The Different Species of Fish Found Around a Coral Reef and Description about Them

Hidden down there in the waters of the ocean, coral reefs are full of life. Lobsters, fish, corals, seahorses, clams, sea turtles and sponges are just a highlight of the numerous creatures that survive in the reefs. Fish found around a coral reef are known as coral reef fish and there are so many species of them. Among the many inhabitants of the corals, the fish usually stand out from the rest as there are not just colorful but watching them is also very interesting as well. There are hundreds of fish species that dwell on healthy reefs, most of which have developed various adaptations to help them survive.

The first category of fishes that you can expect to find in coral reefs is the herbivores and this usually comprise of the fish that primarily feed on plant materials. The most colorful and largest fishes in this category are parrot fishes and are so named due to their break like mouths and brilliant hues. Via their feeding activities, parrot fishes play a major role in maintenance of the health of a coral reef. Then there are surgeon fishes which are related closely to rabbit fishes which are known for their elongated, blunt snouts.

Dameslfishes are small herbivorous which are more territorial and sedentary and tend to vigorously guard and maintain certain algae patches on the reef where they live in. The other categories of coral fishes are the planktivorous which prey on some small animal plankton. The open water plankton feeds include fishes of a large diversity with the common species being, snappers, wrasses, surgeon fishes and the sea basses. Then there are the benthic planktivores which are mainly represented by the jaw fish. These ones are able to escape the many dangers that come with open water hunting by staying as close to the reef as possible.

Very fascinating specie of the fish of coral reef is the blue- headed wrasse which usually begins their lives yellow, small, female fish. They tend to live in schools and are of interest to many divers due to their sequential hermaphroditism. Another species is the French Angelfish which is a grazer of the reef and easily distinguished through the nipper like jaws associated with the fish. This enables it to remove algae deftly from the reef. If you go to the tropical waters, you are highly likely to come across the spotted eagle ray. The pectoral fins of this fish have a wingspin of about 2m.

The flying gurnard is another very popular species of the coral fish but unlike its name, the fish doesn’t really fly but tends to use its large pectoral fins for gliding over the bottom. The gray angelfish comprises of another very common species of coral reefs as well as the peacock flounder, the queen angelfish, the spotted moray eel, clownfish and others. You can spot nearly all these fish species if you take a trip to the world of coral reefs under water. Savingcorals.com is a foundation that aims at ensuring that the different species of coral fish are restored and saved from the threat of extinction that faces them.