Réunion - List of fishes

This damselfish lives in shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates, and is recognized by its 5 black vertical stripes and the fluorescent yellow band under its dorsal fin.

Easily recognizable by its horizontal black and blue stripes on a yellow background, this surgeonfish is a compulsive swimmer. Large males control well-defined feeding territories and surround themselves with a harem of females.

The convict surgeonfish are common inhabitants of the lagoons and seagrass beds of the Indo-Pacific region. Fond of filamentous algae, these herbivorous fish are often found in mangroves and estuaries, at the edge of freshwater. They are easily recognizable by their vertical black stripes.

The spotted eagle ray, also known as the leopard ray, inhabits coastal and estuaries waters of the Indo-Pacific zone. The largest individuals can reach over 3 meters. Subjected to overfishing, this species, characterized by its gregarious lifestyle and low fecundity, is threatened throughout its range. Partial protective measures exist today in some areas, such as the Maldives and Australia.

The body of this fish is almost completely covered with small spines. It can swell with water and triple in size to impress predators. Its flesh is toxic. In the aquarium, it is very voracious and grows rapidly. It can damage, with a bite, the decors, pipes, diffusers ...

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 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.

This fish is very shy and it is easy to approach it when diving. it eyes are hidden by transverse black lines. It has a black eyespot on the dorsal fin, which attracts the attention of predators to parts of its body where there are no vital organs.

The blacklip butterflyfish has a broad geographical distribution that spans from the Red Sea to the Galápagos Islands. Typically, it is found alone or in pairs in shallow coral reefs. It feeds on polyps of soft corals, particularly leather corals and broccoli corals.

The bleeker's parrotfish is a common tropical fish in the shallow waters of reef zones and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific region. Females have a dark brown body with light bands on the sides, while males are green in color and roam the corals alone.

The captain parrotfish is distinguished by its blue-green color and slightly rounded caudal fin. It can be found around Mauritius, the Maldives, the Chagos archipelago, and more recently around Reunion Island.

The blue-green Chromis is a fish that lives in large schools above dense coral areas. At the slightest alarm, this swift fish takes refuge in the colonies of branching corals. The Blue-green Chromis is common throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

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.