TROPICAL

REEF FISHES
OF THE
PHILIPPINES
 TROPICAL REEF FISHES OF THE
PHILIPPINES

Leopard Shark Blacktip Reef Shark

Stegostoma fasciatum Carcharhinus melanopterus

Distinguished by a whisker or “barbel” at Most commonly seen sharks in

each corner of the mouth, prominent the Indo-Pacific region. It prefers
ridges on the side of the body and a shallow water close to shore,
huge tail, which makes up about one-half often on reef flats as shallow as
of its total length. 30 cm.
Silvertip Shark Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus Sphyrna lewini

The odd head shape typical of this

It is a dangerous species that is known family of sharks believe it serves a
to attack humans. It has the habit of twofold purpose on increasing
passing uncomfortably close to divers maneuravibility and enhancing
should they enter its territory. Its normal sensory capabilities. The head acts
food consists of a variety of fishes as a bowplane, allowing it to move
including wahoo, eagle rays, wrasses
swiftly through the water.
and tunas, also consume octopuses
and squids.
Manta Ray Ribbon Eel
Manta birostris Rhinomuraena quaesita

Manta rays are easily recognized The head is roughly cylindrical, its
by the pair of large protruding flaps body is thin and ribbon-like. It is
in front of the mouth, the lateral usually seen protruding its head and
eyes, large wing-like appendages up to about one-third of the body
(actually modified pectoral fins), length outside the burrow. With
lack of a tail spine (some may have enormously expanded nostrils,
a rudimentary spine) and the tiny which form a membraneous scoop-
dorsal fin at the base of the tail. like structure.
Giant Moray Striped Catfish

Gymnothorax javanicus Plotosus lineatus

They are commonly encountered

Growing to a length of at least 2.2 on coral reefs. Juveniles are
meters and 30 kg weight, it is the most seen. They typically form
largest moray eel living in the vast aggregations which contain up to
Indo-Pacific region. Its jaws are several hundred fish massed
equipped with numerous sharp fangs, tightly together, with individuals
which are normally used for capturing actually in contact with one
fishes or crustaceans. another.
Spotfin Squirrelfish
Sargocentron cornutum Trumpet fish
Aulostomus chinensis
They remain hidden deep in the
shadows of caves and crevices
Its peculiarities include an eleongate
during daylight hours. With red
body, tubular snout, and a small barbel
coloration, coarse scales and
or chin “whisker”. The color pattern is
large eyes, they have the ability to
largely greenish or brownish with
produced clearly audible “
diffuse pale stripes and bars, but it can
clicking” sounds, believed to
quickly change its colors to blend with
function as a form of
the surroundings. Their maximum
communication between
length is about 80 cm.
members of the school.
Smallscale Scorpionfish Leaf Scorpionfish
Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus Taenianotus triacanthus

They are masters of disguise. Their Like most scorpionfishes it is a

excellent camouflage blends clever camouflage artist. It feeds
exceptionally well with the surroundings. on small fishes and crustaceans.
The 30-cm-long Smallscale scorpionfish The species does well in an
is one of the larger coral reef-dwelling aquarium, but must be offered a
members of the family. Their usual food diet of live food.
consists of small fishes and crustaceans.
Red Firefish or Lionfish Flame Anthias
Pterios volitans Pseudanthias ignitus
The exquisite Flame anthias is found
They are distinguished by the over- on coral reefs of the eastern Indian
sized pectoral fins. The widely Ocean, from the Maldive Islands to the
distributed Red firefish is among the Andaman Sea. They occur in
largest species (to about 38 cm) aggregations, most frequently in clear
commonly seen. The venomous waters of outer reef slopes and passes
dorsal, anal and pelvic fin spines are in depths ranging from about 3 to 15
used as a defensive weapon. Their m. Zooplankton is the main dietary
wounds are particularly painful. item and the group swims up to several
meters above the bottom while feeding.
Square-blotched Anthias
Coral Grouper
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Cephalopholis miniata
They are delicate, bright-colored fishes,
which swim in aggregations- often numbering
in the hundreds- high above the bottom. The larger species are important table
They are usually common in clear water, fish at many localities and the small
where currents are periodically strong. They schooling members, for instance the
depend on the current-borne supply of numerous anthias (or Fairy basslets)
zooplankton for nourishment. Each male no doubt play an important role in the
maintains a “harem” of several females. If the reef’s food chain. It grows to 41 cm
male dies or is eaten by a predator, the and is most often encountered in clear
dominant (frequently the largest) female water of outer reefs to depths of at
changes to the male sex over a period of least 150 m. Feeds mainly on small
several days, and takes charge of the harem. fishes, supplemented by crustaceans.
Maximum size is 20 cm.
Giant Grouper
Coronation Grouper
Epinephelus lanceolatus
Variola louti

The Giant grouper holds the

distinction of being the largest of With striking color pattern and
all bony fishes occurring on characteristic yellow-edged, lunar-
coral reefs. There are reports of shaped tail. The habitat usually
particularly huge individuals consists of outer reefs from shallow
weighing as much as 400 kg depths down to at least 240 m
and measuring nearly 3 m. where it is caught by handline
fishermen. They feed mainly on
coral reef fishes, but also consumes
crabs and other crustaceans.
 Banggai Cardinalfish Bigeye Trevally
Pterapogon kauderni Caranx sexfasciatus

Small juveniles seldom stray from the Trevallies or jacks are sleek, swift fish
urchin’s spines and adults retreat among predators occurring in all tropical and
them if frightened. Cardinalfishes are subtropical seas. Grows to 78 cm and
well known for the male’s habit of is commonly encountered on the edge
incubating a mass of eggs in its mouth, of coral reefs, usually in schools that
but the Banggai cardinalfish carries this may contain hundreds of individuals.
care one step further. It shelters a brood Squadrons of these fast-moving fishes,
of 10-15 babies in its mouth, the only their silver bodies reflecting wave-
marine fish (out of approximately 14,000 dappled sunlight, form an impressive
species) known to exhibit this unusual sight. Most family members are fish
behavior. This species grows to about 6 predators, but a few species eat mainly
cm. molluscs and crustaceans, or
planktonic invertebrates
Blue and Gold Fusilier
Caesio teres Oriental Sweetlips

They sometimes exhibit “swarming” Plectorhinchus orientalis

behavior, completely surrounding a
diver, who is temporarily obscured
from view by the mass of swirling
They are generally solitary in habit,
fishes. Their schooling behavior is
but sometimes form large daytime
designed to confuse predators. Most
resting aggregations. The Oriental
are predominantly blue, but have
Sweetlips ranges from East Africa
variations with regards to the shape
to Samoa and northwards to the
and extent of yellow markings on the
Ryukyu Islands. It grows to 86 cm.
body, as well as markings on the tail.
This species grows to 30 cm.
 Butterflyfishes

Most exhibit shades of yellow,

orange, or white with prominent
black or brown spots, stripes, or
bands, or a combination of these
features. The family is well
represented in tropical seas – about
120 species have been described
to date. Most belong to the genus
Chaetodon, which generally ovate
or rounded in profile, with relatively
thin body. All butterflyfishes have
sharp spines on the front half of the
dorsal fin, which are used as a
defensive weapon. Butterflyfishes
are generalyy “home-ranging” –
they are restricted to individual
reefs or a limited section of more
extensive reef complexes. During
the day they search for food within
the confines of the range, retiring
among coral crevices when
darkness descends.
Teira Batfish Longfin Bannerfish
Platax teira Heniochus acuminatus

The handsome juveniles make The Longfin bannerfish is

excellent aquarium pets. They recognized by its bold black and
become tame very quickly and white bands and the very elongate
will accept feedings by hand. As dorsal fin, which forms a graceful,
the fish grows older the fins backward-flowing filament. The
become proportionally snmaller, Longfin is encountered singly, in
until the shape is approximately apirs, or small groups, and usually
round. swims close to the bottom.
 Anemofishes

Twenty-eight different species

are known. Most species have a
color pattern consisting of an
orange, red, or black background
and one to three vertical white
bands. They are never found
without a host anemone, which
offers a safe refuge among its
tentacles. The fishes lay several
hundred eggs at the base of their
host, in a position where the veil
of protective tentacles continually
sweeps over them. Closely
guarded by the male parent, the
eggs hatch after 6-7 days. The
larvae are free-swimming for
about 1-2 weeks, then they must
find an anemone or perish.
 Angelfishes

The colorful angelfishes are

among the most conspicuous
members of the reef community.
They are readily distinguished from
the equally colorful and closely
related butterflyfishes by the
presence on enlarged, backward
projecting spine on the cheek.
About 85 species inhabit tropical
seas, but the majority occur in the
Indian and West-central Pacific
oceans. Their maximum total
length ranges from about 7 to 50
cm. Spawning occurs at dusk and
usually involves single pair,
although individual males may
mate successively with several
different females. Males set up
territories by driving away other
male competitors. Hatching of the
tiny (less than 1 mm) eggs occurs
in 15-20 hours.