BEAUTIFUL DAMSELS: BAHAMAS REEF FISH (9)
YELLOWTAIL DAMSELFISH
BICOLOR DAMSELFISH
COCOA DAMSELFISH
THREE-SPOT DAMSELFISH (JUV)
THREE-SPOT DAMSELFISH
Photo credits: Melinda Riger @ Grand Bahama Scuba (except header image – Wiki-cheers)
Tag Archives: Bahamas Reef Fish
‘UNDERWATER BUTTERFLIES’: BAHAMAS REEF FISH (8)
UNDERWATER BUTTERFLIES: BAHAMAS REEF FISH (8)
Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) belong to a large worldwide family of small, colourful reef fishes. There are several sorts to be found in the Bahamas, of which 4 are shown below. These creatures resemble small angel fishes, and are invariably vividly coloured, strikingly patterned, or in many cases, both. Apart from that, the most interesting fact about them is that their species name Chaetodontidae derives from a Greek compound noun meaning ‘hair tooth’. This unsettling description relates to the rows of tiny, fine filament-like teeth inside their protuberant mouths. If I ever get a photo of a butterflyfish showing its teeth while feeding or yawning, I will add it here…
FOUR-EYED BUTTERFLYFISH
REEF BUTTERFLYFISH
SPOTFIN BUTTERFLYFISH
BANDED BUTTERFLYFISH
Photo Credit: Melinda Riger, Grand Bahama Scuba
BAHAMAS REEF FISH (7): MASTERS OF UNDERWATER CAMOUFLAGE
BAHAMAS MASTERS OF UNDERWATER CAMOUFLAGE
SCORPIONFISH
PEACOCK FLOUNDER or PLATE FISH Bothus lunatus
Photos: Melinda at Grand Bahama Scuba
This is my last post until next week, when apparently we can expect a snowy welcome. Hmmmm. Plenty of new material for kind followers – both of you..
DELPHI DAWN
GRAY ANGELFISH (Pomacanthus arcuatus) BAHAMAS REEF FISH (3)
Gray Angelfish
GRAY ANGELFISH (Pomacanthus arcuatus) BAHAMAS REEF FISH (3)
I recently posted about the highly coloured QUEEN ANGELFISH, a striking coral reef resident glowing with fluorescent blues and yellows. It’s the Angelfish that went into showbiz and succeeded. Its close cousin the Gray Angelfish is a more sedate creature, with the appearance of a professional – law, possibly, or medicine. That thin blue fin-edging suggests a flamboyant streak. Slightly mean mouth? Lawyer.**
This species is found in the warm waters of Florida, and south through the Bahamas and Caribbean as far as Brazil. They are found at depths from 2 m. down to 30 m. You are most likely to encounter one on a coral reef feeding on sponges, its main diet. The fish below with the bluer face is a teenager, in transition between juvenile and adult. 
It’s clear from side on that Gray Angelfish are ‘upright flat’, but it’s surprising just how slim they actually are. Photographer Melinda Riger has captured this front view against a stunning red backdrop. Disappointingly, these fish seem to lead blameless and anodyne lives as reef-foragers, and I’ve been unable to turn up a single interesting fact about them. That’s lawyers for you.**
Photo Credits: main images ©Melinda Riger, Grand Bahama Scuba; Header – Wikipix
** I can say this – I am one…
QUEEN ANGELFISH (Holacanthus ciliaris) – BAHAMAS REEF FISH (2)
QUEEN ANGELFISH (Holacanthus ciliaris) - BAHAMAS REEF FISH (2)
The Queen Angel is one of several reef fish species where the difference in colouring between juveniles and adults is marked. They are commonly found in the waters of Florida and the Bahamas, with a range extending to the Gulf of Mexico. Adults can grow to 3.5 lbs (to mix metric with avoirdupois) and they can live up to 15 years. Like all Angelfish, they rely on their pectoral fins for propulsion as they forage on the reefs for their mixed diet of sponges, coral, plankton, algae, and even jellyfish. As the photo below shows, they have no problem swimming upside down…
QUEEN ANGELFISH (JUVENILE) 
Evidence suggests that adult Queen Angels may form ‘monogamous’ pairings. Brief research in the factosphere suggests that the proposition is somewhat tenuous. Maybe pairs just like hanging out - possibly to gain some territorial advantage – and anthropomorphising that into lifelong partnership terms may be overstating the relationship… Whether wed for life or not, the actual mating process is remarkably efficient. The pair snuggle up close, simultaneously releasing large quantities of sperm and tens of thousands of eggs. The fertilised eggs hatch within a day. Respect!
QUEEN ANGELFISH (ADULT)
Photo Credits for the amazing main images: ©Melinda Riger (Grand Bahama Scuba), with thanks; header image WikiPic
