Needlefish (Belonidae)
Image: David Vinot
Observed: Koh Chang, February 2016
Observed By: David Vinot
The Needlefish are a family of fish that feed on other small fishes and live at or near the sea surface.
They are notable for their ability to leap out of and skip along the surface of the water. This behavoir, whilst delightful to behold can pose a threat to humans since shoals of needlefish can leap over fishing boats and impale themselves in the unwary at speeds of up to 60km/h, causing nasty puncture wounds.
Needlefish Wikipedia
Yellow Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs, December 2015
Observed By: BB Divers
The yellow boxfish is a species of boxfish that is coloured yellow. With us so far? When young they are apparently a bright and vivid yellow colour but this colour fades with age and older fish will have a blue-grey and faded yellow colour. Poor old things.
They are solitary animals but breed in spring in groups of one male and between two and four females, a thought that probably keeps them going through those dark winter months.
They are such agile swimmers that in 2006 Mercedes Benz produced a concept car based on their shape. They must have been somewhat displeased when it was later discovered that their swimming agility is more to do with the combination of fin movements with their un-aerodynamic body shape. back to the drawing board then.
Yellow Boxfish Wikipedia
Yellowback Fusilier (Caesio xanthonota)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs, December 2015
Observed By: BB Divers
The yellowback fusilier is a small fish with a pale body and a distinctive bright yellow zone on its back. They swarm in large numbers and are a common sight around Koh Chang reefs and lagoons and all over the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
They feed on zooplankton and are therefore planktivores, not quite vegetarians, but close.
Yellowback Fusilier Wikipedia
White-eyed Moray Eel (Siderea thyrsoidea)
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs, October 2015
Observed By: Jonathan Milnes
And what a white eye this moray eel has. It has one of the most impressive stares in the ocean.
The white-eyed moray is a widespread tropical species of eel that is common throughoutthe Indo-Pacific region. They live amongst rocks and in coral reefs and are also common residents of shipwrecks. They grow to a maximum length of 65cm.
White-eyed Moray Eel daveharasti.com
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: BB Divers
The spiny dogfish is a member of the squalidae or dogfish family of sharks. It is found in many parts of the world usually in shallow waters.
The male shark doesn’t mature until around 11 years of age butthe female is not mature until around 18-21 years of age. They grow to a maximum length of 99 – 159cm and are thought to live for up to 100 years. Their young gestate for between 18 and 24 months which is thought to be the longest of any known animal.
The spiny dogfish used to be the most abundant species of shark in the world but overfishing has led to dramatic decreases in numbers.
Spiny Dogfish Wikipedia
Scribbled Filefish (Aluterus scriptus)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: BB Divers
The scribbled filefish is a marine fish belonging to the family Monacanthidae. It can grow up to 110cm in length and has a distinctive elongated snout and a small sharp-toothed mouth. It has a blue, brown and black patterned marking but the iridescent blue lines are the most eye catching.
Scribbled Filefish Wikipedia
Orbicular Batfish (Platax orbicularis)
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: Jonathan Milnes
The Longfin batfish is one of the larger reef-dwelling fishes to be found in Koh Chang waters, growing up to 60cm in length.
Orbicular Batfish Wikipedia
Image Copyright Hanah Weerkamp
Image Copyright BB Divers
Image Copyright BB Divers
Image Copyright BB Divers
Red Breasted Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: BB Divers
You can’t see the breast of the fish pictured, but trust us, it’s red. The red-breasted wrasse (name like a tongue-twister) is an attractive white red and brown striped reef fish common to the waters of the Indo-Pacific region that grows to a maximum length of 40cm.
Red Breasted Wrasse Wikipedia
Orange-Spine Unicornfish (Naso Lituratus)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: BB Divers
Good grief. Carlos The Jackal didn’t have as many alises as this fish. Naso literatus can also be know as, wait for it, barcheek unicornfish, clown tang, masked unicornfish, naso tang, orange-spine surgeonfish, orange-spine unicornfish, Pacific orange-spine unicorn, poll unicornfish, redlip surgeonfish, smooth-head unicornfish, and striped unicornfish.
It is a common reef fish that grows up to 45cm in length and it can be found on reefs all around the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Orange-Spine Unicornfish Wikipedia
Masked Porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: BB Divers
The masked porcupinefish is also known as the black-blotched porcupinefish, but that’s frankly a rubbish name for this enigmatic little animal.
The first thing that you notice if you spot one whilst diving or snorkelling are the huge eyes that seem to follow you around.
It has scales that have modified into spines. When threatned it inflates its body by swallowing water and presents its spines to predators. And as a further disincentive it contains a powerful neurotoxin in several parts of its body. So don’t even think about eating it!
Masked Porcupinefish Wikipedia
