Tag Archives: fish facts

Facts about Unicorn Tangs

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Interesting Facts About Unicorn Tangs

Unicorn tangs or Naso unicornis are members of the family Acanthuridae commonly refer to as surgeonfish. There are 80 species in 6 different genera in this family. All have one distinguishing characteristic. They have sharp blades at the base of their tails (caudal peduncle) on both sides of their bodies that are used in self-defense. Seventeen of the 80 species are unicornfish. Here we will be elaborating on the unicorn tang. They are endemic to the Indo-Pacific from Indonesia and Christmas Island westward to the Andaman Sea, south to the eastern coast of Africa and east to the Hawaiian Islands. When you are diving around the Gili Islands you will find the everywhere.

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Facts about Stonefish

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The Stonefish (Leptosynanceia asteroblepa)

The stonefish can go from appearing to be a simple, harmless rock lying on the ocean’s floor to a stone-cold killer in a flash, making it one of nature’s most amazing quick-change artists.

Known for being the most venomous fish in the world, the stonefish makes its home in the shallow water among the coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans off Africa and the Red Sea to Northern Australia. Here when we are diving around the Gili Islands you can find a few stonefish at the Biorock, Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia.

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Facts about Eagle Rays

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Eagle Rays (Myliobatidae)

Eagle rays have a protruding head that is distinct from the disc. Other features includes eyes and spiracles situated laterally, pectoral fins modified to form large trianglular wing flaps,tail much longer than disc, and usually one or more venomous spines near the tail base.

They have powerful jaws equipped with large plate like crushing teeth arranged in several rows adapted for feeding on hard shelled clams, mussels and oysters.

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Facta about Stargazers

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Stargazers (Uranoscopidae)

Stargazers are named for their peculiar appearance with eyes positioned dorsally on the head, usually with protruding eyes that are directed upward. The body is moderately elongate and depressed anteriorly. The large head is almost entirely encased in sculptured bones and also flattened. The large, nearly vertical mouth is equipped with small teeth and there is a peculiar respiratory valve inside the lower jaw that functions as a lure for attracting fish prey. The lips are fringed with numerous papillae in most species. They are also numerous tiny cirri along the fleshy posterior margin of the operculum. The gill openings are very broad and equipped with dorsal, valve like openings, which aid respiration when partially buried. A stout cleithral spine situated just behind each dorsal gill opening. This spine is venomous in at least some species and serious injuries have been reported.

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Facts about Triggerfish

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Triggerfish (Balistidae)

Triggerfish are characterised by latterally compressed, rugby ball shape, leathery skin, and small mouth with powerful crushing jaws. Their common name is derived from the peculiar mechanism by which the first dorsal spine can be locked into an erect position by the second dorsal spine. If the pressure is exerted on the trigger like second spine, the first spine can be unlocked and depressed. This device is used to good advantage at night when the fish wedge into a coral crevice and locks itself in.

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Facts about Rabbitfish

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Rabbitfish (Siganidae)

Rabbitfish are common inhabitants of Indo Pacific reefs, like the waters around the Gili Islands.

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Facts about Blennies

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Blennies (Blenniidae)

Blennies occur worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas like around the Gili Islands with an estimated 350 species in about 50 genera.

They are elongate, laterally compressed fish and most are blunt headed, frequently possessing small tentacles, cirri, or a fleshy crest on the head. There is a single dorsal fin, although the fin may be deeply notched between the anterior spinous portion and posterior soft portion. The mouth is low on the head and not protractile. Jaw teeth are numerous, slender, and close set, either fixed or movable.

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Facts about Goatfish

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Goatfish (Mullidae)

Goatfish are common in all tropical and warm temperate seas, like around the Gili Islands, Lombok, Indonesia, forming an integral component of the reef fish community throughout the Indo Pacific region. Their distincive appearance includes a slender shape, relatively elongate, pointed snout, a small. slightly ventral, protrusible mouth with maxilla partially hidden under the preorbital, finely ctenoid, moderately large scales, two well separated dorsal fins ans a pair of barbels or chin “whiskers”.

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Facts about Bigeyes

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Bigeyes (Priacanthidae)

Bigeyes are distinctive fish characterised by brilliant red colouration, small scales and large glassy eyes.

Additional features include a relatively deep, laterally compressed body, very oblique mouth with a strongly projecting lower jaw, small conical jaw teeth in narrow bands, very small scales that are rough to touch, a scaled head, ans a relatively large pelvic fins, which are joined to the abdomen by a membrane.

Although usually red, most species are capable of rapid colour changes, often assuming a heavily blotched, barred, or silvery pattern.

As their large eyes might suggest, they are nocturnally active, feeding on a variety of ocropus, crustaceans, and small fish.

During the day bigeyes are commonly seen sheltering close to the reef, usually in vicinity of caves or ledges.

Some species range into deep water, at least down to 400 meter.

They are commonly seen onb the reefs around the Gili Islands.

Facts about Cardinalfish

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strong>Cardinalfish (Apogonidae)

Cardinalfish are one of the largest families of Indo Pacific reef fish. An estimated 250 species are currently known, of which 150 species occur on or near reefs in the East Indian region, like the Gili Islands. It is also one of the most dymanic groups for new discoveries. Many new species have been described over the past few years and more can be expected.

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