Fish
A coral reef is evolution's greatest masterpiece. Each living animal or plant of this Reef Society we see in our brief moments underwater, is the perfect, successful result of nature's millions of years of genetic experiments. The failures are long buried as fossil remnants in rocks along with their not-so-successful genes. Early naturalists, poets and painters marvelled at the ocean's pristine and wild beauty and the creatures within it. From Byron and Thoreau, to Saville-Kent, Dakin and our own Great Barrier Reef Matriarch Isobel Bennett, early explorers were confined "twixt tide and tide's turning". Today marine scientists go deeper, longer and with technical gear beyond the comprehension of those previous generations of land-bound water lovers.
Our knowledge of the ocean is now exponentially greater as well - but to understand the vast specialised knowledge this new breed of marine scientists have discovered is beyond any individual. But it is as individuals that we think, dream and plan for the future of our planet - our Blue Planet. I hope that when you explore and discover our oceans and its inhabitants.... wandering a beach or underwater, you might marvel that every shell, each grain of sand has a story to tell. As individuals, lets make sure the children of the future will always be able to delight in their own underwater discoveries.
Male Parrotfish
This blue male was once a pink female..... here Scarus gibbus is being cleaned by two little Cleaner Wrasse who perform the job of dentist/parasite removalist for most of the reef's fish. They set up cleaning stations on prominent coral outcrops where they advertise their services with a distinctive wagging dance. A great spot to hang out and watch the queue of fish lining up for their appointment!
Female Parrotfish
This lady here is a first stage female Scarus gibbus - in the next image is a male so you can see the difference!
Old man Maori Wrasse....
Starting life as females, Maori Wrasse have spectacular tatoos around their eyes..... some will change sex to become male at about 9 years of age at which point they boss the younger females around as they patrol their territory on the back edge of the reef.
Black Anemone Fish
Lives amongst the tentacles of its host anemone as a family group usually of 3 or more individuals. There is only one breeding female in each group. They start life as male. If the large dominant female is removed or dies, the largest remaining male will change sex and become the breeding female. This particular anemone fish Amphiprion melanopus is nearly always with one species of anemone (Entacmaea quadricolour)
Lionfish or Butterfly Cod
...a voracious predator with highly poisonous spines flared in warning to approaching fish.
Greensnout Parrotfish
Spectacularly coloured Scarus spinus is found on shallow reef tops where it grinds the surface of corals with its parrot like beak to scrape of the algae that grows on most non-coral hard surfaces on a reef.
