mer d'Oman - List of fishes

The barred flagtail gets its name from the pattern on its caudal fin. In the wild, it is found in large schools not far from the shore. At nightfall, these fish go hunting for crustaceans and small fish.

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.

The silver moony is a common species found in various coastal habitats, from bays and mangroves to muddy coastal reefs. It primarily feeds on plankton and detritus. Its range extends from the Red Sea and East Africa to Polynesia and Australia, including the Persian Gulf and the freshwater zone of the Mekong Delta.

The name 'unicornfish' refers to the protrusions found in adult individuals. These unicornfish inhabit the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Throughout their growth, these fish continuously change colors and patterns. They usually live in small groups, but large schools can form in areas with strong ocean currents.

This large unicorn fish is a common inhabitant of lagoons and reefs with strong currents. Primarily diurnal, it feeds on brown algae like sargassum. It can be encountered in small groups or solitary.

Naso vlamingii, more commonly known as the bignose unicornfish, is a surgeonfish found in much of the Indo-Pacific. It has a bump above its mouth from which a blue stripe runs to the base of its eyes. It has the ability to make this stripe appear or disappear.

Easily recognizable by its shape and blue color, this triggerfish naturally lives in groups in the turbulent waters near coral reefs. During the breeding season, males and females pair up to build a nest. They fiercely defend this small territory against other fish species and, more broadly, against any intrusion, even human.

The yellow boxfish is recognizable by its characteristic trapezoidal shape and its round mouth protruding like a beak. Its two large round eyes are prominent on the top of its head. Adults typically display a bright yellow color, covered with scattered black spots. However, there are variations in color such as ochre and blue, sometimes with white spots or black-ringed white spots, especially in the Red Sea. Juveniles are blue to greenish, always with the same pattern.

This fish lives camouflaged among the gorgonians. it watches its prey from a promontory and swims quickly toward them to catch them before returning to it observation post. During the breeding season, the male performs a courtship display to attract the attention of a female.