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GOBIES (Gobiidae)
The largest family of marine fishes, comprising over 200 genera
and an estimated 1500 species world wide. The majority of species
are tropical and live on reefs or nearby on sand. Many of the sand
gobies bury in the sand at night, others use burrows.
Because of
their small size and secretive habits, many new species are being
discovered, especially in the south-east Asian region, and the total
number of species is even difficult to guess at this stage.
Many
species are highly specialized and associate with various invertebrates,
ranging from certain coral species and sponges to specific crustaceans.
Most gobies pair to breed and use burrows, narrow ledges and empty
shells for nesting sites, producing hundreds of sticky eggs. The
male or both sexes guard the eggs. Hatching larvae are attracted
by light and swim quickly to the surface.
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 Length:
to 2,5 cm
Common in shallow water around the Similan Islands in diverse mixed rubble, coral and
algae reef habitats.
Distinct by large red blotches and a
greenish sheen. Feeds on zooplankton.
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 Length:
to 11 cm
Inhabits mixed sand and rubble bottoms. Always associated
with the red-banded shrimp Alpheus randalli.
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CARDINALFISHES (Apogonidae)
A very large family of small reef fishes, most numerous in tropical
waters. The majority of species live in shallow coastal waters,
occupying caves and crevices during the day and drifting out in
the open during the night to feed. Their diet consists of small
planktonic invertebrates but a few also feed on small fishes.
They
typically have 2 spines in the anal fin and 2 usually separate dorsal
fins. The reef dwellers are distinctly marked with stripes and spots.
Cardinal fishes are one of the few marine fish families which use
oral brooding. After fertilization the male takes the eggs in the
mouth for incubation which lasts just over one week.
Apart from
brooding males the sexes are very similar. In some species the females
are larger and more colorful, particularly during courtship, in
which she dominates.
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 Length:
to 25 cm
Inhabit coastal reefs and rocky estuaries. A widespread, large
species with powerful jaws and strong teeth, feeding on fishes
and crustaceans.
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FUSILIERS (Caesionidae)
A small, tropical family, closely related to Snappers. Fusiliers
are schooling, planktivorous, small fishes with streamlined bodies.
On the reefs these fishes have ornamental value with their bright
colors, mostly yellow and blue. Large schools commonly patrol the
slopes and walls in pursuit of zooplankton. By night, they change
color and hide in caves and crevices in the coral reef.
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 Length:
to 24 cm
Encountered on coastal reef slopes and inner reefs or along
drop-offs, forming loose schools of up to 50 specimens.
Distinguished
by the lateral golden stripe continuing onto the upper lobe
of the caudal fin.
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GOATFISHES (Mullidae)
A widespread family of bottom dwelling fishes, living on sandy
flats or coral rubble. An easily identified family by the presence
of a pair of barbels on the chin.
Many are bright red all over or
with broad bands. Sometimes these colors show during the day when
resting on the substrate or when visiting cleaning stations to highlight
the presence of parasites.
Goatfishes use their strong barbels to
dig and sense prey in the substrate. Their diet consists of
crustaceans, invertebrates and small fish. Often they are accompanied
by unrelated species such as wrasses, which keep an eye on the work
of the goatfish in case something tasty appears.
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 Length:
to 55 cm
Widespread species in the Similan area. Largest species of the family.
Inhabits coastal reefs and lagoons, mostly solitaire or in
small groups.
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SOLDIERFISHES (Holocentridae)
A large, globally distributed tropical family with about 70 species,
mostly of red coloration.
They are nocturnal, by day commonly seen
in caves or under large overhangs along drop-offs. They are secretive,
occurring singly or schooling in caves. At night they hunt for shrimps
or large zooplankton and swim individually over reefs or sand.
All
species have in common a deep forked caudal fin, big eyes, an elastic
mouth and large scales. Also includes Squirrel fishes (Holocentrinae),
which have a prominent spine on the lower corner of the gill cover,
which is thought to be venomous in some species.
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 Length:
to 27 cm
Inhabits coastal reefs and large lagoons. Usually at moderate
depths in small to large aggregations.
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Length: to 27 cm
One of the most common soldier fishes in our area. Sometimes
in huge aggregations, also swimming far from the sheltering
reef.
Like all family members, they can produce sounds for
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WRASSES (Labridae)
The wrasses make up one of the largest families of fishes on tropical
reefs worldwide. It comprises more than 60 genera and an estimated
400 species.
Wrasses are highly diverse in shape and range greatly
in size. They can be recognized by their thick lips and a tight
mouth opening. Normally juveniles become females first and males
derive from females.
In almost all species the fully developed males
become very colorful and can look totally different from the earlier
stages. Most males dominate a number of females and are territorial
towards other males.
Wrasses feed on a great variety of invertebrates
and small fishes. A few are specialized feeders, taking plankton
or picking parasites from other fishes. Wrasses are active at day
and retire by either burying in the sand or by wedging themselves
into crevices.
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 Length:
to 10 cm
Most abundant cleaner fish. A pattern of longitudinal stripes
clearly identifies cleaner wrasses to host fishes.
It even
swims into the wide opened mouth of large groupers to clean
their teeth. Great to watch at a cleaning staion during dives in the Similan Islands or around Phuket.
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Length: to 2,3 m
The napoleon is the largest and heaviest of all wrasses. This
species can reach up to 150 kg, feeding mainly on molluscs.
Adults can be easily recognized by their large size and the
hump on the forehead. They are not shy towards divers.
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