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
Many-Spotted Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)
Image Copyright Hanah Weerkamp
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: Hanah Weerkamp
The many-spotted sweetlips is also known as the harlequin sweetlips. It is a medium sized reef fish that can grow to 72cm in length and up to 7kg in weight. The adults have a distinctive black spots on a white background pattern but the juvenile form is quite different with an orange and white coloration that is similar to clownfishes. The one pictured is a semi-adult with yet another colour scheme. Confused? I am.
Many-Spotted Sweetlips Wikipedia
Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Image Copyright Hanah Weerkamp
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: BB Divers, Hanah Weerkamp
The Longfin bannerfish is a relativeley small reef fish that is a plentiful dweller of reefs all across the Indo-Pacific region. They grow to a maximum length of 25cm and are easily identified by their striking black-white-yellow pattern and the huge dorasl fin that trails over a long distance behind the fish itself.
The Longfin bannerfish, also called the pennant coralfish, lives in mating pairs and survives on plankton in teh water and occasional invertebrates.
Longfin Bannerfish Wikipedia
Java Rabbitfish (Siganus javus)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs 2015
Observed By: BB Divers
The Java rabbitfish, also know as the streaked spinefoot is a colourful species of rabbitfish that can grow to a size of 55cm in the adult male.The research suggests that it is a herbivore that lives mainly on algae but the ones in the picture seem to be having a good old feed on that jellyfish so let’s suggest that it is also an occasional predator or scavenger.
Oh, and it has venomous spines on the dorsal fin – seems like everything in the ocean has a bit of poison somewhere or other.
Java Rabbitfish Wikipedia
