The Promises of the Ocean

The powderblue surgeonfish typically measures around twenty centimeters but some rare individuals reach forty. This herbivore is common from East Asia to Bali. It gets its name from the white spot under its snout.

The bristle-tail file-fish (Acreichthys tomentosus) is a master of mimicry, able to change the color and texture of its skin to blend in with the epiphytes of tropical seagrass beds. It plays an ecological role in controlling the proliferation of these organisms, thus protecting the photosynthesis of the seagrasses it lives in.

Amphiprion ocellaris is the best-known species of clownfish. It was popularized by Disney's productions "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory". It is mainly found in the eastern Indian Ocean, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, along the coasts of Thailand and Malaysia, as well as from northwestern Australia to Singapore.

The saddleback anemonefish generally lives in symbiosis with the leather anemone or Haddon's anemone. It feeds on plants, algae, and microorganisms closely related to its host.

The eyes of this fish are masked by a colored band and has an eye spot on the back of it body that draws the attention of predators to body parts away from vital organs. It is appreciated by aquarists, but it must be given the large preys, preferably alive ...

The Coral Hawkfish most often rests in or under the corals to ambush its prey, mainly crustaceans and small fish. In this species, territorial males form a harem of females. Reproduction occurs in the water column, with eggs and larvae developing in ocean currents and becoming part of the zooplankton.

Dicentrarchus labrax also known as "european bass", sea bass" or "loup de mer" is an emblematic fish of European coasts. The species has been known and appreciated for its meat since the Antiquity. Unfortunately, it is threatened by overfishing. Today, most of the bars consumed in Europe are raised in aquaculture farms.

The magnificent sea anemone is found in a large part of the Indo-Pacific region. With individuals reaching nearly one meter in diameter, this species is one of the most impressive anemones in the animal kingdom. In many areas, clownfish, immune to their venom, live in symbiosis with these animals, protected by their tentacles.

The bluestreak cleaner wrasse feeds exclusively by parasitically cleaning larger fish and turtles. In the reefs, it coordinates a cleaning station, typically near branching corals. Particularly active at the beginning of the day, these small cleaner wrasses clean the gills and mouths of many fish species.

It is one of the largest species of European wrasses. During breeding, the male delimits a territory. From the age of six, females become males (hermaphroditism protogynous). In Britain, the flesh of the big wrasse is highly appreciated.

The fire goby gets its name from the vibrant red color that covers the back of its body. As adults, these fish live in pairs in small burrows they dig. They are shy species that spend their time suspended near their refuge, hunting zooplankton.

It is particularly smart. In case of danger, it can cover up or release a "cloud" of ink. In general, the male dies shortly after mating. The female protects the eggs until they hatch and then it dies. Its flesh is highly appreciated.

Industrial fishing has endangered spawning stocks of the species. Its flesh is sometimes used to make "coley" sticks (Fish sticks). It has been attempted to use the fish for pisciculture. But because of the low profitability, farming the fish was abandoned.

This fish lives near diadem-urchins. At the slightest danger, it takes refuge between the long spines of sea urchins. The male guards the eggs in the mouth until they hatch. It is threatened in the wild because of fishing for the aquarium trade. This species breeds in captivity.

By day, these fish form a small group and remain free from branched corals. At night, the group dislocates and specimens go down near the bottom for food. During the incubation period, the eggs are kept in the mouth of the male. The latter fasts until they hatch.

The black seabream is a prized species in western fisheries. It lives alone or in large groups near seagrass beds and rocky bottoms, seeking small invertebrates such as crustaceans or mollusks.