusta .........................................110 Myripristis berndti.........................................110 Myripristis botche .........................................111 Myripristis chryseres .....................................111 Myripristis murdjan .......................................111 Myripristis violacea .......................................112 Myripristis vittata ..........................................112

N Naso annulatus.............................................575 Naso brachycentron .....................................575 Naso brevirostris ...........................................576 Naso elegans ................................................577 Naso hexacanthus ........................................577 Naso lopezi ..................................................577 Naso minor ..................................................578 Naso thynnoides ...........................................578 Naso tuberosus.............................................579 Naso unicornis .............................................579 Naso vlamingii ..............................................579 Naucrates ductor ..........................................267 Neatypus obliquus........................................354 Nebrius ferrugineus ........................................32 Negaprion acutidens ......................................43 Nemanthias carberryi ...................................190 Nemateleotris decora ...................................544 Nemateleotris magnifica ...............................544 Neoglyphidodon melas.................................426 Neoglyphidodon nigroris ..............................427 Neoniphon aurolineatus ...............................113 Neoniphon opercularis .................................113 Neoniphon sammara ....................................113 Neopomacentrus azysron .............................427 Neopomacentrus cyanomos .........................428 Neopomacentrus miryae ..............................428 Neosebastes bougainvillii..............................169 Neosebastes pandus .....................................169 Notolabrus parilus ........................................489 Notorynchus cepedianus ................................31 Novaculichthys taeniourus ............................489

O Odax cyanomelas .........................................504 Odonus niger ...............................................624 Oedalechilus labiosus .....................................94 Omegophora armilla ....................................656 Onigocia spinosa ............................................84 Ophichthus bonaparti ....................................71 Ophthalmolepis lineolata ..............................490 Opistognathus randalli....................................89

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of scientific names

675

Oplegnathus conwayi ...................................356 Oplegnathus robinsoni .................................357 Orectolobus ornatus .......................................32 Ostracion cubicus ................................638, 640 Ostracion cyanurus ......................................641 Ostracion meleagris ......................................641 Ostracion rhinorhynchos ..............................643 Ostracion solorensis .....................................642 Ostracion trachys..........................................642 Othos dentex ................................................221 Oxycheilinus arenatus...................................490 Oxycheilinus bimaculatus .............................490 Oxycheilinus digramma ................................491 Oxycheilinus mentalis ...................................492 Oxycheilinus orientalis ..................................492 Oxycirrhites typus.................................236, 241 Oxymonacanthus halli ..................................634 Oxymonacanthus longirostris........................633

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P Pachymetopon blochii ..................................315 Papilloculiceps longiceps ................................84 Paracaesio sordida ........................................286 Paracaesio xanthura ......................................286 Paracanthurus hepatus .................................589 Paracentropogon longispinis .........................182 Paracentropyge multifasciata ........................397 Parachaetodon ocellatus ...............................384 Paracirrhites arcatus......................................241 Paracirrhites forsteri ......................................242 Paracirrhites hemistictus ...............................242 Paraluteres prionurus ....................................634 Paramonacanthus japonicus .........................634 Paramonacanthus sp.....................................636 Parapercis clathrata ......................................523 Parapercis cylindrica .....................................524 Parapercis haackei ........................................524 Parapercis hexophtalma ................................524 Parapercis lineopunctata...............................525 Parapercis millepunctata ...............................526 Parapercis multiplicata..................................526 Parapercis punctulata ...................................526 Parapercis signata .................................522, 527 Parapercis snyderi .........................................527 Parapercis tetracantha ..................................527 Parapercis xanthozona ..........................528, 529 Paraplesiops meleagris ..................................129 Paraplotosus butleri ........................................78 Parapriacanthus elongatus ............................131 Parapriacanthus ransonneti ...........................131 Parapterois heterura......................................170 Parascorpaena mossambica ..........................169 Parascorpis typus ..........................................100 Parascyllium variolatum ..................................33 Pardachirus marmoratus ...............................615

Pardachirus pavoninus ..................................615 Parequula melbournensis ..............................130 Parexocoetus brachypterus .............................92 Parma mccullochi .........................................428 Parma victoriae.............................................429 Parupeneus barberinoides ............................343 Parupeneus barberinus .................................344 Parupeneus chrysopleuron ...........................344 Parupeneus ciliatus .......................................344 Parupeneus crassilabris .................................345 Parupeneus cyclostomus...............................345 Parupeneus diagonalis ..................................346 Parupeneus forsskali .....................................347 Parupeneus heptacanthus .............................347 Parupeneus indicus.......................................348 Parupeneus macronemus..............................347 Parupeneus multifasciatus .............................348 Parupeneus pleurostigma ..............................349 Parupeneus spirulus ......................................349 Parupeneus trifasciatus .................................349 Pempheris adusta .........................................132 Pempheris klunzingeri...................................132 Pempheris ornata..........................................132 Pempheris schwenkii ....................................133 Pempheris vanicolensis .................................133 Pentaceropsis recurvirostris ..........................138 Pentapodus emeryii ......................................333 Pentapodus setosus ......................................334 Pentapodus trivittatus ...................................334 Pervagor aspricaudatus .................................636 Pervagor janthinosoma .................................636 Petroscirtes breviceps ...................................537 Petroscirtes mitratus......................................537 Petrus rupestris .............................................315 Pholidichthys leucotaenia .............................540 Photoblepharon steinitzi ...............................126 Phycodurus eques ........................................158 Phyllopterus taeniolatus ................................158 Pictilabrus laticlavius.....................................493 Pisodonophis cancrivorus ...............................71 Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos..........................538 Plagiotremus tapeinosoma ............................538 Platax boersi .................................................360 Platax orbicularis ..........................................360 Platax pinnatus .....................................358, 361 Platax teira ............................................362, 363 Platycephalus speculator ................................85 Plectorhinchus albovittatus ...........................299 Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides ....................300 Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus ......................299 Plectorhinchus gaterinus ...............................301 Plectorhinchus gibbosus ...............................301 Plectorhinchus lessonii..................................302 Plectorhinchus lineatus .................................302 Plectorhinchus macrospilus .........................307 Plectorhinchus multivittatus ..........................302

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 676 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

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Plectorhinchus orientalis ...............................303 Plectorhinchus pictus....................................296 Plectorhinchus picus.....................................303 Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus ........................304 Plectorhinchus playfairi.................................304 Plectorhinchus polytaenia.............................305 Plectorhinchus schotaf ..................................305 Plectorhinchus sordidus ................................305 Plectorhinchus vittatus ..................................306 Plectranthias inermis .....................................190 Plectranthias pelicieri ....................................190 Plectroglyphidodon dickii .............................429 Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis .................429 Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus ................430 Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus ....................430 Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis..................430 Plectropomus laevis ......................................221 Plectropomus leopardus ...............................222 Plectropomus maculatus...............................222 Plectropomus marisrubri ...............................222 Plectropomus punctatus ...............................223 Pleurosicya micheli .......................................562 Pleurosicya mossambica ...............................562 Plotosus lineatus .......................................76, 78 Poeciloconger fasciatus...................................74 Pogonoperca ocellata ...........................226, 229 Pogonoperca punctata..................................229 Polyamblyodon germanum ...........................316 Polyamblyodon gibbosum ............................316 Polydactylus sp. ............................................136 Polyspina piosae ...........................................657 Polysteganus undulosus ................................316 Pomacanthus annularis .................................400 Pomacanthus asfur .......................................399 Pomacanthus chrysurus ................................400 Pomacanthus imperator ................................401 Pomacanthus maculosus...............................399 Pomacanthus navarchus ...............................403 Pomacanthus rhomboides ............................400 Pomacanthus semicirculatus .................402, 405 Pomacanthus sexstriatus ...............................403 Pomacanthus xanthometopon ......................404 Pomacentrus auriventris................................431 Pomacentrus chrysurus .................................431 Pomacentrus indicus.....................................431 Pomacentrus moluccensis .............................432 Pomacentrus nigromarginatus .......................432 Pomacentrus pavo ........................................432 Pomacentrus philippinus...............................433 Pomacentrus pikei ........................................433 Pomacentrus similis ......................................433 Pomacentrus sp. ...........................................435 Pomacentrus sulfureus ..................................434 Pomacentrus trichourus ................................434 Pomachromis richardsoni .............................434 Pomadasys olivaceum...................................307

Pomadasys striatus ........................................307 Pomatomus saltatrix ......................................142 Poroderma africanum .....................................37 Poroderma pantherinum .................................38 Premnas biaculeatus .....................................413 Priacanthus blochii .......................................120 Priacanthus hamrur ......................118, 120, 121 Priolepis cinctus............................................563 Prionace glauca ..............................................44 Psammoperca waigiensis ..............................135 Psenes cyanophrys .......................................100 Pseudalutarius nasicornis ..............................635 Pseudamia zonata ........................................255 Pseudanthias connelli ...................................191 Pseudanthias cooperi ....................................191 Pseudanthias dispar ......................................192 Pseudanthias evansi ......................................192 Pseudanthias huchtii .....................................193 Pseudanthias ignitus .....................................193 Pseudanthias pascalus ..................................194 Pseudanthias pleurotaenia ............................194 Pseudanthias pulcherrimus ...........................195 Pseudanthias squamipinnis ...................188, 196 Pseudanthias taeniatus..........................195, 196 Pseudanthias tuka .........................................197 Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus ......................622 Pseudobalistes fuscus ...................................624 Pseudocaranx dentex ....................................267 Pseudocheilinus evanidus .............................493 Pseudocheilinus hexataenia ..........................493 Pseudocheilinus octotaenia...........................494 Pseudochromis dutoiti ..................................234 Pseudochromis flavivertex.....................232, 234 Pseudochromis fridmani ...............................235 Pseudochromis paccagnellae ........................234 Pseudochromis springeri ...............................235 Pseudocoris cf. bleekeri ................................494 Pseudocoris cf. heteroptera ...........................494 Pseudocoris heteroptera ...............................495 Pseudocoris yamashiroi ................................495 Pseudodax moluccanus ................................496 Pseudomonacanthus macrurus .....................635 Pseudorhombus dupliciocellatus...................617 Pterapogon kauderni ....................................255 Ptereleotris evides .................................542, 543 Ptereleotris grammica melanota ....................546 Ptereleotris hanae .........................................546 Ptereleotris heteroptera .................................546 Ptereleotris zebra ..........................................547 Pterocaesio digramma ..................................293 Pterocaesio marri ..........................................293 Pterocaesio tile .............................288, 294, 295 Pterocaesio trilineata ....................................294 Pterogymnus laniarius ...................................317 Pteroidichthys amboinensis...........................170 Pterois antennata ..................................164, 171

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of scientific names

677

Pterois handoveri ..........................................171 Pterois kodipungi ..........................................172 Pterois miles .................................................172 Pterois radiata...............................................173 Pterois volitans .............................................173 Pygoplites diacanthus ...................................404

R Rabdosargus sarba .......................................308 Rachycentron canadum ................................124 Rastrelliger kanagurta ...................................606 Rhabdamia cypselura ...................................256 Rhabdosargus globiceps ...............................317 Rhabdosargus holubi ....................................318 Rhabdosargus sarba .....................................318 Rhabdosargus thorpei ...................................318 Rhina ancylostoma .........................................47 Rhincodon typus ............................................30 Rhinecanthus aculeatus ................................626 Rhinecanthus assasi ......................................625 Rhinecanthus cinereus ..................................626 Rhinecanthus rectangulus .............................627 Rhinobatos annulatus .....................................48 Rhinobatos granulatus ....................................48 Rhinobatos leucospilus ...................................49 Rhinomuraena quaesita ..................................69 Rhinopias eschemeyeri .................................174 Rhinopias frondosa .......................................174 Rhynchobatus djiddensis ................................48

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S Samariscus triocellatus ..................................614 Sardinella melanura ........................................93 Sardinops sagax ..............................................93 Sargocentron caudimaculatum .....................114 Sargocentron cornutum ................................114 Sargocentron diadema..................................114 Sargocentron ittodai .....................................115 Sargocentron melanospilos ...........................115 Sargocentron rubrum....................................115 Sargocentron seychellense ............................116 Sargocentron spiniferum ...............108, 116, 117 Sarpa salpa ...................................................319 Saurida gracilis ...............................................82 Scarus caudofasciatus ...................................513 Scarus falcipinnis ..........................................514 Scarus ferrugineus ........................................514 Scarus frenatus .............................................515 Scarus ghobban ............................................515 Scarus globiceps ...........................................517 Scarus niger ..................................................518 Scarus prasiognathos ....................................517 Scarus quoyi .................................................516 Scarus rubroviolaceus ...................................519 Scarus russelii ...............................................519 Scarus scaber ...............................................520 Scarus schlegeli ............................................520

Scarus strongylocephalus ..............................521 Scarus tricolor...............................................521 Scolopsis affinis ............................................334 Scolopsis aurata ............................................335 Scolopsis bilineata ........................................335 Scolopsis bimaculatus ...................................335 Scolopsis ciliata ............................................336 Scolopsis frenata...................................332, 336 Scolopsis ghanam .........................................336 Scolopsis lineatus..........................................337 Scolopsis margaritifera ..................................337 Scolopsis monogramma ................................337 Scolopsis temporalis .....................................339 Scolopsis vosmeri .........................................338 Scolopsis xenochrous....................................339 Scomberoides commersonnianus .................268 Scomberoides lysan ......................................268 Scomberomorus commerson ........................607 Scomberomorus plurilineatus .......................607 Scorpaenodes guamensis ..............................175 Scorpaenodes parvipinnis .............................175 Scorpaenopsis barbata..................................175 Scorpaenopsis diabolus ........................177, 183 Scorpaenopsis gibbosa .................................177 Scorpaenopsis macrochir ..............................176 Scorpaenopsis novaeguineae ........................176 Scorpaenopsis oxycephala ............................177 Scorpaenopsis possi......................................178 Scorpaenopsis venosa...................................179 Scorpis aequipinnis .......................................138 Scuticaria tigrina .............................................68 Sebastapistes cyanostigma ............................179 Sebastapistes mauritiana ...............................179 Selar boops...................................................268 Selar crumenophthalmus ..............................269 Seriola lalandi ...............................................269 Seriola nigrofasciata ......................................270 Seriola rivoliana ............................................270 Serranicirrithus latus .....................................197 Siganus argenteus .........................................596 Siganus corallinus .........................594, 596, 600 Siganus guttatus............................................597 Siganus javus ................................................597 Siganus laques ..............................................597 Siganus lineatus ............................................598 Siganus (Lo) vulpinus....................................601 Siganus luridus .............................................598 Siganus puellus .............................................598 Siganus punctatus.........................................599 Siganus rivulatus ...........................................599 Siganus stellatus............................................599 Siganus sutor ................................................600 Siganus trispilos ............................................601 Siganus virgatus ............................................601 Sillaginodes punctata ....................................139 Siphonognathus beddomei ...........................504

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 678 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Soleichthys heterorhinos ...............................616 Solenostomus cyanopterus ...........................160 Solenostomus halimeda ................................160 Solenostomus paegnius ................................161 Solenostomus paradoxus ......................161, 162 Sparodon durbanensis ..................................319 Sphyraena acutipinnis ...................................440 Sphyraena barracuda ............................441, 443 Sphyraena flavicauda ....................................440 Sphyraena jello .............................................442 Sphyraena novaehollandiae ..........................441 Sphyraena putnamae ....................................442 Sphyraena qenie ...................................438, 442 Sphyrna lewini ................................................45 Stegastes fasciolatus......................................435 Stegastes limbatus.........................................436 Stegastes lividus ............................................435 Stegastes nigricans ........................................436 Stegastes pelicieri .........................................437 Stegostoma fasciatum .....................................31 Stethojulis albovittata....................................496 Stethojulis bandanensis.................................497 Stonogobiobs nematodes..............................563 Stonogobiops dracula ...................................563 Strongylura leiura ...........................................96 Sufflamen albicaudatus .................................627 Sufflamen bursa ............................................627 Sufflamen chrysopterum ...............................628 Sufflamen fraenatum.....................................628 Sunagocia carbunculus ...................................85 Symphorus nematophorus ............................286 Synanceia verrucosa .....................184, 185, 187 Synchiropus splendidus ..................................87 Synchiropus stellatus ......................................88 Synodus dermatogenys ...................................82 Synodus variegatus .........................................82

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T Taenianotus triacanthus ................................180 Taeniura lymna .........................................46, 55 Taeniura meyeni .............................................55 Teixeirichthys jordani ....................................437 Thalassoma amblycephalum .........................497 Thalassoma genivittatum ..............................498 Thalassoma hardwicke .................................498 Thalassoma hebraicum .................................500 Thalassoma jansenii ......................................499 Thalassoma lunare ........................................499 Thalassoma lutescens ...................................500 Thalassoma mascarenum ..............................499 Thalassoma rueppellii ...................................501 Thalassoma trilobatum..................................501 Thunnus albacares................................602, 607 Thysanophrys chiltonae ..................................86 Tilodon sexfasciatus ......................................354 Tomiyamichthys sp. ......................................566

Torpedo fuscomaculata ..................................50 Torpedo panthera ...........................................50 Torpedo sinuspersici .......................................51 Torquigener brevipinnis ................................657 Torquigener pleurogramma...........................657 Trachinocephalus myops ................................83 Trachinops noarlungae .................................129 Trachinotus baillonii......................................270 Trachinotus blochii .......................................271 Trachurus novaezelandiae ............................271 Trachurus trachurus ......................................272 Trachyramphus bicoarctatus .........................159 Triaenodon obesus .........................................44 Trichonotus elegans ......................................528 Trichonotus setifer ........................................528 Trimma benjamin..........................................564 Trinorfolkia clarkei ........................................568 Tripterodon orbis ..........................................362 Trygonorrhina fasciata ....................................49 Tylosurus choram ...........................................97 Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus ......................97

U Umbrina robinsoni .......................................137 Upeneichthys vlamingii ................................351 Upeneus taeniopterus...................................350 Upeneus tragula ...........................................350 Uranoscopus sulphureus ..............................186 Uraspis helvola .............................................272 Uraspis sp.....................................................273

V Valenciennea helsdingenii .............................564 Valenciennea puellaris ..................................564 Valenciennea sexguttata................................565 Valenciennea strigata ....................................565 Vanderhorstia ambanoro ..............................565 Vanderhorstia ornatissima .............................566 Variola albimarginata ....................................223 Variola louti ..................................................224

W Wetmorella albofasciata................................501

X Xanthichthys auromarginatus ........................629 Xiphasia setifer..............................................539 Xiphias gladius ..............................................610 Xyrichthys pentadactylus ..............................503

Z Zanclus cornutus ..................................592, 593 Zebrasoma desjardinii...................................590 Zebrasoma gemmatum .................................589 Zebrasoma scopas ........................................590 Zebrasoma xanthurum ..................................592 Zebrosoma veliferum ....................................591

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of scientific names

679

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Index of French names

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

A Aiguille voyeuse de mer Rouge.......................97 Albacore ......................................................607 Ambasse .......................................................140 Anguille-serpent maculée ..............................70 Anguille-serpent marbrée ..............................70 Anguille-serpent Napoléon ............................71 Antennaire géant .........................................104 Antennaire strié ............................................104 Anthias à faux blanche ................................190 Anthias à filaments .......................................190 Anthias à tache carrée ..................................194 Anthias à tache rouge ..................................191 Anthias bicolore ..........................................192 Anthias commun ..........................................196 Anthias de Pelicier ........................................190 Anthias du Natal...........................................191 Anthias faucon .............................................197 Anthias flamme ............................................193 Anthias mauve..............................................194 Anthias pêche...............................................192 Anthias rayé .................................................195 Anthias reine ................................................197 Anthias splendide ........................................195 Apogon .......................................................252 Apogon à bride.............................................248 Apogon à cinq lignes ...................................254 Apogon à deux barres...................................250 Apogon à grandes dents ..............................254 Apogon à nageoires rayées ..........................251 Apogon à pagaie ..........................................255 Apogon à points bleus .................................250 Apogon à queue d’hirondelle ......................256 Apogon à rayons ocre ...................................247 Apogon à rayures jaunes ..............................247 Apogon à rayures noires ...............................249 Apogon à stries orange ................................253 Apogon à ventre doré ..................................246 Apogon camouflé .........................................255 Apogon de Banggai ......................................255 Apogon de Doederlein .................................248 Apogon de Fleurieu ......................................248 Apogon de Hartzfeld ....................................249 Apogon de platier ........................................251 Apogon de Victoria .......................................252 Apogon doré ...............................................246 Apogon fantôme ...........................................251 Apogon glouton............................................250 Apogon irisé .................................................249 Apogon rayé ................................................246 Apogon spot rouge .......................................247

Apogon strié ................................................253 Apogon tigre.................................................253 Apogon zèbre ...............................................252 Arlequin ......................................................221 Athérine à grosse tête .....................................92

B Babone or mérou sellé .................................221 Balayeur australien .......................................138 Baliste à bord jaune .....................................629 Baliste à gorge bleue ...................................628 Baliste à muselière .......................................628 Baliste à queue blanche................................627 Baliste à queue rose......................................624 Baliste bleu ..................................................624 Baliste carène ..............................................627 Baliste-clown ...............................................621 Baliste écriture .............................................630 Baliste étoilé ................................................620 Baliste géant .................................................622 Baliste indien ...............................................623 Baliste noir ..................................................623 Baliste océanique ........................................623 Baliste océanique de mer Rouge...................622 Baliste Picasso à bandeau ............................627 Baliste Picasso clair .....................................626 Baliste Picasso de la mer Rouge ...................625 Baliste Picasso des Mascareignes .................626 Baliste strié ..................................................620 Baliste titan ..................................................621 Baliste vermiculé ..........................................624 Barbe............................................................136 Barbet rayé ...................................................350 Barbier de Hucht .........................................193 Barbillons blancs ...........................................77 Barracuda à dents de scie ............................442 Barracuda à nageoires noires .......................442 Barracuda à nageoires pointues ....................440 Barracuda à queue jaune .............................440 Barracuda australien .....................................441 Barracuda Jello ............................................442 Beauclaire de Bloch ....................................120 Beauclaire de roche .....................................119 Beauclaire ou gros yeux ..............................120 Bécasse à carreaux ......................................241 Bécasse de mer.............................................149 Bec de cane à nez retroussé .........................323 Bec de cane du Pacifique .............................323 Bec de cane malbar ......................................327 Blennie à dents acérées ...............................538 Blennie à filaments ......................................533 Blennie à lignes ............................................534

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of French names

681

Blennie à points rouges ................................533 Blennie à rayures ..........................................536 Blennie à rayures bleues ..............................538 Blennie à rides .............................................536 Blennie à tête courte.....................................537 Blennie à tirets..............................................536 Blennie bagnard ...........................................540 Blennie châtaigne ........................................533 Blennie de Bath ............................................534 Blennie de Midas .........................................535 Blennie de Smith .........................................537 Blennie lance ..............................................532 Blennie léopard ...........................................535 Blennie mimétique de mer Rouge.................534 Blennie mitrée .............................................537 Blennie nalolo .............................................535 Blennie serpent ............................................539 Bonite à ventre rayé ou listao .......................606 Brochet de mer .............................................135 Brochet de mer .............................................140

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C Caesio à croissant .........................................291 Caesio à ventre rouge ...................................290 Caesio géant .................................................291 Caesio tricolore ............................................294 Calicagère argenté ........................................356 Calicagère bleu ............................................355 Canthigaster à selles ....................................656 Canthigaster bicolore ...................................655 Canthigaster couronné de l’océan Indien......653 Canthigaster d’Amboine ..............................653 Canthigaster de Bennett ...............................653 Canthigaster du Natal ..................................654 Canthigaster ocellé .......................................655 Canthigaster tacheté ....................................655 Cantigasther alvéolé .....................................654 Capitaine à bandes orange ...........................328 Capitaine à queue jaune ...............................324 Capitaine baxou ...........................................329 Capitaine blanc ............................................327 Capitaine bossu ou gueule pavée .................330 Capitaine d’herbiers .....................................325 Capitaine empereur ......................................324 Capitaine gris ...............................................323 Capitaine honteux ........................................329 Capitaine lentilles .........................................325 Capitaine mashena .......................................326 Capitaine olive .............................................328 Capitaine saint-pierre ...................................325 Capitaine strié ..............................................322 Capitaine tatoué ...........................................322 Capitaine tidents...........................................326 Capucin à bande noire .................................347 Capucin à bandes jaunes ..............................344 Capucin à lignes blanches ............................344

Capucin à longs barbillons ...........................347 Capucin à nageoires jaunes ..........................343 Capucin à tache rouge..................................347 Capucin à trois selles ....................................348 Capucin barberin..........................................344 Capucin barbet doré .....................................345 Capucin barbet pastille .................................349 Capucin de Guezé........................................346 Capucin du Sud australien ............................351 Capucin indien .............................................348 Capucin manuel ...........................................349 Capucin mimique ........................................342 Capucin nain ou capucin carême ................342 Capucin orange ............................................343 Capucin souris à bande sombre ....................350 Capucin trois taches .....................................345 Carangue à bouche blanche .........................272 Carangue à pointe noire ..............................263 Carangue à poitrine nue ...............................262 Carangue Bajad or lentigine ........................261 Carangue bleue ...........................................264 Carangue cuivrée ........................................264 Carangue dentue ..........................................267 Carangue grosse tête ....................................263 Carangue langue blanche inconnue .............273 Carangue noire ............................................264 Carangue pailletée .......................................262 Carangue royale jaune .................................266 Carangue sap-sap .........................................261 Carangues des îles ........................................263 Carangue tachetée .......................................262 Carangue tapir .............................................261 Carangue tille ..............................................265 Carangue vorace ..........................................265 Carpe de mer australienne ...........................449 Castagnole à aisselle jaune ...........................420 Castanette.....................................................446 Castanette bicolore ......................................446 Castanette des bancs ....................................447 Castanette du Natal .....................................447 Castanette léopard .......................................446 Chelmon commun .......................................383 Chelmon ouest-australien .............................383 Chinchard à queue jaune .............................271 Chinchard commun......................................272 Chirurgien à deux points .............................588 Chirurgien à épaulette .................................584 Chirurgien à épine blanche .........................582 Chirurgien à lignes orange ...........................588 Chirurgien à masque jaune ..........................587 Chirurgien à nez blanc .................................581 Chirurgien anneau d’or indien ......................589 Chirurgien à queue jaune .............................592 Chirurgien à tache orange ...........................584 Chirurgien bagnard ......................................587 Chirurgien barré ..........................................587

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 682 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Chirurgien bleu ...........................................582 Chirurgien brun ...........................................584 Chirurgien chocolat ......................................586 Chirurgien couronné ...................................580 Chirurgien-lieutenant....................................586 Chirurgien mimétique indien .......................585 Chirurgien nuit .............................................585 Chirurgien pâle ............................................583 Chirurgien palette ........................................589 Chirurgien pintade .......................................581 Chirurgien religieux ......................................581 Chirurgien sohal ..........................................586 Chirurgien velours ........................................583 Chirurgien voile brun ..................................590 Chirurgien voile du Pacifique........................591 Chirurgien voile indien ................................590 Chirurgien voile moucheté ..........................589 Chirurgien zèbre ..........................................582 Chromis à caudale bordée de jaune .............422 Chromis à deux couleurs .............................419 Chromis à épines ..........................................416 Chromis à queue blanche ............................421 Chromis à queue d’hirondelle .....................420 Chromis à tache axillaire noire ....................418 Chromis à tache operculaire noire ...............421 Chromis bleu-vert ........................................422 Chromis de l’océan Indien ...........................421 Chromis de Weber .......................................422 Chromis écailleux ........................................420 Chromis trapu ..............................................419 Clair de lune rayé .........................................354 Cobia ..........................................................124 Comère torpille ...........................................267 Comète à grandes nageoires .........................128 Comète à tête jaune......................................129 Comète maquereau ou bancloche ...............266 Congre à moustache .......................................72 Congre de sable à barres sombres ..................74 Congre de sable argenté ................................72 Coradion à bandes orange ...........................384 Coradion à deux taches ................................384 Coradion à grandes nageoires ......................383 Cordonnier ..................................................600 Cordonnier à double barre ...........................601 Cordonnier à lignes bleues ..........................598 Cordonnier à queue grise .............................597 Cordonnier à taches orange .........................599 Cordonnier à tête de renard ..........................601 Cordonnier à trois points ..............................601 Cordonnier brun ...........................................598 Cordonnier corail .........................................596 Cordonnier de mer Rouge ............................599 Cordonnier doré ...........................................597 Cordonnier fil ou carangue à plumes ...........260 Cordonnier marguerite ................................599 Cordonnier ondulé ......................................597

Cordonnier vermiculé ..................................596 Coris à dos taché .........................................471 Coureur arc-en-ciel .....................................266 Croissant queue blanche .............................223 Croissant queue jaune .................................224

D Demi-bec à taches noires ...............................98 Demi-bec de mer Rouge.................................98 Demoiselle à barre noire .............................429 Demoiselle à dos noir...................................418 Demoiselle africaine ....................................428 Demoiselle à lèvres noires ...........................433 Demoiselle à l’œil brillant ...........................429 Demoiselle à points bleus.............................430 Demoiselle à queue blanche .......................431 Demoiselle à queue blanche ........................434 Demoiselle à queue jaune ............................427 Demoiselle à tache jaune .............................417 Demoiselle à trois bandes noires .................424 Demoiselle à trois points .............................426 Demoiselle bicolore ....................................427 Demoiselle bordée de noir ...........................432 Demoiselle citron .........................................432 Demoiselle de Ceylan .................................433 Demoiselle de Johnston ................................430 Demoiselle de Jordan ...................................437 Demoiselle de McCulloch ............................428 Demoiselle de mer Rouge ...........................425 Demoiselle de Miry .....................................428 Demoiselle de Richardson ...........................434 Demoiselle de Rolland ................................423 Demoiselle des Philippines ..........................433 Demoiselle de Victoria .................................429 Demoiselle dorée ........................................417 Demoiselle footballeur ................................423 Demoiselle fusilier .......................................426 Demoiselle gris-bleu ....................................417 Demoiselle gris clair ....................................423 Demoiselle inconnue ..................................435 Demoiselle indienne ...................................431 Demoiselle noire .........................................426 Demoiselle obscure .....................................424 Demoiselle phénicienne ..............................430 Demoiselle réticulée.....................................425 Demoiselle saphir ........................................432 Demoiselle soufre.........................................434 Denté du Cap ...............................................315 Denté maculé ...............................................316 Dérivant .......................................................100 Diable bleu .................................................129 Diable de mer ...............................................58 Diagramme ailes noires ................................298 Diagramme ardoise ......................................298 Diagramme peint..........................................299 Diagramme voilier .......................................298

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of French names

683

Diodon à longues épines .............................660 Diodon à nageoires tachetées ......................658 Diodon à taches auréolées ..........................660 Diodon à taches jaunes ................................659 Diodon ou porc-épic ...................................659 Dragon de mer .............................................158 Dragon de mer feuillu ..................................158 Dragonnet cryptique.......................................86 Dragonnet de Kuiter .......................................87 Dragonnet étoilé.............................................88 Dragonnet inconnu .......................................88

E

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Écureuil africain ...........................................115 Écureuil à grandes mâchoires ......................116 Écureuil à points noirs .................................115 Ecureuil à rayures jaunes .............................113 Écureuil argenté à bandes .............................113 Écureuil à taches noires ...............................114 Ecureuil des Syechelles .................................116 Écureuil diadème..........................................114 Écureuil samouraï ........................................115 Écureuil tacheté ............................................113 Écureuil tahitien ..........................................114 Émissole gommée ...........................................38 Épervier à deux taches ..................................238 Épervier à queue d’hirondelle ......................240 Épervier à taches rouges ..............................238 Épervier à tête ponctuée ..............................242 Épervier de corail ........................................240 Épervier des Mascareignes ...........................239 Épervier d’Oman .........................................238 Épervier lutin ...............................................239 Épervier nain ...............................................239 Épervier rayé ................................................240 Épervier strié ................................................241 Épervier tacheté ...........................................242 Espadon........................................................610 Exocet voilier..................................................92

F Faux cernier..................................................100 Faux nettoyeur .............................................532 Flet ocellé ....................................................617 Footballer à diagonales .................................354 Fransmadam .................................................310 Fusilier à bandes variées ...............................292 Fusilier à deux bandes jaunes .......................293 Fusilier à dos jaune.......................................293 Fusilier à dos jaune et bleu ...........................292 Fusilier à trois bandes ...................................294 Fusilier bleu et or..........................................290 Fusilier bleu et or..........................................290 Fusilier de Marr ............................................293 Fusilier de Suez ............................................292 Fusilier strié .................................................291

G Galjoen .......................................................134 Galjoen franc ...............................................133 Gaterin à bandes diagonales ........................302 Gaterin à barres blanches ............................304 Gaterin à gros pois .......................................307 Gaterin arlequin ...........................................300 Gaterin bagnard ..........................................303 Gaterin bagnard de l’océan Indien ..............306 Gaterin citron ..............................................299 Gaterin commun ..........................................299 Gaterin de Lesson ........................................302 Gaterin gueule rouge ....................................305 Gaterin ménestrel .........................................305 Gaterin moucheté ........................................301 Gaterin noir ..................................................301 Gaterin noir et blanc ....................................303 Gaterin rayé..................................................304 Gaterin ruban ..............................................305 Gaterin strié..................................................302 Gerres ..........................................................130 Gerres de Melbourne....................................130 Girelle africaine ...........................................471 Girelle à tache caudale.................................469 Girelle bariolée ............................................473 Girelle clown ...............................................470 Girelle de Schroeder.....................................473 Girelle-guêpe ...............................................499 Girelle-paon à épaule jaune ........................500 Girelle-paon à taches d’encre ......................498 Girelle-paon bariolée ..................................498 Girelle-paon bigarrée ..................................497 Girelle-paon clown .....................................501 Girelle-paon de Klunzinger .........................501 Girelle-paon des Mascareignes ....................499 Girelle-paon jaune ......................................500 Girelle-paon verte .......................................499 Girelle reine ................................................472 Girelle variée de la mer Rouge .....................474 Girelle-zèbre ................................................353 Glaucosome perlé ........................................139 Gobie à brides .............................................563 Gobie à caudale peinte ................................553 Gobie à demi-bandes ..................................554 Gobie à drapeau...........................................562 Gobie à épaule tachée .................................560 Gobie à filament ..........................................563 Gobie annelé................................................553 Gobie à points argentés ................................557 Gobie à points roses .....................................556 Gobie à raies bleues ....................................565 Gobie arlequin ............................................555 Gobie à ruban .............................................564 Gobie à six taches ........................................565 Gobie à taches dorées ..................................557

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 684 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Gobie à taches orange .................................564 Gobie à traits d’or ........................................557 Gobie-cible ..................................................556 Gobie citron ................................................560 Gobie d’Ambanoro ......................................565 Gobie décoré ..............................................561 Gobie de Michel .........................................562 Gobie de Miller ............................................554 Gobie dentu .................................................562 Gobie de Randall .........................................552 Gobie de sable de la mer Rouge ..................558 Gobie des sables .........................................559 Gobie de Steinitz .........................................552 Gobie de vase ..............................................559 Gobie d’Hector ...........................................553 Gobie Dracula .............................................563 Gobie gracieux ............................................561 Gobie grimé .................................................550 Gobie magnifique ........................................550 Gobie masqué .............................................551 Gobie métallique .........................................551 Gobie nain des antipathaires .......................555 Gobie nain des gorgones .............................554 Gobie nettoyeur ...........................................569 Gobie orné ..................................................566 Gobie périophtalme ....................................551 Gobie pygmée à œil cerclé ..........................564 Gobie pygmée à ventre noir .........................558 Gobie pygmée de Seebree ............................559 Gobie pygmée tacheté ..................................558 Gobie sabot ..................................................550 Gobie sellé ...................................................556 Gobie splendide ..........................................552 Gobiodon à cinq lignes ................................560 Grand barracuda .........................................441 Grande coryphène........................................608 Grande écaille ..............................................141 Grande raie guitare ........................................48 Grand poisson-rasoir ....................................149 Grand requin blanc ........................................34 Grégoire à museau court .............................435 Grégoire d’ébène .........................................436 Grégoire du Pacifique ..................................435 Grégoire mauricien .....................................437 Grégoire noir ...............................................436 Grogneur olive .............................................307 Grogneur rayé ..............................................307 Grondin volant ............................................127 Grondin volant à cocarde .............................127

H Hétérocongre pointillé....................................73 Hétérocongre splendide .................................73 Hétérocongre tacheté ....................................74 Hippocampe commun..................................155 Hippocampe de Knysna ...............................153

Hippocampe de la Réunion ..........................153 Hippocampe d’estuaire ................................154 Hippocampe hérissé ....................................154 Hippocampe pygmée ...................................159 Hottentot ......................................................315

I Idole maure .................................................592

J Janbruin........................................................314 Jaunet ...........................................................284

K Klipfish .........................................................319

L Labre à deux barres jaunes ...........................494 Labre à deux ocelles .....................................477 Labre à deux taches .....................................490 Labre à franges .............................................461 Labre à joues rayées .....................................491 Labre à nez pointu........................................504 Labre à opercule taché .................................456 Labre à point noir .........................................467 Labre à points bleus......................................466 Labre à points noirs ......................................455 Labre à poitrine jaune ..................................454 Labre à poitrine rouge ..................................462 Labre à queue en ciseaux ............................487 Labre à queue jaune ....................................453 Labre à queue jaune ....................................474 Labre à rayures blanches .............................460 Labre arc-en-ciel ..........................................479 Labre à six lignes .........................................493 Labre à tache axillaire .................................456 Labre à taches orange ...................................489 Labre à tirets blancs ......................................453 Labre à trois taches .......................................482 Labre à une ligne .........................................490 Labre banane ...............................................460 Labre bicolore .............................................481 Labre blanc ..................................................483 Labre canari à ventre blanc .........................480 Labre ceinture noire ....................................457 Labre cigare..................................................463 Labre cigare annelé .....................................484 Labre cigare strié ..........................................485 Labre constellé ............................................452 Labre de Brownfield .....................................477 Labre décoré ................................................477 Labre de Diane ............................................459 Labre de Pelicier ..........................................481 Labre des Moluques ....................................496 Labre du Bengale .........................................459 Labre du Natal .............................................454

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of French names

685

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Labre échiquier ............................................478 Labre joyau ..................................................480 Labre léopard à points bleus ........................488 Labre léopard vermiculé ..............................487 Labre lyre ....................................................455 Labre maori à deux taches ............................460 Labre maori à points blancs ..........................461 Labre maori australien ..................................490 Labre maori oriental .....................................492 Labre maori rayé ..........................................461 Labre maori trilobé .......................................462 Labre mauve.................................................467 Labre mental ...............................................492 Labre nain à barres blanches .......................501 Labre nain à filament ....................................466 Labre nain à flancs bleus ..............................465 Labre nain à huit lignes ...............................494 Labre nain bariolé ........................................465 Labre nain bigarré ........................................464 Labre nain sanguin ......................................466 Labre nain strié ............................................493 Labre nébuleux.............................................480 Labre nettoyeur bicolore ..............................486 Labre nettoyeur commun .............................486 Labre obscur ................................................479 Labre oiseau du Pacifique .............................476 Labre oiseau indien ......................................475 Labre orné ....................................................488 Labre rose ....................................................495 Labre ruban à lignes blanches .....................496 Labre ruban à tache rouge ...........................497 Labre sénateur ..............................................493 Labre torpille ...............................................495 Labre torpille africain ...................................494 Labre traître .................................................474 Labre zigzag .................................................482 Labre zoster ..................................................468 Lantanier ou vivaneau tidents .......................276 Licorne à bords blancs..................................575 Licorne à éperons bleus ...............................579 Licorne à épines orange de l’océan Indien ...577 Licorne à gros nez .......................................579 Licorne à points noirs ..................................579 Licorne argentée ..........................................577 Licorne à une épine ......................................578 Licorne bossue ............................................575 Licorne grise ................................................577 Licorne pointue ...........................................576 Lune d’argent ................................................99 Lune pleine ....................................................99

M Maidague robuste .........................................467 Maigre japonais ............................................136 Malacanthe bleu ..........................................125 Maquereau des Indes ...................................606

Marbré .........................................................314 Marbré du Cap ............................................314 Marlin ou makaire bleu ...............................610 Masked rabbitfish .........................................598 Mérou à flocons ..........................................216 Mérou auréolé ..............................................208 Mérou bilobé................................................209 Mérou bord rouge .......................................220 Mérou bossu.................................................207 Mérou camouflage ......................................217 Mérou de bois or triple queue ......................230 Mérou demi-lune .........................................217 Mérou élégant .............................................200 Mérou faraud ...............................................211 Mérou gâteau de cire....................................215 Mérou haute voile ........................................214 Mérou lancéolé ...........................................213 Mérou lisse ..................................................207 Mérou longues ailes ....................................217 Mérou longues épines ..................................213 Mérou loutre ................................................219 Mérou malabar ............................................214 Mérou marron .............................................212 Mérou mélifère .............................................212 Mérou nébuleux ...........................................210 Mérou noir ...................................................215 Mérou patate ................................................219 Mérou pintade .............................................209 Mérou plate grise .........................................216 Mérou pointillé.............................................223 Mérou quatre selles .....................................218 Mérou summan ............................................218 Mérou taches blanches ................................210 Mérou taches orange ....................................210 Mérou tête de chat .......................................208 Mérou tigre ..................................................208 Mérou vagabond de mer Rouge ....................222 Monacanthe à rayure jaune .........................632 Monacanthe à selles noires ..........................634 Monacanthe inconnu ...................................636 Monacanthe rayé .........................................631 Morwong obscur ..........................................447 Morwong pie ................................................448 Mostelle tropicale ...........................................79 Muge lippu .....................................................94 Murène à bordé blanc ...................................63 Murène à bouche jaune .................................68 Murène à cou taché .......................................67 Murène à taches noires ..................................65 Murène brune ................................................64 Murène de Bayer ...........................................62 Murène dragon ..............................................62 Murène étoilée ..............................................62 Murène frangée .............................................65 Murène jaunâtre ............................................67 Murène javanaise ..........................................66

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 686 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Murène léopard .............................................64 Murène marbrée ............................................65 Murène masquée ............................................64 Murène ondulante .........................................68 Murène ponctuée ..........................................67 Murène ruban ................................................69 Murène spaghetti ...........................................75 Murène tatouée .............................................66 Murène tigre ..................................................68 Murène vipère ................................................63 Murène zébrée ..............................................63 Myxine du Cap .............................................142

N Napoléon ....................................................463 Nettoyeur à lèvres tubulaires ........................485 Nettoyeur de la mer Rouge ...........................487

O Odax ............................................................504 Ombrine sud-africaine .................................137 Opistognathe à points dorés ...........................89 Oplegnathe du Cap ......................................356 Oplegnathe du Natal ....................................357 Orphie ...........................................................96 Orphie crocodile ...........................................97 Orphie plate ..................................................96

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P Papillon à bandes ponctuées .......................377 Papillon à chevrons .....................................382 Papillon à collier blanc .................................370 Papillon à deux selles du Pacifique ...............372 Papillon à dos noir ........................................379 Papillon africain ...........................................370 Papillon à huit bandes ..................................374 Papillon à larme de l’océan Indien ..............377 Papillon à larme du Pacifique ......................377 Papillon à lignes ...........................................373 Papillon à miroir ...........................................375 Papillon à mitre ............................................380 Papillon à œil taché ......................................366 Papillon à point caudal .................................373 Papillon à raie dorée .....................................367 Papillon à selle noire ....................................371 Papillon à tête blanche ................................379 Papillon à tête jaune .....................................372 Papillon baronne ..........................................368 Papillon citron ..............................................369 Papillon cocher ............................................367 Papillon côtelé de la mer Rouge ..................368 Papillon côtelé indien ..................................382 Papillon d’Andaman .....................................366 Papillon d’Arabie ..........................................368 Papillon de Bennett ......................................369 Papillon de Blackburn...................................369

Papillon de Klein ..........................................378 Papillon de Madagascar ...............................378 Papillon de Meyer ........................................380 Papillon indien à deux selles .......................372 Papillon jaune masqué ................................381 Papillon moucheté ........................................376 Papillon ocellé ..............................................384 Papillon orange ............................................378 Papillon orné ................................................381 Papillon peint à dorsale noire .......................371 Papillon plebeius ..........................................374 Papillon pyramide jaune ...............................386 Papillon pyramide noir ................................386 Papillon quadrillé .........................................374 Papillon raton laveur ....................................375 Papillon raton laveur de mer Rouge .............376 Papillon réticulé ...........................................375 Papillon sud-africain .....................................373 Papillon triangulaire indien ..........................381 Papillon vagabond ........................................371 Pastenague à points bleus ..............................53 Pastenague à queue courte .............................52 Pastenague à taches bleues ............................55 Pastenague à taches noires .............................55 Pastenague bleue sud-africaine ......................52 Pastenague violacée .......................................53 Pêche-Madame moucheté ............................139 Pêcheur des Sargasses .................................105 Pentapode à lignes jaunes.............................333 Pentapode marbré ........................................334 Pentapode papillon.......................................334 Perche à bandes noires .................................189 Perche de sable à barre jaune ......................528 Perche de sable à barres noires ....................527 Perche de sable à drapeau noir ....................527 Perche de sable à lignes pointillées...............525 Perche de sable à marques noires .................527 Perche de sable à taches noires ...................526 Perche de sable à treillis ..............................523 Perche de sable cylindrique ..........................524 Perche de sable ocellée ...............................524 Perche de sable ondulée ...............................524 Perche de sable ponctuée ............................526 Perche de sable tachetée .............................526 Perroquet à barre jaune ...............................520 Perroquet à cinq selles .................................520 Perroquet à écailles jaunes ..........................515 Perroquet à pointillés ....................................510 Perroquet à queue barrée .............................513 Perroquet à six bandes .................................515 Perroquet bicolore .......................................510 Perroquet bossu ...........................................508 Perroquet braisé ...........................................519 Perroquet camouflé .....................................509 Perroquet cyan bicolore ................................511 Perroquet de Quoy ......................................516

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of French names

687

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Perroquet des Carolines ...............................509 Perroquet de Singapour ...............................517 Perroquet dorade .........................................518 Perroquet éclipse .........................................519 Perroquet faucille ........................................514 Perroquet-globe ...........................................517 Perroquet grand bleu ...................................521 Perroquet jaune à longue tête ......................512 Perroquet machoîron ...................................516 Perroquet marbré .........................................513 Perroquet marguerite ....................................511 Perroquet rouille ...........................................514 Perroquet tricolore ........................................521 Petit dragon .................................................162 Petite coryphène ..........................................609 Petite licorne ...............................................578 Petite manta de récif .......................................59 Platax à longues nageoires............................362 Platax de Boër ..............................................360 Platax ombré à nageoires jaunes...................361 Platax rond ...................................................360 Plie à trois ocelles ........................................614 Plongeur de sable élégant .............................528 Plongeur de sable pointillé ...........................528 Poisson-aiguille à bandes..............................157 Poisson-aiguille de la mer rouge ...................156 Poisson-aiguille de Schultz ...........................156 Poisson-ange à anneau ................................400 Poisson-ange à demi-cercles ........................402 Poisson-ange à écailles perlées .....................397 Poisson-ange amiral .....................................403 Poisson-ange à oreille tachée .......................400 Poisson-ange à six bandes ...........................403 Poisson-ange à tête bleue ............................404 Poisson-ange australien ................................397 Poisson-ange bicolore...................................394 Poisson-ange demi-lune ...............................399 Poisson-ange des Indes ................................393 Poisson-ange duc .........................................404 Poisson-ange empereur ................................401 Poisson-ange fumé hybride ..........................393 Poisson-ange géographe ..............................399 Poisson-ange lyre de Lamarck ......................399 Poisson-ange nain à deux épines .................394 Poisson-ange nain africain ...........................394 Poisson-ange nain bleu de Maurice .............395 Poisson-ange nain brun ...............................396 Poisson-ange nain citron ..............................395 Poisson-ange nain d’Eibl ..............................395 Poisson-ange nain trou de serrure .................396 Poisson-ange nain zébré ...............................397 Poisson-ange tigré ........................................392 Poisson-ange trois taches .............................392 Poisson-ange vermiculé ...............................398 Poisson-ange vieille femme .........................400 Poisson-ange zébré de l’océan Indien ..........398

Poisson arlequin ..........................................464 Poisson bagnard ..........................................416 Poisson-ballon à lignes brunes .....................650 Poisson-ballon à nageoires courtes ..............657 Poisson-ballon à taches blanches .................650 Poisson-ballon à taches bleues ....................649 Poisson-ballon barré orange .........................657 Poisson-ballon cerclé....................................656 Poisson-ballon étoilé ...................................652 Poisson-ballon griffonné ..............................651 Poisson-ballon jaune ...................................652 Poisson-ballon masqué ................................649 Poisson-ballon pintade ................................651 Poisson-ballon pleureur ................................657 Poisson-ballon sournois ................................648 Poisson-banane à lèvres rondes ....................135 Poisson bêche africain ..................................362 Poisson-chat d’estuaire ...................................78 Poisson-chat noir ............................................78 Poisson-chat rayé ...........................................78 Poisson-clown à bande dorsale.....................413 Poisson-clown à collier ................................412 Poisson-clown à deux bandes ......................409 Poisson-clown à joues épineuses .................413 Poisson-clown à selle ..................................410 Poisson-clown à selle de cheval....................412 Poisson-clown à trois bandes .......................412 Poisson-clown d’Allard ................................408 Poisson-clown de Clark ................................410 Poisson-clown de Madagascar .....................411 Poisson-clown de Maurice ...........................409 Poisson-clown de Seba .................................413 Poisson-clown des Maldives ........................411 Poisson-clown des Seychelles ......................410 Poisson-clown mouffette...............................408 Poisson cocher commun ..............................386 Poisson cocher cornu ..................................389 Poisson cocher de mer Rouge .......................388 Poisson cocher du Pacifique ........................387 Poisson cocher fantôme ...............................388 Poisson-cocher grégaire ................................387 Poisson cocher malais .................................389 Poisson cocher masqué ...............................389 Poisson-coffre à bosse ..................................644 Poisson-coffre à épine dorsale .....................640 Poisson-coffre à peau dure ...........................642 Poisson-coffre à points bleus ........................641 Poisson-coffre australien ...............................643 Poisson-coffre de Shaw .................................644 Poisson-coffre jaune ....................................640 Poisson-coffre pintade .................................641 Poisson-coffre réticulé .................................642 Poisson-coffre rhinocéros .............................643 Poisson couteau ...........................................148 Poisson-couteau moucheté ...........................147 Poisson couvreur ..........................................125

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 688 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Poisson couvreur pâle ..................................124 Poisson crampon ..........................................569 Poisson-crocodile ..........................................84 Poisson-crocodile à long museau....................86 Poisson-crocodile à papilles ...........................85 Poisson-crocodile à tête large ........................84 Poisson-crocodile de Beaufort .......................83 Poisson-crocodile épineux ..............................84 Poisson-crocodile spéculateur ........................85 Poisson-fantôme halimeda ............................160 Poisson-fantôme harlequin ..........................161 Poisson-fantôme robuste ..............................160 Poisson-fantôme rugueux .............................161 Poisson-feuille .............................................180 Poisson-feuille à mèche ................................182 Poisson-feuille cacatoès ................................182 Poisson-feuille épineux .................................181 Poisson-feuille Peau-Rouge ..........................181 Poisson-fléchette à filament ..........................546 Poisson-fléchette à queue tachée .................546 Poisson-fléchette décoré ..............................544 Poisson-fléchette de feu ...............................544 Poisson-fléchette de Maurice ........................546 Poisson-fléchette gris ...................................543 Poisson-fléchette zébré .................................547 Poisson-flûte lisse ........................................146 Poisson-globe pyjama ...................................650 Poisson-hachette...........................................133 Poisson-hachette à lignes orange ..................132 Poisson-hachette allongé ..............................131 Poisson-hachette de Schwenk .......................133 Poisson-hachette nain ...................................131 Poisson-hachette rustique .............................132 Poisson-hachette sombre ..............................132 Poisson-lampe .............................................129 Poisson-lézard ...............................................82 Poisson-lézard à rayures .................................83 Poisson-lézard de sable .................................82 Poisson-lézard tacheté ...................................82 Poisson-lime à bande noire...........................636 Poisson-lime à lignes bleues .........................633 Poisson-lime à long nez de mer Rouge .........634 Poisson-lime à lunette ..................................631 Poisson-lime à queue orange ........................636 Poisson-lime à six éperons ............................632 Poisson-lime à taches orange ........................633 Poisson-lime fer à cheval ..............................633 Poisson-lime japonais ...................................634 Poisson-lime licorne ....................................629 Poisson-lime mosaïque .................................632 Poisson-lime panthère ..................................631 Poisson-lime pointillé ...................................635 Poisson-lime pygmée ....................................630 Poisson-lime rhinocéros ...............................635 Poisson mandarin ...........................................87 Poisson pavillon des Mascareignes ................95

Poisson pavillon rayé .....................................95 Poisson-phare ...............................................126 Poisson-pierre or Synancée ...........................185 Poisson pilote ...............................................267 Poisson pincette à long nez .........................385 Poisson pincette à très long nez ...................385 Poisson pomme de pin .................................126 Poisson porc-épic orbiculaire .......................658 Poisson-sanglier à long nez...........................138 Poisson-savon de Chabanaud .......................228 Poisson-scorpion à bosse ..............................177 Poisson-scorpion à épines courtes ................175 Poisson-scorpion à guenilles ........................179 Poisson-scorpion à houppes ........................177 Poisson-scorpion à piège ..............................168 Poisson-scorpion à tache jaune ....................179 Poisson-scorpion d’Ambon ...........................170 Poisson-scorpion de Guam ...........................175 Poisson-scorpion de Maurice .......................179 Poisson-scorpion de Mozambique ...............169 Poisson-scorpion de Poos ............................178 Poisson-scorpion des algues ........................174 Poisson-scorpion d’Eschmeyer .....................174 Poisson-scorpion diable ...............................177 Poisson-trompette ........................................145 Poisson-vache à longues cornes ...................640 Poisson velours ............................................128 Poisson-ver à une tache ...............................545 Poisson-ver curieux ......................................545 Pompaneau lune...........................................271 Pompaneau muscadin .................................270 Prude ou vieille cuisinier .............................201 Pseudochromis à dos jaune ..........................234 Pseudochromis à rayures bleues ..................235 Pseudochromis de mer Rouge .....................235 Pseudochromis peint ...................................234 Pseudochromis royal ....................................234 Pseudo-hippocampe à petite poche ..............152 Pseudo-hippocampe pygmée du Mozambique 152 Ptérois à antennes ........................................171 Ptérois à nageoires translucides ....................172 Ptérois à pieds noirs......................................170 Ptérois à raies blanches ................................173 Ptérois d’Handover .......................................171 Ptérois nain .................................................166 Ptérois ocellé ...............................................166 Ptérois zèbre ................................................166

R Raie aigle ......................................................56 Raie aigle australe ..........................................57 Raie aigle commune, mourine ........................57 Raie alvéolée .................................................54 Raie de Jenkin ................................................54 Raie fouet ......................................................54 Raie guitare à bouche arquée ........................47

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of French names

689

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Raie guitare à taches blanches ........................48 Raie guitare à taches bleues ...........................49 Raie guitare australienne ...............................49 Raie guitare épineuse ....................................48 Raie manta ....................................................58 Rascasse à filaments ....................................168 Rascasse calédonienne .................................167 Rascasse ennemie.........................................167 Rascasse volante ..........................................172 Rascasse volante...........................................173 Rason à ocelles rouges ................................503 Rason commun ...........................................502 Rason des sables ..........................................503 Rason masqué .............................................489 Rémora ........................................................123 Requin à queue noire ....................................40 Requin baleine ..............................................30 Requin bordé..................................................40 Requin bouledogue .......................................41 Requin carpette à collier ................................33 Requin corail .................................................44 Requin de Port Jackson ...................................33 Requin gris de récif.........................................39 Requin léopard ..............................................31 Requin limon faucille ....................................43 Requin mako ..................................................35 Requin marteau halicorne .............................45 Requin nourrice fauve ...................................32 Requin océanique ..........................................42 Requin peau bleu ..........................................44 Requin platnez ...............................................31 Requin pointes blanches de récif ....................39 Requin pointes noires .....................................42 Requin renard pélagique ................................36 Requin soyeux ...............................................41 Requin tapis paste ..........................................32 Requin taureau ..............................................34 Requin tigre ...................................................43 Risdael or méou tapis ..................................214 Rouget barbet à tache noire ..........................349 Rouget bicolore ............................................343 Rougette ou mérou oriflamme ......................211 Roussette brune ..............................................37 Roussette panthère .........................................38 Roussette rubanée ..........................................37 Roussette sombre............................................37 Roussette vipérine ..........................................36

S Sar à deux bandes ........................................310 Sar à grosses lèvres .......................................313 Sar austral.....................................................317 Sar commun du Cap .....................................313 Sar couteau ..................................................316 Sardine ...........................................................93 Sardinelle à queue noire ................................93

Sar germain du Natal ....................................316 Sargue à gros yeux........................................318 Sargue doré ..................................................318 Sargue du Cap ..............................................318 Saumon australien ........................................273 Saumoné léopard .........................................222 Saupe ...........................................................319 Saupe grise à lignes jaunes ...........................355 Sauteur sabre ...............................................268 Sauteur talang ..............................................268 Savon à bande jaune ...................................227 Savon à deux bandes ....................................228 Savon à raies d’or .........................................229 Savon barbu ................................................229 Savon de mer Rouge ....................................228 Savon moucheté ...........................................229 Scolopsis à barre oblique..............................339 Scolopsis à deux lignes .................................335 Scolopsis à joues blanches ...........................338 Scolopsis arabe.............................................336 Scolopsis à taches orange .............................336 Scolopsis de Peter .........................................334 Scolopsis des Seychelles ...............................336 Scolopsis doré ..............................................335 Scolopsis masqué .........................................337 Scolopsis nacré.............................................337 Scolopsis rayé ...............................................337 Scolopsis saint-pierre ....................................335 Scorpion à nez jaune ...................................176 Scorpion barbu .............................................175 Scorpion flamme ..........................................176 Sébaste à grosse tête ....................................169 Sébaste de Bougainville ................................169 Sélar coulisson or pêche cavale ...................269 Selar harengule.............................................260 Sélar ligne jaune ...........................................268 Sepenton à longue nageoire ...........................71 Sergent-major à bandes ...............................414 Sergent-major à queue en ciseaux ...............415 Sergent-major à queue jaune ........................414 Sergent-major à tache noire ..........................415 Sergent-major à tache ovale .........................415 Sergent-major nacré ....................................414 Sériole amoureuse ........................................270 Sériole chicard ............................................269 Sériole limon ................................................270 Serran à rayures rouges ................................220 Soldat à bord blanc .....................................112 Soldat à grosses écailles ...............................110 Soldat à nageoires jaunes ............................111 Soldat à oeillères .........................................111 Soldat à taches noires ...................................111 Soldat pourpre ..............................................110 Soldat violacé ..............................................112 Sole de Diringer ..........................................614 Sole de Lachner ...........................................616

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 690 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Sole de lait ..................................................615 Sole ocellée ..................................................615 Sole zèbre ....................................................616 Spare à selle blanche ....................................312 Spare broyeuse .............................................319 Spare du Natal..............................................311 Spare élégant ................................................312 Spare gibbeux...............................................311 Spare nasique ...............................................312 Spare panga..................................................317 Syngnathe à double menton ........................157 Syngnathe à larges bandes ...........................157 Syngnathe à traits jaunes ..............................155 Syngnathe courbé ........................................159 Syngnathe trapu de l’océan Indien................155

T Tamarin à bandes ........................................483 Tamarin bicolore .........................................483 Tarpon indien ...............................................141 Tassergal .......................................................142 Thazard Kanadi ...........................................607 Thazard Kusara ............................................605 Thazard rayé ................................................607 Thon banane ou thazard bâtard ...................604 Thon dents de chien ....................................605 Thonine orientale ........................................605 Torpille auréolée ............................................51 Torpille panthère ...........................................50 Torpille tachetée ............................................50 Tripterigion de Clark .....................................568 Triptérygion à haute crête ............................567 Triptérygion haut chapeau ...........................567 Triptérygion noir et jaune .............................567 Triptérygion strié ..........................................568 Turbot léopard .............................................617 Turbot tropical .............................................617

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

U Uranoscope à bordure blanche ...................186

V Vieille aile noire ...........................................206 Vieille ailes noires .......................................206

Vieille ananas ..............................................205 Vieille arlequin ............................................204 Vieille à selle noire ......................................457 Vieille chocolat ............................................202 Vieille d’Arabie.............................................203 Vieille de Maurice .......................................458 Vieille dorée ................................................201 Vieille étoilée ..............................................204 Vieille étoiles bleues .....................................202 Vieille femme ..............................................134 Vieille fraise .................................................205 Vieille léopard ..............................................203 Vieille lignes bleues .....................................202 Vieille Rogaa ................................................200 Vieille Saint-Silac .........................................222 Vieille six taches ..........................................205 Vivaneau à bandes blanches .........................277 Vivaneau à cinq raies bleues ........................283 Vivaneau à queue en croissant .....................287 Vivaneau à queue noir..................................280 Vivaneau à raies bleues ................................282 Vivaneau à raies bleues ................................283 Vivaneau à raies jaunes ................................281 Vivaneau bengalais.......................................278 Vivaneau bourgeois ......................................284 Vivaneau carpe.............................................280 Vivaneau chien rouge or vara vara ................278 Vivaneau damier .........................................279 Vivaneau des mangroves ..............................277 Vivaneau diable............................................286 Vivaneau drapeau .........................................279 Vivaneau églefin ...........................................282 Vivaneau gibelot...........................................280 Vivaneau gros yeux.......................................282 Vivaneau hublot ...........................................284 Vivaneau Job ................................................276 Vivaneau maori ............................................283 Vivaneau minuit ...........................................285 Vivaneau pagaie ...........................................281 Vivaneau plate .............................................285 Vivaneau rouille ...........................................276 Vivaneau strié ...............................................279 Vivanette bleue.............................................286 Vivanette queue jaune ..................................286 Voilier .........................................................609

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of French names

691

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved. Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Index of English names A Abbott’s moray eel ..........................................64 Adorned wrasse ...........................................477 African butterflyfish ......................................370 African coris ................................................471 African pompano..........................................260 African spadefish ..........................................362 African torpedo wrasse .................................494 Almaco jack .................................................270 Ambon’s scorpionfish ...................................170 Amethyst anthias ..........................................194 Andaman butterflyfish ..................................366 Andaman sweetlips ......................................307 Arabian angelfish..........................................399 Arabian butterflyfish .....................................368 Arabian chromis ...........................................420 Arabian cleaner fish......................................487 Arabian monocle bream ...............................336 Arc-eye hawkfish ..........................................241 Armitage angelfish ........................................393 Arrowhead soapfish ......................................228 Australian barracuda.....................................441 Australian marblefish ....................................449 Axilspot hogfish ...........................................456

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

B Banded galjoen ............................................134 Banded needlefish ..........................................96 Banded sergeant ...........................................414 Banded sole..................................................616 Bandfin cardinalfish......................................251 Banggai cardinalfish .....................................255 Barred fingerfin.............................................446 Barred fingerfish ...........................................447 Barred flagtail .................................................95 Barred rubberlip ...........................................304 Barred sand conger.........................................74 Barred soapfish .............................................228 Barred thicklip ..............................................483 Bath’s combtooth blenny ..............................534 Bay of Bengal hogfish ...................................459 Bearded scorpionfish ....................................175 Bengal snapper .............................................278 Bennett’s sharpnose puffer ............................653 Bicolor angelfish...........................................394 Bicolor cleaner wrasse..................................486 Bicolored toby ..............................................655 Bicolour parrotfish .......................................510 Bigeye scad ..................................................269 Bigeye snapper .............................................282 Bigeye stumpnose.........................................318

Bigeye trevally ..............................................265 Big longnose butterflyfish .............................385 Bignose unicornfish ......................................579 Bird wrasse ..................................................476 Black-and-gold chromis ................................427 Black and white snapper .............................285 Black-axil chromis ........................................418 Blackback butterflyfish .................................379 Black-banded blenny ....................................536 Black banded demoiselle..............................418 Black-banded hogfish ..................................458 Black-banded sea perch................................189 Blackbanded trevally ....................................270 Blackbar devil ..............................................429 Black bar filefish ...........................................636 Blackbarred halfbeak ......................................98 Black-barred surgeonfish ..............................587 Blackbar triggerfish .......................................626 Black-blotched porcupinefish .......................660 Black-blotched stingray ..................................55 Blackblotch squirrelfish ................................115 Black cap jawfish ...........................................89 Blackcheek moray ..........................................64 Black dotted sandperch ................................526 Blackeye thicklip ..........................................483 Blackfin barracuda .......................................442 Blackfin dartfish............................................543 Blackfin sweetlips .........................................298 Blackflag sandperch......................................527 Blackfoot firefish...........................................170 Black jack .....................................................264 Blackline fangblenny ....................................536 Blacklip damsel ............................................433 Blackmargined damselfish ............................432 Black musselcracker .....................................312 Blacksadded coralgrouper ...........................221 Blackside hawkfish ......................................242 Blackspot goatfish.........................................349 Blackspot hogfish .........................................460 Blackspot sergeant ........................................415 Blackspot snapper ........................................280 Blackspotted puffer .......................................652 Blackspotted rubberlip..................................301 Black-spotted torpedo.....................................50 Black-spotted wrasse ....................................455 Blackspot tuskfish .........................................467 Blackstriped angelfish ...................................399 Black-striped cardinalfish .............................249 Black surgeonfish .........................................581 Blacktail angelfish ........................................395 Blacktail butterflyfish ....................................368 Blacktail chromis ..........................................421

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of English names

693

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Blacktail goby ...............................................546 Blacktail reef shark .........................................40 Blacktail snapper ..........................................280 Blacktip grouper ...........................................211 Blacktip reef shark ..........................................42 Blacktip sardinella ..........................................93 Blacktip shark .................................................40 Blacktip soldierfish .......................................111 Blacktip trevally ............................................263 Black triggerfish ............................................623 Blackwedged butterflyfish.............................372 Blotcheye soldierfish ....................................110 Blotch-necked moray......................................67 Blubberlip snapper .......................................283 Bludger trevally ............................................262 Blue and gold fusilier....................................290 Blue and gold fusilier....................................290 Blue and yellow grouper .............................211 Blueband goby .............................................565 Blue-barred parrotfish ...................................515 Blue blanquillo .............................................125 Bluecheek butterflyfish .................................381 Blue dash butterflyfish ..................................374 Blue devil .....................................................129 Blue-eyed cardinalfish ..................................247 Bluefin trevally .............................................264 Bluefish ........................................................142 Bluegirdled angelfish ....................................403 Blue green damselfish...................................422 Blue humphead parrotfish ............................511 Bluelashed butterflyfish ................................369 Blue-lined emperor.......................................325 Bluelined hind ..............................................202 Blue-lined large-eye bream...........................322 Blue-lined leatherjacket ................................633 Bluelined wrasse ..........................................496 Blueline snapper...........................................279 Blue Mauritius angelfish ...............................395 Bluering angelfish .........................................400 Blue seachub ................................................355 Blue shark ......................................................44 Blueside wrasse ............................................465 Blue-speckled rubble goby ...........................554 Bluespine unicornfish ...................................579 Bluespot cardinalfish ....................................250 Bluespotted cornetfish ..................................146 Bluespotted hind ..........................................202 Bluespotted leopard wrasse ..........................488 Blue-spotted puffer .......................................649 Blue-spotted rabbitfish .................................596 Bluespotted ribbontail ray ...............................55 Bluespotted stingray........................................53 Blue-spotted tuskfish.....................................466 Bluespotted wrasse ......................................452 Blue stingray ...................................................52 Bluestreak cleaner wrasse .............................486

Blue-striped dottyback ..................................235 Bluestriped fangblenny ................................538 Bluestripped snapper ....................................282 Bluetail trunkfish ..........................................641 Bluethroat triggerfish ....................................627 Blue trevally .................................................262 Blue triggerfish ............................................624 Bluntheaded wrasse......................................497 Blunt snout gregory ......................................435 Boer’s batfish ................................................360 Boomerang triggerfish...................................627 Bowmouth guitarfish ......................................47 Bowtie damselfish ........................................426 Brassy chub ..................................................355 Brassy trevally ..............................................264 Bridled monocle bream ................................336 Bridled parrotfish ..........................................515 Bridled triggerfish .........................................628 Brighteye damselfish.....................................429 Broad-banded pipefish .................................157 Broadbarred firefish ......................................171 Broadhead flathead ........................................84 Broadstriped cardinalfish ..............................246 Broomtail wrasse ..........................................461 Brown-and-white butterflyfish ......................386 Brownburnie ................................................369 Brownfield’s wrasse ......................................477 Brown-marbled grouper ...............................212 Brown shyshark ..............................................37 Brownspotted grouper ..................................209 Brownspotted rabbitfish ................................599 Brownstripe red snapper ...............................284 Brown surgeonfish ........................................584 Bullethead parrotfish ....................................511 Bull shark .......................................................41 Burrowing snake-eel .......................................71 Butterfly whiptail ..........................................334

C Camouflage grouper .....................................217 Candelamoa parrotfish .................................512 Cape knifejaw ..............................................356 Cape stumpnose ...........................................318 Cape white seabream ...................................313 Cardinalfish ..................................................252 Carolines parrotfish ......................................509 Catface rockcod ...........................................208 Checkerboard wrasse ..................................478 Checkered snapper .......................................279 Cheeklined wrasse .......................................491 Chestnut eyelash-blenny ...............................533 Chevron butterflyfish ....................................382 Chinamanfish ...............................................286 Chinese trumpetfish ......................................145 Chiseltooth wrasse........................................496 Chocolatedip chromis ..................................419

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 694 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Chocolate hind .............................................202 Chocolate surgeonfish ..................................586 Christmas wrasse ..........................................501 Cigar wrasse ................................................463 Cinnabar goatfish .........................................347 Citron butterflyfish ........................................369 Clearfin lionfish ............................................172 Cloudy dascyllus ..........................................424 Cloudy grouper ............................................210 Clown anemonefish......................................412 Clown coris .................................................470 Clown triggerfish .........................................621 Cobbler ..........................................................78 Cobia ...........................................................124 Cockatoo waspfish .......................................182 Comet ..........................................................128 Commerson’s frogfish ...................................104 Common bluestripe snapper .........................283 Common dolphinfish ...................................608 Common eagle ray .........................................57 Common fusegoby .......................................559 Common threefin .........................................568 Convict blenny .............................................540 Convict surgeonfish ......................................587 Copperband butterflyfish ..............................383 Coral hawkfish .............................................239 Coral hind ....................................................204 Crocodile fish .................................................83 Crown squirrelfish ........................................114 Curious wormfish .........................................545 Cylindrical sandperch ...................................524

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

D Dapple coris ................................................474 Dark-banded fusilier .....................................294 Darkfin hind .................................................206 Dark shyshark .................................................37 Dark wrasse .................................................479 Dash-and-dot goatfish ..................................344 Decorated goby ............................................561 Decoy scorpionfish.......................................168 Demon stringerfish .......................................167 Devil firefish .................................................172 Diagonal butterflyfish ...................................376 Diagonal goatfish .........................................346 Diane’s hogfish ............................................459 Diringer’s sole .............................................614 Doederlein’s cardinalfish ..............................248 Dogtooth tuna ..............................................605 Dory snapper................................................280 Dotlined grubfish..........................................525 Dotted sandperch .........................................526 Doubleband surgeonfish...............................586 Doublebar chromis.......................................421 Doublebar goatfish .......................................349 Double-barred rabbitfish ..............................601

Doublechin pipefish .....................................157 Double-ended pipefish .................................159 Double-lined fusilier.....................................293 Double-lined mackerel .................................605 Doublesash butterfly.....................................373 Doublespotted queenfish ..............................268 Double whiptail ...........................................333 Dracula shrimp-goby ....................................563 Driftfish ........................................................100 Dusky angelfish ............................................396 Dusky barred goby .......................................553 Dusky batfish................................................361 Dusky farmerfish ..........................................436 Dusky morwong ...........................................447 Dusky parrotfish ..........................................518 Dusky sweeper .............................................132 Dusky tilefish................................................124 Dutoiti ..........................................................234 Dwarfgoby ...................................................558 Dwarf hawkfish ............................................239 Dwarf moray ..................................................67

E Ebony gregory ..............................................436 Eclipse parrotfish ..........................................519 Egyptian pipefish ..........................................156 Eightband butterflyfish ..................................374 Eight-lined wrasse.........................................494 Elegant firefish ..............................................544 Elegant unicornfish ......................................577 Elongate surgeonfish .....................................583 Elongate unicornfish .....................................577 Ember parrotfish ..........................................519 Emperor angelfish ........................................401 Emperor red snapper ....................................284 Englishman seabream ...................................311 Epaulette surgeonfish ....................................584 Eritrean butterflyfish......................................378 Eschemeyer’s scorpionfish ............................174 Evileye blassop .............................................648 Exquisite wrasse ...........................................465 Eyebar goby ..................................................560 Eyestripe surgeonfish ....................................580

F Fairy wrasse ..................................................464 False cleanerfish ...........................................532 False-eye sergeant.........................................415 False fusilier..................................................286 False stonefish ..............................................177 Filamented sand goby ...................................559 Filament-finned prawn-goby ..................................................563 Filamentous blenny ......................................533 Fimbriated moray ...........................................65 Fingered dragonet ...........................................86

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of English names

695

Finless sole ...................................................615 Finstripe goatfish ..........................................350 Fire goby ......................................................544 Fivefinger wrasse ..........................................503 Five-lined cardinalfish ..................................254 Fivelined coral goby .....................................560 Five-lined snapper ........................................283 Fivesaddle parrotfish ....................................520 Flagtail rockcod ............................................206 Flagtail shrimpgoby ......................................553 Flagtail triggerfish .........................................628 Flame anthias ...............................................193 Flasher scorpionfish ......................................176 Flashlight fish ...............................................126 Flat needlefish ................................................96 Fleurieu’s cardinalfish ...................................248 Floral blenny ................................................537 Flowery flounder ..........................................617 Footballer demoiselle ...................................423 Forktail rabbitfish .........................................596 Foursaddle grouper .......................................218 Foxface .........................................................601 Fransmadam .................................................310 Freckled goatfish...........................................350 Frostback cod ...............................................209 Fusilier damselfish ........................................426

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

G Gaimard’s wrasse..........................................473 Galjoen ........................................................133 Geometric moray............................................66 German seabream ........................................316 Ghost cardinalfish ........................................251 Ghost pipefish ..............................................160 Giant fusilier.................................................291 Giant grouper ...............................................213 Giant guitarfish ...............................................48 Giant manta ...................................................58 Giant moray ...................................................66 Giant thicklip ...............................................299 Giant trevally................................................263 Gilded triggerfish .........................................629 Girdled goby ................................................563 Glasseye .......................................................119 Glassfish .......................................................140 Globehead parrotfish ...................................517 Goatsbeard brotula .........................................79 Gobbleguts ...................................................250 Goby - undetermined ..................................566 Goldbar wrasse ............................................500 Goldbelly damsel .........................................431 Golden butterflyfish ......................................367 Golden damselfish........................................417 Goldengirdled coralfish ................................384 Golden hind .................................................201 Golden-lined spine foot ................................598

Golden-spot hogfish .....................................460 Golden sweeper ...........................................131 Golden trevally.............................................266 Goldlined seabream .....................................318 Goldribbon soapfish .....................................227 Goldsaddle goatfish .....................................345 Goldspotted rabbitfish ..................................599 Gold-streaked prawn-goby ...........................557 Goldtail angelfish .........................................400 Gorgeous prawn-goby ..................................552 Gracile lizardfish ............................................82 Grayspotted guitarfish .....................................49 Greasy grouper .............................................219 Great barracuda ...........................................441 Great white shark ..........................................34 Green birdmouth wrasse .............................475 Green humphead parrotfish .........................508 Green jobfish................................................276 Grey demoiselle ...........................................423 Grey large-eye bream ...................................323 Grey reef shark ...............................................39 Guam scorpionfish .......................................175 Guineafowl puffer ........................................651 Gulf gurnard perch .......................................169 Gummy shark .................................................38

H Hairfinned leatherjacket ...............................634 Half-banded goby.........................................554 Halfmoon grouper .......................................217 Halimeda or algae ghost pipefish..................160 Handover lionfish ........................................171 Hardyhead silverside ......................................92 Harlequin filefish ..........................................633 Harlequin fish...............................................221 Harlequin ghost pipefish...............................161 Harlequin goldie ..........................................191 Harlequin hind ............................................204 Harlequin prawn-goby..................................555 Harlequin sweetlips .....................................300 Harlequin tuskfish ........................................464 Harry hotlips ...............................................301 Hartzfeld’s cardinalfish .................................249 Hawk anthias ...............................................197 Heavybeak parrotfish ...................................516 Hector’s goby ...............................................553 Herring cale .................................................504 Herring scad .................................................260 Highcrest triplefin .........................................567 Highfin coralfish ...........................................383 High-hat triplefin ..........................................567 Honeycomb grouper ....................................215 Honeycomb moray .........................................64 Honeycomb stingray.......................................54 Honeycomb toby..........................................654 Hookjaw moray ..............................................62

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 696 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Horned bannerfish........................................389 Hornlip mullet ................................................94 Horn-nosed boxfish ......................................643 Horse mackerel ............................................272 Horseshoe leatherjacket ...............................633 Horseshoe shrimpgoby .................................550 Hottentot ......................................................315 Hound needlefish ...........................................97 Humpback grouper ......................................207 Humpback red snapper ...............................281 Humpback scorpionfish................................177 Humpback unicornfish ................................575 Humphead wrasse ........................................463 Humpnose big-eye bream ............................330 Humpnose unicornfish .................................579

I Immaculate puffer ........................................650 Indian butterflyfish........................................380 Indian damsel ...............................................431 Indian damselfish .........................................417 Indian goatfish ..............................................348 Indian mackerel............................................606 Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish ..................585 Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips ...................306 Indian Ocean steephead parrotfish ..............521 Indian Sailfin tang ........................................590 Indian triggerfish...........................................623 Indian vagabond butterflyfish .......................371 Indo-Pacific blue marlin ...............................610 Indo-Pacific sailfish .......................................609 Indo-Pacific sergeant ....................................416 Iridescent cardinalfish...................................249 Island trevally ...............................................263

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

J Janbruin........................................................314 Jansen’s wrasse .............................................499 Japanese meagre...........................................136 Japan surgeonfish .........................................581 Jewelled wrasse ............................................480 Johnston Island damsel .................................430 Jordan’s damselfish .......................................437 Jutjaw ...........................................................100

K Kanadi kingfish .............................................607 Kawakawa ....................................................605 Keyhole Angelfish .........................................396 Klunzinger’s wrasse ......................................501 Knife-back seabream ....................................316 Knysna seahorse ...........................................153

L Laced moray ...................................................65 Lachner’s tonguesole ....................................616 Ladyfish ........................................................141 Lampfish.......................................................129 Lance blenny ...............................................532 Largescale triggerfish ....................................622 Large-toothed cardinalfish ...........................254 Large whip goby ...........................................554 Lattice butterflyfish .......................................374 Latticed sandperch .......................................523 Lattice soldierfish..........................................112 Leaf scorpionfish ..........................................180 Leafy seadragon............................................158 Leather jacket ...............................................636 Leatherjacket ................................................630 Lemon damsel ..............................................432 Lemonpeel angelfish.....................................395 Lemon sweetlips ..........................................299 Leopard blenny ............................................535 Leopard catshark ............................................38 Leopard coralgrouper ...................................222 Leopard flounder ..........................................617 Leopard hind ................................................203 Leopard moray eel ..........................................62 Lesser guitarfish ..............................................48 Lesser thrush eel .............................................75 Lesson’s thicklip............................................302 Lined blenny ................................................534 Lined butterflyfish .........................................373 Lined surgeonfish .........................................582 Lined wrasse.................................................453 Little maori ...................................................460 Live sharksucker ...........................................123 Longbarbel goatfish ......................................347 Longface emperor.........................................328 Longfin African conger ...................................72 Longfin grouper ............................................217 Longfin pike .................................................140 Longfin trevally.............................................261 Longhorn cowfish .........................................640 Longnose butterflyfish...................................385 Longnose hawkfish .......................................241 Longnose trevally .........................................261 Long-rayed sand diver ..................................528 Long-snout boarfish ......................................138 Long-snout flathead ........................................86 Longsnout stinger .........................................167 Longspine grouper ........................................213 Long-spine porcupinefish .............................660 Longspine snipefish ......................................149 Longtail silverbiddy ......................................130 Lowfin scorpionfish ......................................175 Lunar fusilier ................................................291 Lunartail snapper ..........................................287 Lyretail hogfish ............................................455

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of English names

697

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

M

Musselcracker ..............................................319

Mackerel scad ..............................................266 Madagascar anemonefish .............................411 Madagascar butterflyfish ...............................378 Magpie morwong .........................................448 Maiden goby ................................................564 Malabar grouper ..........................................214 Maldives anemonefish ..................................411 Mandarin fish .................................................87 Mangrove red snapper ..................................277 Manybar goatfish ..........................................348 Many-lined sweetlips ....................................302 Maori wrasse ................................................490 Map puffer....................................................651 Marbled coralgrouper ...................................223 Marbled electric ray........................................51 Marbled parrotfish ........................................513 Marbled snake eel ..........................................70 Marginate dascyllus ......................................425 Margined Coralfish .......................................383 Marr’s fusilier ................................................293 Mascareign flagtail .........................................95 Mascarene hawkfish .....................................239 Mascarene yellow-brown wrasse ..................499 Masked bannerfish .......................................389 Masked grouper ...........................................220 Masked puffer...............................................649 Masked rabbitfish .........................................598 Masked shrimpgoby .....................................551 Mauritian anemonefish .................................409 Mauritian gregory .........................................437 Mauritius dartfish..........................................546 Mauritius dwarf wrasse .................................466 McCulloch’s scalyfin.....................................428 Melbourne silver belly ..................................130 Melon butterflyfish .......................................382 Mental wrasse ..............................................492 Michel’s ghost goby ......................................562 Midas blenny................................................535 Midget flathead ..............................................84 Midnight snapper ........................................285 Mimic filefish ...............................................634 Mimic goatfish..............................................342 Minstrel sweetlip ..........................................305 Miry’s demoiselle .........................................428 Monogrammed monocle bream ...................337 Moonlighter..................................................354 Moontail bullseye .........................................120 Moon wrasse ...............................................499 Moorish idol .................................................592 Mosaic leatherjacket.....................................632 Mottled cardinalfish......................................255 Mouthfin squirrelfish ....................................113 Mozambique scorpionfish ............................169 Multibarred angelfish....................................397

N Nalolo ..........................................................535 Napoleon snake eel ........................................71 Narrowbarred Spanish mackerel ...................607 Natal fingerfin ..............................................447 Natal knifejaw ..............................................357 Natal toby ....................................................654 Natal wrasse .................................................454 Nebulous wrasse ..........................................480 Necklace carpetshark .....................................33 Network pipefish ..........................................155

O Oblique-barred monocle bream ...................339 Oceanic triggerfish .......................................623 Oceanic whitetip shark...................................42 Ocellated flounder .......................................617 Old wife .......................................................134 Old woman angelfish ...................................400 Olive grunt ...................................................307 One-lined wrasse .........................................485 Onespot snapper ..........................................282 Onespot wormfish ........................................545 Orange and black dragonet ............................87 Orangeback angelfish ...................................394 Orange-barred pufferfish ..............................657 Orange clownfish .........................................413 Orange goatfish ............................................343 Orange-lined bullseye ..................................132 Orangelined cardinalfish .............................253 Orange-lined triggerfish ................................620 Orangespot surgeonfish ................................584 Orange-spotted blenny .................................533 Orange-spotted emperor ..............................324 Orange-spotted grouper................................210 Orange-spotted rabbitfish .............................597 Orange spotted trevally ................................261 Orange-spotted Wrasse.................................489 Orange-striped emperor ..............................328 Orangetail filefish .........................................636 Orbicular batfish ..........................................360 Orbiculate burrfish .......................................658 Orchid dottyback..........................................235 Oriental flying gurnard .................................127 Oriental maori wrasse ..................................492 Oriental sweetlips ........................................303 Ornate butterflyfish.......................................381 Ornate prawn-goby ......................................566 Ornate wobbegong ........................................32 Ornate Wrasse ..............................................488 Oval moony ...................................................99 Oval-spot butterflyfish ..................................375 Oxeye scad ..................................................268 Oxeye tarpon ...............................................141

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 698 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

P Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish ................372 Pacific gregory ..............................................435 Pacific sailfin tang .........................................591 Pacific triangular butterflyfish .......................368 Paddlefin triggerfish ......................................624 Paddlefish cardinalfish ..................................255 Paeony bulleye .............................................120 Painted sweetlip ...........................................303 Pale-barred coris ...........................................471 Palelipped surgeonfish ..................................582 Paletail damsel .............................................434 Palette surgeonfish ........................................589 Panga ...........................................................317 Panther electric ray .........................................50 Papillose flathead ...........................................85 Pastel ringwrasse ..........................................485 Peacock hind ................................................201 Peacock sole.................................................615 Peacock wrasse ...........................................502 Pearly monocle bream ..................................337 Pearly-scale dwarf-angelfish .........................397 Pearly sergeant .............................................414 Pelagic stingray ...............................................53 Pelagic thresher shark .....................................36 Pelicier’s anthias ...........................................190 Pelicier’s wrasse ............................................481 Pemba chromis ............................................422 Pencil weed whiting .....................................504 Pennant coralfish ..........................................386 Peppered butterflyfish ..................................376 Periophthalma prawn-goby ...........................551 Peters’ monocle bream .................................334 Phantom bannerfish......................................388 Philippine butterflyfish..................................366 Philippine damsel .........................................433 Phoenix devil ...............................................430 Piano fangblenny..........................................538 Picasso triggerfish .........................................625 Picasso triggerfish ........................................626 Pickhandle barracuda ...................................442 Pigmy pipehorse ...........................................152 Pilotfish ........................................................267 Pinecone fish ................................................126 Pinecone soldierfish .....................................111 Pink anemonefish .........................................412 Pinkbar goby ................................................550 Pink ear emperor ..........................................325 Pinkspotted shrimpgoby ...............................556 Pink whipray ..................................................54 Pipehorse .....................................................152 Pointed-nose stingray ......................................54 Poison goby ..................................................560 Pompano dolphinfish....................................609 Poos scorpionfish..........................................178

Port Jackson shark...........................................33 Potato grouper ..............................................219 Powderblue surgeonfish................................582 Prawn-goby ..................................................558 Puffadder shyshark .........................................36 Purple anthias...............................................197 Purple tuskfish ..............................................467 Pygmy leatherjacket .....................................630 Pygmy seahorse ...........................................159 Pyramid butterflyfish.....................................386

Q Quakerfish....................................................125 Queen coris .................................................472 Quoy’s parrotfish ..........................................516

R Raccoon butterflyfish ....................................375 Raggy scorpionfish .......................................179 Rainbow runner............................................266 Rainbow wrasse ..........................................479 Randall’s shrimpgoby....................................552 Razorfish ......................................................148 Red-bar anthias ...........................................191 Redbarred hawkfish ......................................240 Redbarred parrotfish ....................................513 Redbarred sandperch ....................................526 Redbelly yellowtail fusilier ...........................290 Redbreasted wrasse ......................................462 Redbreast wrasse ..........................................461 Red-cheek wrasse ........................................498 Redcoat squirrelfish ......................................115 Redfin anthias...............................................192 Redfingers ....................................................446 Red-lined wrasse ..........................................477 Red lionfish ..................................................173 Redmouth grouper........................................200 Red Sea bannerfish .......................................388 Red Sea coralgrouper ...................................222 Red Sea goatfish ...........................................347 Red Sea half-beak ...........................................98 Red Sea houndfish ..........................................97 Red Sea longnose filefish ..............................634 Red Sea mimetic blenny ...............................534 Red Sea pipefish ...........................................156 Red shoulder wrasse .....................................497 Redskinfish ...................................................181 Redspot cardinalfish .....................................247 Redspot wrasse ............................................495 Red steenbras ...............................................315 Redstriped basslet .........................................220 Red stumpnose .............................................311 Redtail butterflyfish.......................................370 Redtooth triggerfish ......................................624 Reef-flat cardinalfish .....................................251 Reef manta ray................................................59

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of English names

699

Regal demoiselle ..........................................428 Resplendent goldie ......................................195 Reticulate boxfish .........................................642 Reticulated butterflyfish ................................375 Reticulated dascyllus ....................................425 Reticulated sandperch ..................................527 Reunion seahorse .........................................153 Rhino leatherjacket.......................................635 Ribboned sweetlips ......................................305 Ribbon moray .................................................69 Richardson’s reef-damsel ..............................434 Ringed pipefish.............................................157 Ringed toadfish.............................................656 Ring-eyed pyjama goby ................................564 Ring-tailed cardinalfish .................................246 Ring wrasse .................................................484 Rippled rockskipper......................................536 Rivulated rabbitfish .......................................599 Robust tuskfish .............................................467 Rockmover wrasse .......................................489 Rolland’s demoiselle .....................................423 Roman seabream ..........................................312 Rough bullseye .............................................132 Rough gurnard perch ....................................169 Roughskin trunkfish .....................................642 Roughsnout ghost pipefish ............................161 Roundjaw bonefish.......................................135 Royal angelfish ............................................404 Royal dottyback ............................................234 Ruff ..............................................................273 Russell’s snapper ..........................................284 Rusty jobfish .................................................276 Rusty parrotfish.............................................514

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

S Sabre squirrelfish ..........................................116 Saddle anemonefish .....................................410 Saddleback clownfish ...................................412 Saddle butterflyfish .......................................371 Sailfin catfish ..................................................78 Sailfin flying fish .............................................92 Sailfin rubberlip ...........................................298 Salema .........................................................319 Sammara squirrelfish ....................................113 Samurai squirrelfish ......................................115 Sand lizardfish ................................................82 Sand steenbras..............................................314 Sand tiger shark ..............................................34 Sapphire damsel ...........................................432 Sardine or pilchard .........................................93 Sargassum frogfish ........................................105 Saw-jawed monocle bream ..........................336 Sawtooth barracuda ......................................442 Scalloped hammerhead ..................................45 Scaly chromis ...............................................420 Schooling bannerfish ....................................387

Schultz’s pipefish ..........................................156 Scissortail sergeant .......................................415 Scrawled butterflyfish ..................................380 Scribbled angelfish .......................................397 Sea goldie.....................................................196 Sea sweep ....................................................138 Seba’s anemonefish ......................................413 Seebree’s pygmy goby ..................................559 Semicircle angelfish .....................................402 Senator wrasse..............................................493 Sevengill cowshark .........................................31 Seventy-four .................................................316 Seychelles anemonefish................................410 Shadowfin soldierfish ...................................110 Sharpfin barracuda .......................................440 Sharpnose guitarfish .......................................48 Sharpnose puffer...........................................653 Shaw’s cowfish .............................................644 Shoemaker rabbitfish ....................................600 Short-bodied pipefish ...................................155 Short dragonfish ...........................................162 Shortfin mako .................................................35 Shortfin puffer...............................................657 Shortfin turkeyfish.........................................166 Shorthead sabretooth blenny ........................537 Shorttail stingray .............................................52 Short-tooth cardinal ......................................246 Shy toby .......................................................655 Sicklefin lemon shark .....................................43 Sicklefin parrotfish ........................................514 Sidespot goatfish...........................................349 Silky shark ......................................................41 Silver moony ..................................................99 Silverspot shrimpgoby ..................................557 Silverspot squirrelfish....................................114 Silver sweeper ..............................................133 Silver sweetlips .............................................299 Silvertip shark .................................................39 Silvery conger.................................................72 Similar damsel ..............................................433 Singapore parrotfish......................................517 Single-spined unicornfish .............................578 Singular bannerfish .......................................389 Sixbar angelfish ............................................403 Sixbar wrasse................................................498 Sixblotch hind ..............................................205 Sixgill hagfish ...............................................142 Sixline soapfish.............................................229 Sixline wrasse ...............................................493 Sixpine butterflyfish ......................................384 Six-pine leatherjacket ...................................632 Sixspot goby ................................................565 Skipjack tuna ...............................................606 Skunk clownfish ..........................................408 Sky emperor ................................................326 Slate sweetlips ..............................................298

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 700 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Sleek unicornfish ..........................................577 Slender bulleye.............................................131 Slender emperor ...........................................329 Slender grouper ............................................200 Slender unicorn ...........................................578 Slinger seabream ..........................................312 Slingjaw wrasse ...........................................474 Smallspotted dart ..........................................270 Small toothed jobfish ....................................276 Smalltooth emperor ......................................326 Smiling shrimpgoby ......................................562 Smith’s venomous blenny .............................537 Smooth grouper ............................................207 Smooth razorfish ..........................................149 Smoothtail mobula .........................................58 Snake blenny ................................................539 Snakefish ........................................................83 Snowflake moray ............................................62 Snowflake soapfish .......................................229 Snubnose emperor........................................323 Snubnose grouper ........................................214 Snubnose pompano ......................................271 Snyder’s grubfish...........................................527 Social wrasse ................................................466 Sohal surgeonfish .........................................586 Sordid rubberlip ...........................................305 South African drum ......................................137 Southern eagle ray ..........................................57 Southern fiddler ..............................................49 Southern goatfish ..........................................351 Southern silver drummer ..............................356 Southern yellowtail scad ...............................271 Spangled emperor ........................................327 Spanishflag snapper ......................................279 Speckled maori wrasse .................................490 Speckled sandperch .....................................524 Spectacled filefish.........................................631 Spider-eye puffer ..........................................653 Spineblotch scorpionfish ..............................179 Spinecheek anemonefish ..............................413 Spiny chromis ...............................................416 Spiny-eye cardinalfish ..................................248 Spinytooth parrotfish ....................................509 Spiny waspfish ..............................................181 Splendid garden eel ........................................73 Splitlevel hogfish ..........................................457 Spotband butterflyfish ...................................377 Spotcheek emperor.......................................329 Spot-fin porcupinefish ..................................659 Spotfin shrimpgoby.......................................557 Spottail coris.................................................469 Spotted burrfish ............................................658 Spotted coralgrouper ....................................222 Spotted croucher ..........................................128 Spotted eagle ray ............................................56 Spotted garden eel ..........................................74

Spotted hawkfish ..........................................238 Spotted pygmy goby .....................................558 Spotted sand diver ........................................528 Spotted seahorse...........................................154 Spotted seahorse...........................................155 Spotted sharpnose ........................................655 Spotted shrimpfish ........................................147 Spotted shrimpgoby ......................................550 Spotted sillago ..............................................139 Spotted soapfish ...........................................229 Spottedtail hawkfish .....................................238 Spotted tang .................................................589 Spotted tang .................................................590 Spotted unicornfish ......................................576 Spotted wrasse .............................................453 Spotwing flying gurnard................................127 Squarespot anthias .......................................194 Squaretail grouper ........................................208 Squaretail rabbitfish ......................................598 Stap-weed filefish .........................................635 Starry moray ...................................................68 Starry rabbitfish ............................................597 Starry toadfish...............................................652 Starry triggerfish............................................620 Starspotted grouper.......................................212 Steinitz’ prawn-goby .....................................552 Stellate dragonet .............................................88 Stocky hawkfish ............................................240 Stonefish.......................................................185 Stout chromis ..............................................419 Strawberry hind ............................................205 Streaked rabbitfish ........................................597 Striated frogfish.............................................104 Striated fusilier..............................................291 Striated surgeonfish ......................................588 Striated wrasse..............................................493 Striped catshark ..............................................37 Striped eel catfish ...........................................78 Striped goldie ...............................................195 Striped grunter ..............................................307 Striped large-eye bream ................................322 Striped monocle bream ................................337 Striped puffer ................................................650 Striped triplefin .............................................568 Striped whiptail ............................................334 Suez fusilier ..................................................292 Sulphur damsel.............................................434 Summan grouper ..........................................218 Sunburst butterflyfish ....................................378 Sunrise dottyback .........................................234 Super klipfish................................................319 Swallowtail cardinalfish ................................256 Swallowtail hawkfish ....................................240 Swarthy-headed goatfish ...............................343 Sweetlip emperor .........................................327 Swordfish .....................................................610

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of English names

701

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

T Tail-spot butterflyfish ....................................373 Talang queenfish...........................................268 Target shrimp goby .......................................556 Tarry hogfish ................................................457 Tassled scorpionfish ......................................177 Tawny nurse shark ..........................................32 Teardrop butterflyfish ....................................377 Tentacled flathead ..........................................84 Ternate chromis ............................................420 Thomson’s surgeonfish..................................585 Thornback cowfish .......................................640 Thorny seahorse ...........................................154 Threadfin ......................................................136 Threadfin anthias ..........................................190 Threadfin butterflyfish ..................................367 Threadfin Dartgoby.......................................546 Threadfin or redcheek anthias.......................193 Threadfin pearl-perch ...................................139 Threeband pennantfish .................................387 Threeblotched rabbitfish ...............................601 Three-blotch wrasse .....................................483 Threespot angelfish ......................................392 Threespot dascyllus ......................................426 Threespot goatfish.........................................345 Three-spot righteye flounder .........................614 Threespot squirrelfish....................................114 Three-spot wrasse .........................................482 Three-stripe fusilier .......................................294 Thumbprint emperor.....................................325 Thumbprint monocle bream .........................335 Tiera batfish .................................................362 Tiger angelfish ..............................................392 Tiger cardinalfish ..........................................253 Tiger grouper ................................................208 Tiger reef-eel ..................................................68 Tiger shark ......................................................43 Tiger snake eel................................................70 Tille trevally ..................................................265 Titan triggerfish .............................................621 Tomato hind .................................................205 Toothy goby ..................................................562 Torpedo scad ................................................267 Torpedo wrasse.............................................495 Triangle butterflyfish .....................................381 Tricolour parrotfish .......................................521 Tripletail .......................................................230 Tripletail wrasse ...........................................462 Trout cod ......................................................214 Truncated surgeonfish...................................589 Turkey moray ..................................................67 Twinspot hawkfish ........................................238 Twin-spotted shrimp-goby ............................565 Twoband anemonefish..................................409 Twobar anemonefish ....................................408

Two-bar cardinalfish .....................................250 Twobar seabream .........................................310 Two-eyed coralfish .......................................384 Two-lined monocle bream ............................335 Twospined angelfish .....................................394 Two-spot banded snapper ............................277 Two-spot red snapper ..................................278 Twospot surgeonfish .....................................588 Twospot turkeyfish ........................................166 Two-spot wrasse ...........................................490 Two-stick stingfish ........................................168 Twostripe featherstar clingfish .......................569 Twostripe goby .............................................564 Two-tone fingerfin ........................................446 Two-tone wrasse ...........................................481 Two yellow-band wrasse ..............................494

U Undulated moray............................................68 Unicorn leatherfish .......................................629 Unknown damsel .........................................435 Unknown dragonet.........................................88

V Vagabond butterflyfish ..................................371 Valentin’s sharpnose puffer ...........................656 Vanikoro sweeper .........................................133 Variable-lined fusilier ...................................292 Variegated lizardfish .......................................82 Variegated wrasse .........................................473 Vermiculated angel fish ................................398 Vermiculate wrasse ......................................487 Victorian cardinalfish ...................................252 Victorian scalyfin ..........................................429 Viper moray ...................................................63 Viridescent parrotfish ....................................510

W Wahoo .........................................................604 Waigieu seaperch .........................................135 Wavy grubfish ..............................................524 Weber’s chromis ...........................................422 Wedge-tail triggerfish ...................................627 Weedy scorpionfish ......................................174 Weedy seadragon .........................................158 Weeping toado .............................................657 Western cleaner clingfish .............................569 Western footballeur ......................................354 Western smooth boxfish ...............................643 Whale shark ..................................................30 Whip coral goby ...........................................555 White baggar ..................................................77 Whiteband pygmy wrasse .............................501 White-barred boxfish ....................................644 Whitebarred rubberlip ..................................304

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, 702 Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

Whitebelly wrasse ........................................480 White-blotched grouper ...............................216 Whitecap goby ............................................561 Whitecheek monocle bream.........................338 Whitecheek surgeonfish ...............................583 White-dotted maori ......................................461 White-edged lyretail .....................................223 White-face butterflyfish ................................379 White-lined lionfish ......................................173 White-margined moray ...................................63 Whitemargin stargazer..................................186 White-margin unicornfish .............................575 Whitemouth jack ..........................................272 Whitesaddle goatfish ....................................344 White scythe anthias ....................................190 Whitespot hawkfish ......................................242 Whitespotted boxfish ....................................641 Whitespotted devil .......................................430 Whitespotted filefish .....................................631 Whitespotted garden eel .................................73 Whitespotted grouper ...................................210 White-spotted puffer .....................................650 Whitespotted surgeonfish .............................581 White steenbras ............................................314 White-streaked grouper ................................216 White strumpnose ........................................317 Whitetail chromis .........................................421 Whitetail damsel ..........................................431 Whitetail dascyllus ......................................424 Whitetip reef shark .........................................44 Whitetip soldierfish ......................................112 Whitetongue jack .........................................273 White trevally ...............................................267 Wide-barred shrimpgoby ..............................551 Wirenet filefish .............................................631 Wispy waspfish.............................................182 Wolf cardinalfish ..........................................253

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Y Yank flathead ..................................................85 Y-bar shrimp goby.........................................556 Yellow and blueback fusilier .........................292 Yellowback anthias ......................................192 Yellowback fusilier .......................................293 Yellowback threefin ......................................567 Yellowback tubelip .......................................487 Yellowbanded sweetlips ...............................302 Yellowband parrotfish ...................................520 Yellowbar angelfish ......................................399 Yellowbar sandperch ....................................528 Yellowbelly damselfish .................................418 Yellowbelly grouper......................................215 Yellowblotch razorfish ..................................503

Yellow boxfish ..............................................640 Yellowbreasted wrasse .................................454 Yellow-brown wrasse ....................................500 Yellow-edged lyretail ....................................224 Yellow-edged moray .......................................65 Yellowface angelfish .....................................404 Yellowface soapfish ......................................228 Yellowfin damsel ..........................................417 Yellowfin goatfish .........................................343 Yellowfin hind ..............................................203 Yellowfin soldierfish .....................................111 Yellowfin surgeonfish....................................587 Yellowfin tuna ..............................................607 Yellowhead butterflyfish ...............................372 Yellowhead hulafish .....................................129 Yellow hogfish ..............................................456 Yellowmargin triggerfish ...............................622 Yellow nose scorpionfish ..............................176 Yellowspotted burrfish ..................................659 Yellowspotted scorpionfish ...........................179 Yellow spotted trevally ..................................262 Yellowstreaked snapper ................................281 Yellowstriped cardinalfish .............................247 Yellow striped goatfish ..................................344 Yellow-striped leatherjacket ..........................632 Yellowstriped squirrelfish ..............................113 Yellowstripe goatfish ....................................342 Yellowstripe monocle bream ........................335 Yellowtail amberjack ....................................269 Yellowtail angelfish.......................................393 Yellowtail barracuda .....................................440 Yellowtail blue snapper ................................286 Yellowtail clownfish .....................................410 Yellowtail demoiselle....................................427 Yellow-tailed emperor ..................................323 Yellowtail emperor .......................................324 Yellowtail sergeant........................................414 Yellowtail tang ..............................................592 Yellowtail tubelip..........................................474 Yellow teardrop butterflyfish .........................377 Yellow-tipped squirrelfish .............................116

Z Zebra............................................................313 Zebra angelfish ............................................398 Zebra cardinalfish.........................................252 Zebra dartgoby .............................................547 Zebra fish .....................................................353 Zebra moray ...................................................63 Zebra shark ....................................................31 Zebra turkeyfish............................................166 Zigzag wrasse ..............................................482 Zoster wrasse................................................468

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, Index http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

of English names

703

Photo credits Cover: Alain Diringer, Marc Taquet All photographs presented in this book were taken by Alain Diringer and Marc Taquet, with the exception of the following illustrations Salem Atoui: Rhincodon typus, p. 30, Phyllopterus taeniolatus, p. 158, Lobotes surinamensis, p. 230, Plectorhinchus albovittatus, p. 299, Centropyge debelius, p. 395 Alain Barère: Xiphasia setifer, p. 539 Laurent Bèche: Carcharhinus longimanus, p. 28 Thierry Brulé: Antennarius striatus, p. 104, Solenostomus halimeda, p. 160, Solenostomus paradoxus, p. 161, Inimicus caledonicus, p. 167, Ablabys macracanthus, p. 181, Parapercis snyderi, p. 527 Olivier Dugornay: flying fish, p. 90 Henri Eskenazi: Cacharias taurus, p. 34 Bernard Kirchhofer: Pisonophus cancrivorus, p. 71, Dactyloptena macracanthus, p. 127, Hippocampus taeniopterus, p. 155, Parapterois heterura, p. 170, Parapterois kodingi, p. 172, Paracentropogon longispinis, p. 182, Apogon hartzfield, p. 249, Ambligobius phalaena, p. 553, Cryptocentrus leptocephalus, p. 556 Éric Lancelot: humpback whales, p. 668 Pierre Larue: Cacharodon carcharias, p. 34, 35 Johann Mourrier: Manta alfredi, p. 59, Manta birostris, p. 58 Bruno Navarro: Dasyatis brevicauda, p. 52, Lotilia graciliosa, p. 561 Johannes Schwabe: Cirrhitichthys aprinus, p. 238. Hugues Vitry: Rhincodon typus, p. 30, Alopias pelagicus, p. 36, Gymnothorax permistus, p. 65, Ophichthus bonaparti, p. 71, Albula glossodonta, p. 135, Rhinopias eschemeyeri, p. 174, Ablabys binotatus, p. 181, Plectranthias inermis, p. 190, Plectranthias pelicieri, p. 190, Liopropoma tonstrinum, p. 200, Cromileptes altiveli, p. 207, Epinephelus lanceolatus, p. 213, Cirrilabrus sanguineus, p. 446, Wetmorella albofasciata, p. 501, Bolbometopon muricatum, p. 508 Naso tuberosus, p. 579, Acanthurus japonicus, p. 581, Istiophorus platypterus, p. 609, Makaira nigriscans, p. 610, Meichthys niger, p. 623

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

The authors warmly thank their underwater photographer friends for their contribution to the photo credits of this guide. Water colours and drawings Alain Diringer Editing and corrections Nelly Courtay Design and layout Laurence Rodriguez and DESK (53) – www.desk53.com.fr Colour correction NOIR ÉBÈNE, Montpellier

Registration of copyright December 2012 Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

This guidebook is illustrated with over 1,800 underwater photographs and presents nearly 1,200 species of fish encountered while diving in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, from the surface down to depths of 60 metres. Designed to make it easier to recognize fish in their natural environment, the guidebook supplies information about the morphology, biology and ecology of the species and enables the reader to discover the extraordinary biodiversity characterizing ichthyological fauna in this region. A reference work for those keen on the subsea world, especially divers, it will also interest a wide range of readers who are simply curious about nature and its treasures. Forewords by Jack Randall and Jean-Claude Quéro. Translated by Janet Heard-Carnot

Marc Taquet, PhD in oceanology and specialized in tropical ichthyo-ecology, is Director of the Ifremer Pacific centre. He is also a diving instructor, and underwater photographer and cameraman.

Copyright © 2012. Quae. All rights reserved.

Alain Diringer is an underwater photographer and illustrator in Reunion Island. He has collected every image and piece of information about fauna in the Indian Ocean for the past thirty years.

57 € ISBN : 978-2-7592-1889-9

Éditions Cirad, Ifremer, Inra, Irstea

Taquet, Marc, and Alain Diringer. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Quae, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, www.quae.com http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stmartinsu/detail.action?docID=3398877. Created from stmartinsu on 2020-11-13 10:38:11.

ISSN : 1952-2770 Réf. : 02357NUM