The Orange skunk clownfish is found from the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Australia to the Philippines and Melanesia. It is a close relative of the Pink skunk clown, A. perideraion, but differs in its orange coloration and single stripe along its dorsal area. Pink skunk clownfish, like their relatives are very territorial, rarely straying from the protection of their host sea anemone. They breed readily in aquariums and will spawn about every ten days. The average nest size is 300 eggs.
The Fathead anthias is also known as the Sunburst anthias because of the splash of yellow color on its face. It was originally described in 1949 and was placed in the hawkfish family. Its genus means grouper-hawkfish. These hardy aquarium fish generally prefer the protection of an overhang, or cave and can often be seen swimming upside down. Unlike their other anthias cousins, they have a deep body and elongate pectoral fins.
The Black ocellaris clownfish, or Black Percula clownfish as they are often called, are a color variant of the more popular Orange ocellaris, which is frequently confused with a true percula clownfish A. percula. They are generally small in size and can be found in small groups usually associated with a host sea anemone. The Black ocellaris clownfish is a hardy aquarium species and when kept in pairs can breed readily. Juveniles of this color variety can be light brown in color until they mature.
Bangaii cardinalfish are small striped fish that can easily camouflage themselves in the spines of sea urchin. Like other members of the cardinalfish family, male Banggai cardinalfish are mouth brooders. Once the eggs hatch, the male incubates the young fry in his mouth for up to one month. Because of this breeding behavior, Banggai cardinalfish have become very popular in the aquarium hobby.
The Pink skunk clownfish is named for its pink coloration and the narrow white head band and white dorsal stripe. It is a coral reef dweller often associated with the Magnificent sea anemone, Heteractis magnifica. It is found in the tropical Western Pacific from the Philippines to Japan and Micronesia to Australia and Samoa. It is a hardy species that breeds readily in an aquarium environment.
The Barred spinefoot, or Rabbitfish, is named for its striped coloration and its rabbit-like grazing behavior. Like other members of its family, the Barred spinefoot is herbivorous and its mouth is designed especially for removing algae from the rocks or coral branches. The upper jaw is fixed and only the tip of the mouth can move, creating a nibbling action. The Barred spinefoot is found in very shallow water in the Western Pacific, living most of its life at depths of less than ten feet.
The Spinefoot foxface, or Bicolor foxface is a member of the Rabbitfish family, Siganidae. It is found in the Western Pacific and is endemic to the Fiji Islands. Like other foxfaces, the Spinefoot foxface has venomous dorsal spines. By nature, foxfaces are herbivores and can be seen grazing on algae growing amongst their coral reef habitat.
The Tomato clownfish is named for its bright red coloration, which can vary in shade from burnt orange to tomato red. They are one of the larger clownfish species, and can be one of the most aggressive. Females are generally larger than the males, and clownfish have the ability to change sex from male to female. In the Fiji exhibit, Tomato clowns frequently lay eggs, usually on the underside of a rock, and just underneath the safety of a large anemone.
The Lyretail anthias, also known as the Scalefin anthias, is found in the Indo-West Pacific, often in large aggregations. The brightly colored pink males and orange females can be seen feeding on zooplankton throughout the day. Like other members of the Serranidae family, the Lyretail anthias is hermaphroditic. Males choose a harem of females with which to mate. In the absence of a male, the dominant female will become a male. In this case, the female’s orange coloration will change to pink and her dorsal fin will become more ornate.
The Bluelined hulafish, or Braun’s hulafish, is a little known species found in the subtropical waters of Australia. It is a small fish reaching a length of three inches with a bright blue stripe running horizontally from head to tail. It is a schooling fish and can be found in large numbers feeding on zooplankton. A nesting species, males of this species are believed to protect the eggs until hatching.
© 2024 The Dallas World Aquarium.
