Indonesia Photo gallery: Diving Komodo National Park: Fish

More than three thousand species of fish are found within the "coral triangle".

NOTE: We are not experts on these animals. If we have misidentified one, or if you can identify one we could not identify, please email us so we can correct it.

Anemonefish or clownfish form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones. Most are orange, yellow, red, or black, often with white stripes. They are omnivorous and can feed on leftover food from their host anemone. Fecal matter from the fish provides nutrients to the anemone.,

pink anemonefish, Amphiprion perideraion

Clark's anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii

false clown anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris

tomato anemonefish, Amphiprion frenatus

Angelfish have deep, laterlally compressed bodies. They resemble butterflyfish but have strong preopercle spines on the gill covers. Many species have streamer-like extensions of the soft dorsal and anal fins.

regal angelfish, Pygoplites diacanthus

blue-girdled angelfish, Pomacanthus navarchus

semicircle angelfish, Pomacanthus semicirculatus

emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator

three-spot angelfish, Apolemichthys trimaculata

six-banded angelfish, Pomacanthus sexstriatus

Anthias are mainly pink, orange, or yellow. They form large shoals. Within the shoal, harems consist of one dominanat, colorful male, two to twelve females, and up to two subdominanat males. All anthias are born female. If a dominant male dies, the largest female will develop into a male and takes its place.

scalefin anthias, Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Bannerfish look like smaller versions of angelfish, but lack preopercle spines on their gill covers.

humphead bannerfish, Heniochus varius

singular bannerfish, Heniochus singularius

schooling bannerfish, Heniochus diphreutes

long-fin bannerfish, Heniochus acuminatus

Blennies are small fish with elongated bodies and relatively large eyes and mouths. They spend much of their time on or near the sea floor.

striped fangblenny, Meiacanthus granunistes

Bath's blenny (color variants), Ecsenius bathi

miracle triplefin, Enneapterygius mirabilis

Boxfishes are square bony fishes related to pufferfish and filefish.

yellow boxfish (juvenule, right), Ostracion cubicus

humpback turretfish, Tetrosomus gibbosus

Butterflyfish look like smaller versions of angelfish but lack preopercle spines on their gill covers.

speckled butterflyfish, Chaetodon citrinellas

threadfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga

redfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunulatus

spot-tail butterflyfish, Chaetodon ocellicaudus

black-backed butterflyfish, Chaetodon melannotus

Meyer's butterflyfish, Chaetodon meyeri

oval-spot butterflyfish, Chaetodon speculum

orange-banded coralfish, Coradion chrysozonus

raccoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula

longnose butterflyfish, Forcipiger longirostris

Klein's butterflyfish, Chaetodon kleinii

saddled butterflyfish, Chaetodon ephippium

vagabond butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus

chevroned butterflyfish, Chaetodon trifascialis

lined butterflyfish, Chaetodon lineolatus

Cardinalfish are primarily marine ray-finned fish. They are generally small and often brightly colored. They have large mouths and their dorsal fins are divided into two seprate fins. They are mainly nocturnal.

orange-spot cardinalfish, Apogon rubrimacula

cardinalfish, Apogon sp.

spur-cheek cardinalfish, Apogon fraenatus

black-nosed cardinalfish, Apogon cf. cypselurus

blackstripe cardinalfish, Apogon nigrofasciatus

Wassinki cardinalfish, Apogon wassinki

toothy cardinalfish, Cheilodipterus isostigmus

[unidentified cardinalfish]

frostfin cardinalfish, Apogon cf. hoevenii

spotnape cardinalfish, Apogon notatus

Catfish have fused second dorsal, caudal, and anal fins like eels. The mouth is surrounded by four pairs of barbels. The first doral and each of the pectoral fins have a highly venomous spine.

Striped catfish, Plotosus lineatus

Coral breams are benthic carnivores.

striped monocle bream, Scolopsis lineatus

bridled monocle bream, Scolopsis bilineatus

humpnose bigeye bream, Monotaxis grandoculis

striped large-eye bream, Gnathodentex aureolineatus

Cornetfish are extremely elongated fish found in tropical and subtropical marine environments worldwide. They have very long snouts, distinct dorsal and anal fins, and forked caudal fins whose center rays form a lengthy filament.

cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii

Damselfish have bright colors or strongly contrasting patterns.

golden damsel, Amblyglyphidodon aureus

blackbar chromis, Chromis retrofasciata

reticulated dascyllus, Dascyllus reticulatus

blue-green chromis, Chromis viridis

Philippines chromis, Chromis scotochiloptera

Indo-Pacific sargeant, Abudefduf vaigiensis

black damsel, Neoglyphidodon melas

yellow chromis, Chromis analis

ternate chromis, Chromis ternatensis

Kuiter's demoiselle, Chrysiptera kuiteri

black-banded demoiselle, Amblypomacentrus breviceps

komodo damsel, Pomacentrus komodoensis

bicolor chromis, Chromis margaritifer

three-spot dascyllus (adults left two images, juveniles right), Dascyllus trimaculatus

Ambon chromis, Chromis amboinensis

Dartfish are goby-like fish.

fire dartfish, Nemateleotris magnifica

Eels: in moray eels, the dorsal fin extends from just behind the head along the back and joins seamlessly with the caudal and anal fins. Morays have rather small eyes, relying on their sense of smell to ambsh prey. Garden eels are conger eels. These small eels live in burrows in the sea floor

Yellowmargin moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus

white-eyed moray, Siderea thysoidea

giant moray, Gymnothorax javanicus

Unicolor moray, Echidna unicolor

minor moray, Gymnothorax cf. minor

spotted garden eels, Heteroconger hassi

Flatheads have wide flattened bodies. Both eyes are on top of the flattened head. They can change ciolor and hide in the sand.

horned flathead, Thysanophrys carbunculus

Flounders are several species of flatfish which are only distantly related to each other. As a flounder matures, one eye migrates to the other side of the animal's head.

peacock sole, Pardachirus cf. pavoninus

leopard flounder, Bothus pantherinus

Peacock flounder, Bothus mancus

Frogfish are small, short, stocky anglerfish, often covered in spinnules and other camouflage. Many species can change color.

giant frogfish, Antennarius commersoni

painted frogfish, Antennarius pictus

Fusiliers are related to snappers, but are adapted for feeding on plankton rather than larger prey. Theuy are cylindrical, streamlined fishes.

lunar fusilier, Caesio lunaris

scissortail fusilier, Caesio caerulaurea

bluestreak fusilier (two color phases), Pterocaesio tile

twinstripe fusilier, Pterocaesio marri

narrow-stripe fusilier, Pterocaesio tessellata

yellowback fusilier, Caesio xanthonota

Goatfish have a pair of chin barbels used to probe the sand for food. Many are brightly colored.

Yellowstripe goatfish (night colors), Mulloidichthys flavolineatus

longbarbel goatfish, Parupeneus macronemua

freckled goatfish, Upeneus tragula

island goatfish, Parupeneus insularis

yellowfin goatfish, Mulloidichthys vanicolemsis

Gobies form one of the largest fish families. Most are bottom-dwellers.

orange-dashed goby, Valenciennes puellaris

signal-fin goby, Coryphopterus signipinnis

Randall's shrimpgoby, Amblyeleotris randalli

yellow and white striped pygmygoby, Eviota mikiae

Steinitz' shrimpgoby, Amblyeleotris steinitzi

white-striped pygmygoby, Eviota guttata

signal goby, Signigobius biocellatus

silverspot shrimpgoby, Ctenogobiops crocineus

Groupers have stout bodies and large mouths. They swallow their prey whole rather than biting off pieces. They have heavy crushing tooth plates.

snubnose grouper, Epinephelus macrospilos

leopard grouper, Cephalopholis leopardus

coral grouper, Cephalopholis miniata

slender grouper, Anyperodon cf. leucogrammicus

saddle grouper, Cephalopholis sexmaculata

blacksaddle grouper, Epinephalus howlandi

Gurnards have greatly enlarged pectoral fins. They can walk along sandy bottoms using their peectoral fins.

helmut gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis

Hawkfish have large heads with thick, elongated bodies. Their dorsal fins are merged. At the tip of each spine are several trailing filaments.

freckled hawkfish, Paracirrhites forsteri

pixy hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

threadfin hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys aprinus

Lionfish have conspicuous warning coloration and venomous spiky fin rays. There are twelve species.

common lionfish, Pterois volitans

Kodipungi lionfish, Pterois cf. kodipungi

shortfin lionfish, Dendrochirus brachypterus

spotfin lionfish, Pterois antennata

Lizardfish are bottom-dwelling marine fish. They have slender somewhat cylindrical bodies. Their heads superficially resemble those of lizards.

reef lizardfish, Synodus variegatus

blackblotch lizardfish, Synodus jaculum

The Moorish idol is the only member of its family.

Moorish idol, Zanclus comutus

Parrotfish have teeth forming a tightly-packed mosaic on the external surface of their jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak used to rasp algae off of coral.

greenthroat parrotfish, Scarus prasiognathos

redlip parrotfish, Scarus rubroviolaceus

Bower's parrotfish, Chlorurus bowersi

bridled parrotfish, Scarus frenatus

bicolor parrotfish, Cetoscarus bicolor

bumphead parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum

Pipefish look like straight-bodied sea horses with tiny mouths. They have a highly-modified skeleton formed into armored plating. Ghost pipefishes are related to pipefishes and seahorses. They usually float mouth downards near a background which makes them hard to see. Female ghost pipefish use their enlarged pelvic fins to brood their eggs until they hatch.

ornate ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus

robust ghost pipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus

ringed pipefish, Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus

Puffers are mostly toxic, including some of the most poisonous vertebrates in the world. A puffer can fill its extremely elastic stomach with water or even air until it is much larger and nearly spherical. All puffers have spines, not always visible unless the fish is inflated.

black-spotted puffer, Arothron nigropunctatus

striped puffer, Arothron manilensis

black-saddled toby, Canthigaster valentini

fingerprint toby, Canthigaster compressa

porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix

star puffer, Arothron stellatus

map puffer, Arothron mappa

Rabbitfish are native to shallow Indo-Pacfic waters. They are commercially important food fish.

foxface rabbitfish, Siganus vulpinus

masked rabbitfish, Siganus puellus

Rays are the largest group of cartilaginous fish and are closely related to sharks. Rays have flattened bodies, enlarged pectoral fins that are fused to the head, and gill slits on their ventral surface.

blue-spotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura hymma

cowtail stingray, Pastinachus sephen

spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari

devil ray, Mobula tarapacana

giant manta, Manta birostris

In remorasthe first dorsal fin takes the form of a modified oval, sucker-like organ with slat-like structures that open and close to create suction. By sliding backward the remora can increase suction. It can release itself by swimming forward.

sharksucker, Echeneis naucrates

Sandperches are benthic fish which normally live on sand or rubble substrates. They have elongated bodies which are flattened posteriorly and cylindrical towards the head. They tend to sit on the sea bed, their bodies propped up by the widely separated pelvic fins.

reticulated sandperch, Parapercis tetracantha

speckled sandperch, Parapercis hexophthalma

blackfin sandperch, Parapercis snyderi

nosestripe sandperch, Parapercis lineopunctata

yellowtail sandperch, Parapercis sp.

spotted sandperch, Parapercis millipunctata

Scorpionfish include many of the world's most venomous species. They have sharp spines coated with venomous mucus.

Poss's scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis sf. possi

Papuan scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis papuensis

raggy scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis venosa

Caledonian devilfish., Inimicus caledonicus

spiny devilfish, Inimicus didactylus

leaf scorpionfish, Taenianotus triacanthus

Sharks are elasmobranch fish with a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the side of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head.

gray reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus

tawny nurse shark, Nebrius ferrugineus

Snappers are active carnivores which feed on crustaceans or smaller fish.

midnight snapper, Macolor macularis

golden-lined snapper, Lutjanus rufolineatus

bluestripe snapper, Lutjanus kasmira

Soldierfish are ray-finned fish with relatively large eyes. In some species the preopercle spines are venomous.

splendid soldierfish, Myripristis botche

crescent-tail bigeye, Priacanthus hamrur

tailspot soldierfish, Sargocentron caudimaculatum

blotcheye soldierfish, Myripristis murdjan

Spadefish are spade-shaped and laterally compressed and have very symmetrical triangular dorsal and anal fins.

golden spadefish, Platax boersii

Surgeonfish have one or more scalpel-like spines on either side of the tail.

brown surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigrofuscus

mimic surgeonfish, Acanthurus pyroferus

Indian mimic surgeonfish, Acanthurus tristis

lined bristletooth, Ctenochaetus striatus

yellowmask surgeonfish, Acanthurus mata

striped surgeonfish, Acanthurus lineatus

blue-lipped bristletooth, Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus

white-cheek surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigricanis

fine-lined surgeonfish, Acanthurus grammoptilus

Sweetlips have big fleshy lips. They are usually seen in clusters under overhangs. Their colorings and patterning changes as the fish mature.

giant sweetlips, Plectorhinchus albovittatus

ribbon sweetlips, Plectorhinchus polytaenia

many-spotted sweetlips (juvenile, right), Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides

somber sweetlips, Plectorhinchus unicolor

striped sweetlips (juvenile. right two images), Plectorhinchus lessonii

oriental sweetlips (sub-adult, right), Plectorhinchus vittatus

diagonal-banded sweetlips, Plectorhinchus lineatus

harlequin sweetlips, Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides

Triggerfish have an oval-shaped highly compressed body. They have large heads with small but strong-jawed mouths adapted for crushing shells. The eyes are small, set far back from the mouth, at the top of the head. The anterior dorsal fin is reduced to a set of three spines. The furst spine is stout and by far the longest. All three are normally retracted into a groove. Triggerfish can erect the first two dorsal spines, the first spine being locked in place by the erection of the short second spine, and can only be unlocked by depressing the second "trigger" spine.

blue triggerfish, Pseudobalistes fuscus

yellowmargin triggerfish, Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus

titan triggerfish, Balistoides viridescens

redtooth triggerfish, Odonus niger

orange-lined triggerfish, Balistapus undulatus

starry triggerfish, Abalistes stellatus

clown triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum

scythe triggerfish, Sufflamen bursa

Unicornfish are surgeonfish. Some species have a hornlike forehead extension.

bluetail unicornfish, Naso caeruleacauda

bignose unicornfish, Naso viamingii

Wrasses make up a diverse family of brightly-colored fish. Many wrasses have protractile mouths with separate jaw teeth the jut outwards. Many species have thick lips.

humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus