ANGEL FISH

There are over 70 different species of Angelfish found in warm ocean waters around much of the world, a few species are from fresh water. Angelfish belong to the family Pomacanthus. These brightly-coloured, flattened body fish live in coral reefs in tropical seas and shallow subtropical waters. Angelfish reproduce by laying hundreds of eggs at a time. The first gill cover has a spine (pre-opercula) and this can help distinguish Angelfish from the closely-related butterfly fish. Most species of Angelfish are herbivores (plant-eaters)

Angelfish:up to about 25cm

The Emperor Angelfish is a meat-eater (carnivore), eating coral heads, small invertebrates (e.g., sponges and worms), and crustaceans (e.g., shrimp and shellfish). They can crush hard-shelled prey with their powerful, beak-like jaws

Arabian

Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)

The barracuda feeds on a wide variety of fishes. It frequently drifts just below the surface and is known to approach divers at very close range. It has a longer lower jaw and some very fierce looking teeth, Attacks on divers are very rare but have been reported in cloudy water and when the victim is wearing bright diving gear.Juvenile barracuda are normally in shoals, adults are usually solitary or in pairs. They can grow to about 190cm.

Bengal Snapper

Bigeye Emperor (Monotaxis grandoculis)

The bulging eyes are a dead giveaway for this fish. It is a little smaller than other emperors and can be found in schools close to the reef. They can grow to about 60cm.

Black Spotted Sweet lips (Plectorhynchus gaterinus)

There are easily recognisable, they have thick lips, yellow tail and back and back spots. They are rather shy and not so easy to photograph. They grow up to about 45cm.They feed at night on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. The juveniles of Black spotted sweetlips have 6 black lines on their heads and bodies, these become spots with age. Other names include Rubberlips, Grunts.

Box

Bream

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly fish have a continuous dorsal (back) fin and they also have small, brush-like teeth. They can be distinguished from angel fish as they do not have the pre-opercula spine.

Masked Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon semilarvatus)

You generally see them in pairs or small groups. Once mated they become territorial and patrol their space aggressively. Pairs may remain together for life. They can grow to about 23 cm and are sometimes called the Golden Butterfly fish.

Striped Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon fasciatus)

It feeds on coral polyps, worms and crustaceans. It is very similar to the Racoon Butterfly fish and can grow to about 23cm.

Crown Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus)

These fish often seem to swim in pairs and usually turn their backs the moment a camera appears. It feeds on small invertebrates, algae and the polyps of corals and sea fans. This one was about 4 inches but they can grow to about 14cm. Also called the redback butterflyfish. The smaller fish at the bottom right of the picture is called a two tone damsel fish and these are very common.

Pennant Fish (Heniochus intermedius)

Pennant fish can grow to about 20cm long and they can be found in the warm waters of many oceans in the world.When they are small they usually live alone and may sometimes pick on parasites on the epidermis of other fish, but when they grow up they tend to live in couples and feed on plants. Also called Bannerfish

Moorish Idol

Cardinal Fish

CLOWN FISH

Red Sea Anemone fish (Amphiprion bicinctus)

They have a symbiotic relationship with the anemone, they use the stinging tentacles of the sea anemone for protection. In fact they are so dependant on this that you will never one without a host anemone. If a predator approaches the anemone fish will retreat into the tentacles and any predators will get stung by the anemone's stinging cells. It is thought that the anemone fish themselves are protected by a coat of mucous. The fish in turn will also protect the anemone by attacking any threats, small or large. There are over 1,000 species of sea anemones, of which only ten are host to anemone fishes and there are about 28 species of anemone fishes.