Species of the Tropical Zone

Chrysiptera hemicyanea is a small coral-reef fish from the central-western Pacific Ocean. It lives in lagoons and coastal reefs, often associated with Acropora corals, where it feeds on plankton and small invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Chrysiptera hemicyanea (Weber, 1913)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chrysiptera parasema is a small coral-reef fish from the western Pacific Ocean. It lives in sheltered lagoons and shallow reefs, where it feeds on algae, plankton and small crustaceans.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Chrysiptera parasema (Fowler, 1918)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Forcipiger longirostris is a coral-reef fish from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives on reef slopes, where its very long snout allows it to extract small invertebrates from cracks in the coral.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Forcipiger longirostris (Broussonet, 1782)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Halichoeres chloropterus is a coral-reef wrasse from the central-western Pacific Ocean. It lives on shallow reefs and in rubble areas, where it feeds on benthic invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Labridae
  • Species: Halichoeres chloropterus (Bloch, 1791)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Labroides dimidiatus is a small cleaner wrasse from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives on coral reefs, where it removes parasites and dead tissue from other fish at cleaning stations.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Labridae
  • Species: Labroides dimidiatus (Valenciennes, 1839)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Labrus viridis is a wrasse from the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives in Posidonia seagrass meadows and on rocky coastal seabeds, where it feeds mainly on crustaceans and molluscs.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Labridae
  • Species: Labrus viridis (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Decreasing

Synchiropus splendidus is a small coral-reef fish from the western Pacific Ocean, famous for its vivid colours. It lives on sheltered reefs, where it feeds on small benthic crustaceans.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Syngnathiformes
  • Family: Callionymidae
  • Species: Synchiropus splendidus (Herre, 1927)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Zebrasoma flavescens is a yellow surgeonfish from the north-central Pacific Ocean. It lives on coral reefs and in shallow rocky areas, where it feeds mainly by grazing on filamentous algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Zebrasoma flavescens (Bennett, 1828)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Zanclus cornutus is an iconic reef fish from the Indo-Pacific region. It is recognisable by its long dorsal filament and feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Zanclidae
  • Species: Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

The blue mushroom coral is an Indo-Pacific corallimorph that forms carpets of colourful discs. It is popular in reef aquariums for its deep blue colour and relatively easy care.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Anthozoa
  • Order: Corallimorpharia
  • Family: Discosomatidae
  • Species: Discosoma coeruleus
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

The feather gorgonian is an Indo-Pacific octocoral that forms highly branched, bush-like colonies with slender branches. It is popular in marine aquariums for its hardiness and photosynthetic nature.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Anthozoa
  • Order: Alcyonacea
  • Family: Gorgoniidae
  • Species: Pinnigorgia sp.
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Acanthophyllia deshayesiana is a solitary hard coral from the Indo-Pacific region, recognisable by its large, fleshy polyp, often displaying vivid colours. It rests on soft or sandy substrates in deeper reef areas, where it captures small food particles and also benefits from symbiotic algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Anthozoa
  • Order: Scleractinia
  • Family: Lobophylliidae
  • Species: Acanthophyllia deshayesiana
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Arothron meleagris is a pufferfish from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives on coral and rocky reefs, where it feeds on corals, sponges, molluscs and algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Tetraodontiformes
  • Family: Tetraodontidae
  • Species: Arothron meleagris (Anonymous, 1798)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chrysiptera cyanea is a small coral-reef fish from the western Pacific Ocean. It lives in lagoons, reefs and rubble areas, where it feeds on algae and small planktonic invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Chrysiptera cyanea (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Microcanthus strigatus is a coastal fish from the Pacific Ocean. It lives on rocky reefs and in turbulent estuarine areas, where it feeds on small invertebrates and algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Kyphosidae
  • Species: Microcanthus strigatus (Cuvier, 1831)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Neoglyphidodon melas is a coral-reef fish from the Indo-Pacific region. Juveniles are pale with yellow fins, while adults become black. It lives near soft corals and feeds on plankton and occasionally coral.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Neoglyphidodon melas (Cuvier, 1830)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Pomacanthus asfur is an angelfish from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It lives on shallow coral reefs rich in sponges, which, together with tunicates, make up most of its diet.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacanthidae
  • Species: Pomacanthus asfur (Forsskål, 1775)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Pseudanthias bartlettorum is a small anthias from the central-western Pacific Ocean. It lives in large groups above reef slopes exposed to currents, where it feeds on zooplankton in open water.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Anthiadidae
  • Species: Pseudanthias bartlettorum (Randall & Lubbock, 1981)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Pseudanthias kashiwae is an anthias from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives on deeper coral and rocky reefs, often in harems consisting of one dominant male and several females.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Anthiadidae
  • Species: Pseudanthias kashiwae (Tanaka, 1918)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Pseudanthias squamipinnis is a very common anthias from the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea. It forms large schools above corals, where it feeds exclusively on zooplankton.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Anthiadidae
  • Species: Pseudanthias squamipinnis (Peters, 1855)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

The emperor angelfish is an iconic Indo-Pacific fish, recognisable by its spectacular colour change from the juvenile stage, blue with white circles, to the adult stage, blue with yellow stripes and a black mask.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacanthidae
  • Species: Pomacanthus imperator (Bloch, 1787)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Abudefduf vaigiensis is a coral-reef fish from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives in large schools near reefs and jetties exposed to currents, where it feeds on zooplankton, algae and small invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Abudefduf saxatilis is an Atlantic fish that lives near the surface over shallow rocky and coral reefs. It feeds on zooplankton, algae, small crustaceans and fish eggs.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis is a small coral-reef fish from the western Pacific Ocean. It lives in lagoons and reefs rich in Acropora corals, where it feeds mainly on zooplankton.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis (Bleeker, 1853)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Bodianus diana is a wrasse from the Indian Ocean. It lives on reef slopes rich in soft corals and gorgonians, where it feeds on molluscs, crustaceans and sea urchins.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Labridae
  • Species: Bodianus diana (Lacépède, 1801)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chaetodon auriga is a butterflyfish from the Indo-Pacific region, recognisable by its long dorsal filament. It lives on reefs, in seagrass beds and sandy areas, where it feeds on algae, worms, anemones and coral polyps.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Chaetodon auriga (Forsskål, 1775)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chaetodon collare is a butterflyfish from the Indian Ocean. It lives in pairs or small groups on coral reefs and in shallow rocky areas, where it feeds mainly on worms and soft-coral polyps.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Chaetodon collare (Bloch, 1787)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chaetodon lunula is a mainly nocturnal butterflyfish from the Indo-Pacific region. It shelters in reef crevices and feeds on nudibranchs, worms, small crustaceans and occasionally coral polyps.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Chaetodon lunula (Lacépède, 1802)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chaetodon kleinii is a butterflyfish from the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea. It lives in lagoons and on reef slopes, where it feeds on zooplankton, algae and various invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Chaetodon kleinii (Bloch, 1790)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Hemitaurichthys polylepis is a butterflyfish from the central and western Pacific Ocean. It lives in large schools above reef drop-offs exposed to currents, where it feeds exclusively on zooplankton.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Bleeker, 1857)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Myripristis murdjan is a nocturnal fish from the Indo-Pacific region. During the day it hides in caves and beneath reef overhangs, while its large eyes help it hunt zooplankton at night.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Holocentriformes
  • Family: Holocentridae
  • Species: Myripristis murdjan (Forsskål, 1775)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Naso lituratus is a surgeonfish from the central and western Pacific Ocean. It lives in lagoons and on exposed reefs, where it feeds mainly on brown algae and is distinguished by the sharp scalpels at the base of its tail.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Naso lituratus (Forster, 1801)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Naso unicornis is a surgeonfish from the Indo-Pacific region, recognisable by the bony horn on its forehead. It lives on reefs and in lagoons exposed to currents, where it feeds mainly on tough brown algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Naso unicornis (Forsskål, 1775)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Odonus niger is a triggerfish from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives in reef channels and on slopes exposed to currents, where it feeds on zooplankton and sponges.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Tetraodontiformes
  • Family: Balistidae
  • Species: Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Paracanthurus hepatus is an Indo-Pacific surgeonfish recognisable by its bright blue body, black pattern and yellow tail. It lives on coral reefs, often in loose groups above the seabed, and feeds mainly on zooplankton and occasionally algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Acanthuriformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Paracanthurus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Pomacanthus sexstriatus is a large angelfish from the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. It often lives in pairs in lagoons and on reef slopes, where it feeds on sponges and tunicates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacanthidae
  • Species: Pomacanthus sexstriatus (Cuvier, 1831)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Zebrasoma veliferum is a surgeonfish from the central and south-western Pacific Ocean. It is recognisable by its large dorsal and anal fins and lives in lagoons and on coral reefs, where it grazes on filamentous algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Zebrasoma veliferum (Bloch, 1795)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Abudefduf sexfasciatus is a reef fish from the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea. It is recognisable by its silver body crossed by black bars and dark lines on the lobes of its tail. It lives in groups near coral and rocky reefs, where it feeds mainly on zooplankton and algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Abudefduf sexfasciatus (Lacepède, 1801)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Acanthurus leucosternon is a surgeonfish from the Indian Ocean. It lives on shallow, current-swept reef flats, where it actively defends its feeding territory while grazing on algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Acanthurus leucosternon (Bennett, 1833)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Acanthurus lineatus is a surgeonfish from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives on reefs and rocky areas exposed to waves, where it aggressively defends its territory while feeding mainly on algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Acanthurus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Dascyllus aruanus is a small coral-reef fish from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives in colonies among branching corals in lagoons and sheltered reefs, where it feeds on zooplankton and small crustaceans.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Dascyllus aruanus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Gymnothorax favagineus is a large moray eel from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives in lagoons and on reef slopes, where it ambushes fish and cephalopods.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Anguilliformes
  • Family: Muraenidae
  • Species: Gymnothorax favagineus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus is a small reef pipefish with a very elongated cream-coloured body marked by broad dark rings. It lives mainly in cracks, caves and crevices of reefs, where it feeds on small planktonic invertebrates such as copepods.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Syngnathiformes
  • Family: Syngnathidae
  • Species: Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Centropyge sp., or dwarf angelfishes, are small colourful reef fishes living mainly on tropical reefs. They inhabit areas rich in corals, rocks and hiding places, where they feed mainly on algae, sponges and small benthic invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Acanthuriformes
  • Family: Pomacanthidae
  • Species: Centropyge sp.
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Amphiprion ocellaris is a small Indo-Pacific reef fish that lives in association with certain sea anemones. It inhabits calm lagoons and shallow reefs, where it feeds mainly on small invertebrates, zooplankton and occasionally algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Ovalentaria incertae sedis
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Amphiprion ocellaris (Cuvier, 1830)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Zebrasoma xanthurum is a surgeonfish endemic to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It is recognisable by its deep blue body and yellow tail and lives on reefs, where it grazes on filamentous algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Zebrasoma xanthurum (Blyth, 1852)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Gymnothorax javanicus is the largest moray eel of the Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits lagoons and reef slopes, where it hunts alone, mainly preying on fish and occasionally crustaceans.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Anguilliformes
  • Family: Muraenidae
  • Species: Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker, 1859)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Pterois volitans is a Pacific lionfish recognisable by its large fan-shaped fins and venomous spines. It lives in lagoons and on reefs, where it hunts fish and crabs.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Scorpaeniformes
  • Family: Scorpaenidae
  • Species: Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE) globally
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Lutjanus sebae is a large Indo-Pacific fish. Juveniles are recognisable by their vertical red bands, which gradually fade with age and give way to a more uniform red coloration.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    Order: Perciformes
    Family: Lutjanidae
    Species: Lutjanus sebae (Cuvier, 1816)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Amphiprion frenatus is a clownfish from the western Pacific Ocean. It is recognisable by its orange-red colour and single white bar behind the eye and lives in symbiosis with the bubble-tip anemone Entacmaea quadricolor in lagoons and sheltered reefs.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Amphiprion frenatus (Brevoort, 1856)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Acanthurus nigricauda is an Indo-Pacific surgeonfish that lives mainly over sandy bottoms in bays and lagoons, where it grazes on algae mixed with sand.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Acanthurus nigricauda (Duncker & Mohr, 1929)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Centropyge eibli is a dwarf angelfish from the eastern Indian Ocean. It lives in lagoons and coral-rich reefs, where it grazes on algae and often lives in harems.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacanthidae
  • Species: Centropyge eibli (Klausewitz, 1963)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Centropyge multicolor is a small angelfish from the central and western Pacific Ocean. It lives discreetly on deeper reef slopes, where it feeds mainly on algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacanthidae
  • Species: Centropyge multicolor (Randall & Wass, 1974)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Chaetodon falcula is a butterflyfish from the Indian Ocean. It often lives in pairs along reef edges and upper reef slopes, where it feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Chaetodon falcula (Bloch, 1795)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Chaetodon fasciatus is a butterflyfish endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It often lives in pairs on coral-rich reefs, where it feeds on polyps, algae and small invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Chaetodon fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chelmon rostratus is a butterflyfish from the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. It is recognisable by its long snout, which allows it to extract worms and small invertebrates from reef crevices.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Chelmon rostratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chromis chromis is a small damselfish from the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. It often forms large schools above rocky reefs and seagrass beds, where it feeds mainly on plankton.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Chromis chromis (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Chrysiptera talboti is a small damselfish from the western Pacific Ocean. It lives on coral reefs and in rubble areas of sheltered lagoons, where it feeds on plankton and algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Chrysiptera talboti (Allen, 1975)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Dischistodus perspicillatus is a damselfish from the eastern Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits sandy lagoons and shallow reefs, where it defends patches of algae that it cultivates as a food source.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Dischistodus perspicillatus (Cuvier, 1830)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Forcipiger flavissimus is a butterflyfish from the Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific. It lives on reef slopes, where its long snout allows it to capture small invertebrates from crevices.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Forcipiger flavissimus (Jordan & McGregor, 1898)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Gramma loreto is a small fish from Caribbean coral reefs. It often lives beneath overhangs and inside caves, sometimes swimming upside down, where it feeds on zooplankton and may also remove parasites from other fish.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Grammatidae
  • Species: Gramma loreto (Poey, 1868)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Genicanthus lamarck is an angelfish from the western Pacific Ocean. It lives in open water above reefs, where it feeds on zooplankton, and shows pronounced differences in appearance between males and females.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacanthidae
  • Species: Genicanthus lamarck (Lacépède, 1802)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Heniochus acuminatus is a reef fish from the Indo-Pacific region, recognisable by its long, banner-like dorsal fin. It lives in lagoons and on coral slopes, where it feeds on zooplankton and occasionally benthic invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Heniochus acuminatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Heniochus varius is a reef fish from the western and central Pacific Ocean. It is recognisable by the hump on its forehead and the absence of a long dorsal filament. It lives on steep reefs rich in soft corals, where it feeds mainly on coral polyps.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Chaetodontidae
  • Species: Heniochus varius (Cuvier, 1829)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Pholidichthys leucotaenia is a fish from the central-western Pacific that lives in tunnels beneath reefs. Juveniles form large groups and mimic venomous catfish to protect themselves from predators.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Cichliformes
  • Family: Pholidichthyidae
  • Species: Pholidichthys leucotaenia (Bleeker, 1856)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Pomacentrus auriventris is a small coral-reef fish from the western Pacific Ocean. It inhabits coastal reefs and outer reef slopes rich in coral rubble, where it feeds on zooplankton and filamentous algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Pomacentridae
  • Species: Pomacentrus auriventris (Allen, 1991)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Pterapogon kauderni is a small fish endemic to the Banggai Islands. It lives in groups in seagrass beds, mangroves or near Diadema sea urchins, and the male protects the eggs in his mouth until they hatch.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Apogoniformes
  • Family: Apogonidae
  • Species: Pterapogon kauderni (Koumans, 1933)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Endangered (EN)
  • CITES: Not applicable (proposed several times)
  • EEP: Yes (species managed in aquariums for conservation)
  • Population trend: Decreasing

Zebrasoma scopas is an Indo-Pacific surgeonfish that lives in lagoons and coral-rich reefs. It is recognisable by its high, laterally compressed brown body and the white scalpel at the base of its tail and feeds mainly on algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Species: Zebrasoma scopas (Cuvier, 1829)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Caranx ignobilis is a large predatory trevally from the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It patrols reef drop-offs and channels, where it hunts fish and may even capture seabirds at the water’s surface.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Carangidae
  • Species: Caranx ignobilis (Forsskål, 1775)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Epinephelus lanceolatus is an enormous grouper from the Indo-Pacific region. It lives on deep reefs and around shipwrecks, where it hunts large prey such as fish, small sharks and juvenile sea turtles.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Epinephelidae
  • Species: Epinephelus lanceolatus (Bloch, 1790)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Yes (monitored species)