Explore the Collection: Fishes
Fishes are among the most diverse and colourful marine animals. There are two major classes of fishes, the Cartilaginous Fishes (Class: Chondrichthyes) ie sharks and rays, and the Bony Fishes (Class: Osteichthyes). There are approximately 25 000 species of fish found worldwide and ~96% of these are bony fish.
Fish possess a range of body shapes and colour patterns depending on the ecosystem they inhabit. For example, some fish are able to achieve high speed in the open water, some camouflage in sand to ambush their prey and others blend into corals to avoid predators.
Fish are of great interest to humans: they are caught during recreational activities for food and for sport, are observed during SCUBA diving or snorkeling ventures, and are kept as aquarium pets.
Did you know?
There is much confusion about whether to use the word fish or fishes when describing the most well known inhabitants of the sea.
‘Fish’ is used when talking about one individual or one species, for example when describing a school of one type of fish.
‘Fishes’ should be used if referring to several different species, e.g. there are many fishes living among the reef.
Fish Species:
Click on any of the Fish species below to read more.
Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
The Grey Reef Shark inhabits coral reefs throughout the Indo-West Pacific Region at depths of up to 280 m. This species is distinguished by the black margin on the tail.
Read more about the Grey Reef Shark…
Blue-spotted Fantail Ray (Taeniura lymma)
This ray can be found living in areas with sandy bottoms, near coral reefs. When the tide is low or falling they take shelter under ledges or in caves, while during a rising or high tide they emerge into the shallows to feed on molluscs, worms and crustaceans.
Read more about the Blue-spotted Fantail Ray…
Yellow-edged Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
Yellow-edged Moray Eels can be found among crevices of coral reefs along the northern coast of Australia and throughout south-east Asia. Yellow-edged Morays are generally yellow-brown in colour with the dark spotting along the body and head.
Read more about the Grey Reef Shark…
Western Australian Seahorse (Hippocampus angustus)
The Western Australian Seahorse can be found living among sheltered reefs or seagrasses at depths of up to 10 m along the northern and western coasts of Australia.
Read more about the Western Australian Seahorse…
Scribbled Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus duboulayi)
The Scribbled Angelfish lives in coastal waters around reefs or in areas with open flat sea beds among coral, sponges and sea-whips. They are generally found in pairs or small groups, and feed on sponges or sea squirts.
Read more about the Scribbled Angelfish…
Margined Coralfish (Chelmon marginalis)
Margined Coralfish have a predominately white body, with a broad vertical yellow band towards the tail. They also have two narrow vertical orange bars near the head.
Read more about the Margined Coralfish…
Moon Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare)
Moon Wrasse have an elongated body that is dark green to blue with fine pink vertical lines, and with bright yellow markings on the tail.
Read more about the Moon Wrasse…
