The yellow longnose butterflyfish or forceps butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) is a species of marine fish in the family Chaetodontidae.
It is a small fish which grows up to 22 cm (8.7 in) in length.
This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Range and Distribution
The yellow longnose butterflyfish is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from the eastern coast of Africa to Hawaii, Red Sea included, and is also found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Baja California to the Revillagigedo Islands and the Galapagos.
It is a small fish which grows up to 22 cm (8.7 in) in length.
This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Territoriality
Being territorial, yellow longnose butterflyfish patrol their patches of coral with a monogamous partner. However, instances of overt aggression among F. flavissimus have been observed between territory holders and individuals of the same sex. Chasing is rare, but when it does occur, males chase males and females chase females.Females defend food resources from other females, while males defend territories containing a female from other males.
Territoriality is a favorable strategy for a species to adopt primarily when resources are temporally stable, predictable, and evenly distributed throughout a territory.Territoriality is commonly displayed by benthic-feeding longnose butterflyfish, therefore, because their main dietary resources fulfill these characteristics.Their monogamous pairing appears to be closely linked to their territorial behavior.Although several could cause a species to evolve monogamous behavior, the necessity for biparental care does not apply to longnose butterflyfish because they lay pelagic, or freely floating, eggs. One source of selective pressure responsible for the monogamous pairs observed could be the advantage of territorial defense it provides. Monogamy is favored when a pair makes the defense of one or more resources more efficient than defense by a solitary individual.Longnose butterflyfish pairs have been confirmed by studies to be heterosexual and pair fidelity has been observed for periods of up to seven or more years.
Besides the advertisement displays accomplished through monogamous pairing, territorial domination by longnose butterflyfish has also been observed by means of acoustic behaviors, which provide important cues and social signals during fish communication.Emitting sounds through complicated body movements is another technique they use to advertise territorial boundaries. Potential rivals are able to assess body size of a competitor based on the duration and intensity of the sound a yellow longnose butterflyfish produces. The duration and intensity of the sounds emitted during antagonistic behaviors, such as the defense of one's territory, often predict the ability of an individual to secure that territory. A sound of long duration and high intensity, therefore, often indicates an individual has a large territory. Defending territory is the strategy these species adopt to compete for and maximize their claims over resources.
Zebrasoma desjardinii, the Red Sea sailfin tang, Desjardin's sailfin tang, Indian sailfin tang or Indian sailfin surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Indian Ocean.
Taxonomy
Zebrasoma desjardinii was first formally described in 1836 as Acanthurus desjardinii by the English zoologist Edward Turner Bennett with its type locality given as Mauritius. In the past, this taxon was treated as conspecific or synonymous with Zebrasoma velifer.The genera Zebrasoma and Paracanthurus make up the tribe Zebrasomini within the subfamily Acanthurinae in the family Acanthuridae, according to the 5th edition of Fishes of the World.
Etymology
The specific name of Zebrasoma desjardinii honours the French zoologist Julien Desjardins; he lived for a number of years in Mauritius and donated a collection of fishes to the British Museum of Natural History, including the type of this species.
Description
Zebrasoma desjardinii has a tall dorsal fin that has 4 spines and between 27 and 31 soft rays (the longest of which is around half of the standard length), while these figures for the anal fin are 2 and between 22 and 24 respectively. It has a deep body, with the standard length being 1.8 to 2 times its depth; the maximum published total length of this species is 40 cm (16 in). The mouth protrudes with a concave profile on the snout. The spine in the caudal peduncle has a narrow posterior connection to the body, and the caudal fin is truncate. The body is grey, with around 8 dark grey vertical bars; each bar houses 2 to 3 orange or yellow vertical lines, which break up into spots towards the lower body and on the anal fin. There are 2 dark brown bars on the head, with the first one passing through the eye. There is a dense pattern of small, light yellow spots on the head and body, and a similar pattern of spots arranged in bands can be on the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is marked with pale blue spots. The juveniles have slender grey and yellow bars on the body and 2 black bars on the head.
Distribution and habitat
Zebrasoma desjardinii is found in the Indian Ocean. It can be found off the eastern coast of Africa (as south as Sodwana Bay, South Africa), as well as in the Middle East, including off the coasts of Israel, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It is also found across the islands of the Indian Ocean (such as Sri Lanka, islands in the Andaman Sea, Sumatra, Java, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island). In 1999, a pair of this species was recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, off Florida, but this was probably due to aquarium release.
Zebrasoma desjardinii is found at depths between 1 and 30 m (3 ft 3 in and 98 ft 5 in) in lagoon and seaward reefs, although the juveniles are more typically found in sheltered areas within reefs.
Behaviour
Zebrasoma desjardinii adults usually can be found in pairs, while juveniles are solitary.They feed primarily on filamentous algae, macroalgae and plankton, but individuals in the Red Sea have been regularly observed feeding on moon jellies (Scyphozoa) and comb jellies (Ctenophora) as well.[10] This species may form aggregations while feeding on algae; if they do so within the territory of the predatory slingjaw wrasse, the wrasse may darken its colour so as to match the colour of the tangs. The wrasse then joins in the aggregation and mimics their algae-feeding actions while hunting prey.
Zebrasoma desjardinii is a pair spawner; while this is a typical trait of other fish in its genus, group spawning is more common at the family level.
Paracanthurus hepatus is a species of Indo-Pacific surgeonfish. A popular fish in marine aquaria, it is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus.
A number of common names are attributed to the species, including regal tang, palette surgeonfish, blue tang , royal blue tang, hippo tang, blue hippo tang, flagtail surgeonfish, Pacific regal blue tang, and blue surgeonfish, hepatus tang, Indo-Pacific blue tang, regal blue surgeonfish, wedge-tailed tang, wedgetail blue tang.
Description
Paracanthurus hepatus has a royal blue body, yellow tail, and black "palette" design. Its length at first sexual maturity is 149.2 mm. Adults typically weigh around 600 g (21 oz) and males are generally larger than females.The back has a broad black area that encloses at the tip of the pectoral, creating a blue oval on each side of the fish that extends in the direction of the eye. The tail has a bright yellow triangle with its apex anterior to the caudal spine and its base at the posterior end of the caudal fin. Black surrounds the triangle on the upper and lower lobes of the caudal fin, in the same hue as the back area.
Paracanthurus has small small scales, each with short ctenii on the upper surface. Scales on the caudal spine possess ctenii approximately three times as long as scales on the rest of the body. Scales anteriorly placed on the head between the eye and the upper jaw are larger with tuberculated, bony plates.
This fish has a compressed, elliptical body shape, and a terminal snout. It has nine dorsal spines, 26–28 dorsal soft rays, three anal spines, and 24–26 anal soft yellow rays, and 16 principal caudal rays with slightly projecting upper and lower lobes. Its pelvic fin is made up of one spine and three rays; this characteristic is considered a synapomorphy of the Naso and Paracanthurus genus. The caudal peduncle has a spine located in a shallow groove, which is also a characteristic of its sister taxa Zebrasoma. It has 22 vertebrae. Paracanthurus has teeth that are small, close-set, denticulated, and described as incisor-like.
Jaw morphology includes an ectopterygoid that links the palatine to the quadrate near the articular condyle. A crest is present on the anterodorsal surface of the hyomandibular. The opercle is less developed, with a distinctly convex profile.
Some slight variation in appearance is present within Paracanthurus. The lower body is yellow in west-central Indian Ocean individuals, and bluish in Pacific individuals . Additionally, the blue color on the trunk of Paracanthurus loses pigmentation in response to changes in light and/or melatonin levels, making its appearance slightly lighter in color at night.
Distribution
The regal blue tang can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is seen in the reefs of the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, New Caledonia, Samoa, East Africa, and Sri Lanka. A single specimen was photographed in 2015 in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel. Vagrants were found two separate occasions in Hawaii, and are assumed to be aquarium releases.
Paracanthurus is an extant resident in the following territories: American Samoa; Australia; British Indian Ocean Territory; Brunei Darussalam; Christmas Island; Cocos (Keeling) Islands; Comoros; Cook Islands; Disputed Territory (Paracel Is., Spratly Is.); Fiji; French Southern Territories (Mozambique Channel Is.); Guam; India (Nicobar Is., Andaman Is.); Indonesia; Japan; Kenya; Kiribati (Kiribati Line Is., Phoenix Is., Gilbert Is.); Madagascar; Malaysia; Maldives; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mayotte; Micronesia, Federated States of ; Myanmar; Nauru; New Caledonia; Niue; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Réunion; Samoa; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Taiwan, Province of China; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Tokelau; Tonga; Tuvalu; United States (Hawaiian Is.); United States Minor Outlying Islands (US Line Is., Howland-Baker Is.); Vanuatu; Viet Nam; Wallis and Futuna.
Ecolog
Paracanthurus is a diurnal marine species that occupies marine neritic habitats along coastlines. It is found in clear water on exposed outer reef areas or in channels with a moderate or strong current. It primarily utilizes coral reef habitats, but is also known to utilize seagrass beds, mangroves, algal beds, and rocky reefs [1]. It has an upper and lower depth limit of 2 meters and 40 meters, respectively .They live in pairs or small groups of 8 to 14 individuals. They can also be found near cauliflower corals on the seaweed side of coral reefs. Juveniles can be found in schools using Acropora for shelter. Numbers of males and females tend to maintain a 1:1 ratio.
The fish is important for coral health as it eats algae that may otherwise choke it by overgrowth.
Diet
As a juvenile, its diet consists primarily of plankton. Adults are omnivorous and feed on zooplankton, but will also graze on filamentous algae.[16]
Life cycle
Spawning takes place year round, with a peak between April and September. Spawning occurs during late afternoon and evening hours around outer reef slopes. This event is indicated by a change in color from a uniform dark blue to a pale blue. Males aggressively court female members of the school, leading to a quick upward spawning rush toward the surface of the water during which eggs and sperm are released. The eggs are small, approximately 0.8 millimetres (1⁄32 in) in diameter. The eggs are pelagic, each containing a single droplet of oil for flotation. The fertilized eggs hatch in twenty-four hours, revealing small, translucent larvae with silvery abdomens and rudimentary caudal spines. Once opaque, the black "palette" pattern on juveniles do not fully connect until mature. These fish reach sexual maturity at 9–12 months of age, and at approximately 149.22 mm in size.[6] Fecundity has a tendency to positively correlate with weight.
Fishes in the family Acanthuridae, including Paracanthurus, produce altricial larvae that receive no v. parental care. After hatching, these larvae rely on yolk reserves in order to survive their first two to three days of life.
Importance to humans
The regal blue tang is of minor commercial fisheries importance; however, it is a bait fish. The flesh has a strong odor and is not highly prized. This fish may cause ciguatera poisoning if consumed by humans. However, regal blue tangs are collected commercially for the aquarium trade. Handling the tang risks the chances of being badly cut by the caudal spine. These spines, one on each of the two sides of the caudal peduncle, the area where the tail joins the rest of the body, are extended when the fish is stressed. The quick, thrashing sideways motion of the tail can produce deep wounds that result in swelling and discoloration, posing a risk of infection. It is believed that some species of Acanthurus have venom glands while others do not. The spines are used only as a method of protection against aggressors.
The regal blue tang is one of the most common and most popular marine aquarium fish all over the world, holding its place as the 8th most traded species worldwide. In 1997–2002, 74,557 individuals were traded in official tracked sales and in 2011 approximately 95,000 Paracanthurus were imported for use as a marine ornamental fish. When harvesting Paracanthurus in the wild, juveniles are specifically targeted since they are easiest to collect due to their tendency to travel in schools. Paracanthurus for human use are harvested in the wild rather than raised in aquaculture. Conservationists encourage efforts to switch to aquaculture in order to better preserve wild populations.
Centropyge bispinosa, commonly known as the Coral Beauty Angelfish or Dusky Angelfish, is a small, colorful angelfish with a distinctive appearance. They have a bright orange body with vertical blue or purple "tiger" stripes, and a blue-purple head, dorsal, caudal, and anal fins. Their pectoral and pelvic fins are typically yellow or orange.
Key Characteristics:
Color: Orange body with blue/purple stripes, blue/purple head and fins.
Size: Reaches up to 4-5 inches (10-12 cm) in length.
Behavior: Peaceful, but can be territorial with their own kind and other dwarf angelfishes.
Habitat: Found on outer reef slopes and in rocky areas with hiding spots.
Diet: Primarily eats algae and detritus.
Reproduction: Protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they can change sex.
Reef Compatibility: Considered reef-safe, but individuals may nip at certain corals, especially soft corals.
Distribution:
Found in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and other tropical waters
The Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) is a striking marine fish known for its vibrant colors and unique pattern. It features alternating yellow and black-edged white bars on its body, along with a blue dorsal fin with black scribbles, and yellow and blue stripes on the anal fin. This species is typically found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, inhabiting coral reefs and lagoons at depths ranging from 0 to 80 meters.
Key characteristics:
Appearance:
The body is moderately elongated and compressed, reaching up to 25 centimeters in length.
Coloration:
Alternating yellow and black-edged white vertical bars are the most prominent feature. The dorsal fin is blue with black scribbles, and the anal fin has yellow and blue stripes.
Distribution:
Found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands.
Habitat:
Prefers coral-rich areas of lagoons and reefs, often near caves.
Behavior:
Typically found alone or in pairs, though juveniles may be more secretive. They are carnivorous, feeding on sponges and tunicates.
Size:
Can grow up to 25 centimeters in length.
Reef Safety:
Not considered reef-safe, as they may nip at corals and other invertebrates in aquariums.
Aquarium Keeping:
Regal Angelfish are known to be challenging to keep in captivity and may be reluctant to eat.
Basslets are a group of small, ray-finned fish, known for their vibrant colors and peaceful nature, making them popular choices for saltwater aquariums. They belong to the family Grammatidae, found primarily in the western Atlantic Ocean, and some species are also referred to as "fairy basslets".
Key Characteristics of Basslets:
Appearance:
They are generally small, with a maximum size of around 10 centimeters for some species. Many have bright colors, including shades of red, yellow, orange, purple, tan, and black and white.
Habitat:
They are reef-dwelling fish, often found in rocky environments with caves and crevices where they can hide.
Behavior:
Basslets are generally peaceful and can be kept in reef tanks, though some species, like the Multilineatum Reef Basslet, may be more predatory.
Diet:
They are primarily carnivorous and eat small invertebrates like crustaceans, zooplankton, and small fish.
Breeding:
Some basslets, like the Fairy Basslet, are hermaphroditic and can change sex, with males often being more brightly colored. Males are also known to display nest care behavior, protecting and maintaining the nest where the eggs are laid.
Examples of Basslet Species:
Fairy Basslet (Gramma loreto): Known for its bright colors and is a common aquarium fish.
Royal Gramma: Another popular species, often found in aquariums.
Swissguard Basslet: A reef-safe species similar to the Candy Basslet in appearance and behavior.
Rainbow Basslet: Another reef-safe species that thrives in aquariums with plenty of rockwork.
Blackcap Basslet: A larger species, typically found in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean.
Reef Basslets (Liopropoma): These are characterized by their elongate bodies, pointed snouts, and broad heads.
The Banggai cardinalfish is a small, disc-shaped marine fish known for its striking appearance and unique reproductive behavior. It is characterized by a tasseled first dorsal fin, elongated second dorsal and anal fins, and a deeply forked tail. Its body is silver with contrasting black vertical bars and white spots, and it is popular in the aquarium trade.
Physical Description:
Size: Typically grows up to 8 centimeters (3 inches) in length.
Shape: Disc-shaped body with a distinctive profile.
Fins: Tasseled first dorsal fin, elongated second dorsal and anal fins, and a deeply forked caudal fin.
Coloration: Silver body with three prominent black bars and numerous white spots, especially on the fins.
Other Notable Features:
Mouthbrooding: The male Banggai cardinalfish incubates the eggs in his mouth, a unique reproductive trait.
Habitat: Found in shallow, sheltered areas like coral reefs and seagrass beds in the Banggai Islands of Indonesia.
Diet: Primarily consumes copepods and other small crustaceans.
Temperament: Generally peaceful and can be kept with other peaceful fish in a reef aquarium, but males may exhibit some territorial behavior in smaller tanks.
Conservation Status: Endangered due to overfishing and habitat loss.
Chrysiptera parasema, commonly known as the Yellowtail Blue Damsel or Goldtail Demoiselle, is a small, vibrant saltwater fish with a distinct blue body and bright yellow tail. It is a popular aquarium fish due to its hardiness and striking appearance.
Key Features:
Appearance: The body is a rich, velvety dark blue, with a bright yellow tail (caudal fin) and sometimes yellow on the back of the anal and dorsal fins.
Size: Reaches up to 2.8-3 inches (7.1-7.6 cm) in length.
Origin: Found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Behavior: Known for being semi-aggressive and territorial, especially in confined spaces.
Diet: Omnivorous, eating algae, invertebrates, and small crustaceans.
Reef Compatibility: Generally reef-safe.
Care: Requires a well-established reef aquarium with ample hiding places, stable water parameters, and a diet of high-quality foods.
Distinguishing Features:
The yellow tail is a key characteristic that distinguishes it from similar damselfish species, such as the Azure Demoiselle (Chrysiptera hemicyanea), which has more yellow coloration on its body.
It can also be distinguished from other similar species by the intensity of the blue coloration and the presence of yellow on the caudal peduncle.
In Summary:
The Yellowtail Blue Damsel is a beautiful, relatively hardy, and popular aquarium fish known for its striking colors and unique tail. It's important to note that it can be territorial and requires a suitable aquarium environment to thrive.
The Orchid Dottyback, Pseudochromis fridmani, is a small, vibrant purple fish known for its striking color and tendency to dart around in search of food. They are found in the Red Sea and are relatively easy to keep in aquariums, making them a popular choice for reef tanks.
Key Features:
Appearance:
These fish are typically a bright purple with a bluish hue on the head and a thin, dark stripe through their eyes.
Size:
They grow to a maximum length of about 6.3 centimeters.
Habitat:
In the wild, they are found near reefs, often sheltering in holes and under overhangs.
Behavior:
While generally peaceful, they can be territorial and may defend their hiding places from other fish, especially those with similar coloration.
Diet:
They are carnivores and primarily eat plankton and small crustaceans like brine shrimp and krill.
Aquarium Care:
They thrive in reef aquariums and prefer plenty of hiding places like live rock. They are also relatively easy to feed, especially with meaty foods.
The Flame Hawkfish, Neocirrhites armatus, is a vibrant, small to medium-sized hawkfish known for its bright red body and black markings, particularly along the dorsal fin and around the eyes. It's a solitary, territorial species, often seen perching on corals and rocks, observing its environment.
Key characteristics:
Appearance: Bright red with dark markings, especially along the dorsal fin and around the eyes.
Size: Reaches a maximum length of about 9 cm (3.5 inches).
Habitat: Native to the Indo-Pacific region, found near coral reefs with currents.
Behavior: Solitary and territorial, preferring to perch and observe from a vantage point rather than actively swim.
Diet: Carnivorous, feeding on small crustaceans.
Care: Requires a well-oxygenated water environment and can be finicky eaters at first.
Lifespan: Can live for 5 years or more in captivity with proper care.
The Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus, commonly known as the banded pipefish or ringed pipefish, is a distinctive species characterized by its elongated, straight body and alternating pale and reddish-brown to blackish bands. It typically reaches a length of 15-20 cm. The caudal fin is reddish with white dorsal and ventral margins, often featuring 1-3 white spots in the center. This fish is found in lagoons, tidal pools, and outer reefs, inhabiting caves and crevices.
Key characteristics:
Body Shape: Elongated and straight, resembling a ribbon.
Coloration: Alternating pale and reddish-brown to blackish bands.
Caudal Fin: Reddish with white dorsal and ventral margins, sometimes with white spots.
Size: Generally 15-20 cm in length.
Habitat: Lagoons, tidal pools, outer reef slopes, caves, and crevices.
Social Behavior: Solitary, in pairs, or in small aggregations.
Diet: Primarily small crustaceans like copepods, mysis, and artemia.
Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, with the male carrying the eggs in a brood pouch.
Other notable features:
Fleshy streams: May have fleshy streams extending from the head, potentially for camouflage.
Territorial: Can be territorial and may not tolerate other fish with similar behavior.
Difficult to Acclimatize: Can be challenging to feed in captivity, preferring live foods.
