barrière de corail - Discover fishes living in these biotopes

Blackspotted puffer frequents tropical marine waters from East Africa to Micronesia. It is common in coastal reefs with rich invertebrate growth on outer slopes. Often solitary but also in pairs, it feeds on corals, crustaceans, mollusks, sponges, tunicates, and algae. Like its congeners, it is capable of producing and accumulating toxins such as tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin in its skin, gonads, and liver.

Arothron stellatus is one of the giants among pufferfish. It is easily recognizable by its dark markings. Typically solitary, this species frequents sandy areas of lagoons and offshore reefs. It is a copepod predator that supplements its diet with various crustaceans and fish eggs.

This fish crushes shells and the shells of its prey using its particularly strong teeth. During breeding, the male digs a nest in the sand where the female comes to lay its eggs. The male protects them until they hatch. In an aquarium, this species can be aggressive towards other fish.

The yellow and blueback fusilier is a tropical fish that lives in schools in coral lagoons. Its body is elongated and two-toned, primarily yellow and blue. This species feeds on zooplankton around coral reefs.

Carcharhinus falciformis, known as the silky shark, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical seas. However, this species is threatened due to overfishing, and is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Recognizable by its elongated and slender body, gray back, and white belly, this fast and aggressive predator feeds on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.

The bull shark is listed in most tropical and subtropical seas. It is feared due to its propensity to attack humans, being responsible for most recorded fatal attacks to date. This active predator primarily hunts in murky waters. It is capable of swimming long distances and adapts to changes in salinity, frequenting estuaries, coves along the coasts, and waters with high turbidity.

The bicolor angelfish is a tropical fish found throughout much of the Indo-Pacific region. It is easily recognizable by its bicolor pattern, bright yellow on top, followed by blue. This omnivore frequents lagoons and protected reef slopes, either as a pair or in small scattered groups.

The coral beauty angelfish is always born female. As they grow, individuals change their sex to become male, a phenomenon known as protogynous sequential hermaphroditism. The difference between male and female is therefore visible. The adult male is larger and has an anal fin ending in a point.

Colored in fluorescent yellow, this angelfish has earned the nickname 'lemon angelfish.' All individuals are born female, and some undergo a gender change during growth. These fish, well-known among aquarium enthusiasts, are found in the western Pacific Ocean, in coral-rich tropical waters.