Reef Fish Identification

Fishes of Moorea
Photo Guide to Families and Species
Required for East/West Biology of Fishes 2006
All photos © Mark Steele unless otherwise credited
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfish)
Acanthurus pyroferus (mimic surgeonfish)
adult
juvenile
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfish)
Acanthurus triostegus (convict tang)
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfish)
Ctenochaetus striatus (lined bristletooth)
adult
juvenile
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfish)
Naso lituratus (orangespine unicornfish)
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfish)
Naso unicornis (bluespine unicornfish)
adult
juvenile
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfish)
Zebrasoma scopas (brushtail tang)
juvenile
adult
Apogonidae (Cardinalfish)
Apogon kallopterus (iridescent cardinalfish)
Apogonidae (Cardinalfish)
Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus (fivelined cardinalfish)
Aulostomidae (trumpetfish)
Aulostomus chinensis (trumpetfish)
from RF Meyers 1999
Balistidae (triggerfish)
Balistapus undulatus (orange-lined triggerfish)
Balistidae (triggerfish)
Odonus niger (redtooth triggerfish)
Balistidae (triggerfish)
Rhinecanthus aculeatus (picasso triggerfish)
Balistidae (triggerfish)
Sufflamen bursa (scythe triggerfish)
Blenniidae (blennies)
Aspidontus taeniatus (false cleanerfish)
Blenniidae (blennies)
Plagiotremus tapeinosoma (piano fangblenny)
Bothidae (lefteye flounders)
Bothus spp.
Bothus pantherinus
Carangidae (jacks)
Caranx melampygus (bluefin trevally)
Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)
Carcharhinus melanopterus (blacktip reef shark)
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish)
Chaetodon citrinellus (speckled butterflyfish)
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish)
Chaetodon lunulatus (redfin butterflyfish)
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish)
Chaetodon ornatissimus (ornate butterflyfish)
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish)
Chaetodon trichrous (Tahiti butterflyfish)
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish)
Chaetodon vagabundus (vagabond butterflyfish)
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish)
Forcipiger flavissimus (longnose butterflyfish)
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish)
Heniochus chrysostomus (pennant butterflyfish)
Cirrhitidae (hawkfish)
Paracirrhites arcatus (arc-eye hawkfish)
Dasyatidae (stingrays)
Himantura fai (Tahitian stingray)
Diodontidae (porcupinefish)
Diodon hystrix (porcupinefish)
from RF Meyers 1999
Fistulariidae (cornetfish)
Fistularia commersonii (cornetfish)
Gobiidae (gobies)
Coryphopterus neophytus (neophyte goby)
Gobiidae (gobies)
Ctenogobiops feroculus (sand shrimp goby)
Gobiidae (gobies)
Gnatholepis cauerensis (shoulderbar goby)
Holocentridae (squirrelfish & soldierfish)
Myripristis spp. (soldierfish)
Holocentridae (squirrelfish & soldierfish)
Sargocentron spp. (squirrelfish)
Labridae (wrasses)
Cheilinus chlorourus (floral wrasse)
Labridae (wrasses)
Gomphosus varius (bird wrasse)
terminal phase
initial phase
Labridae (wrasses)
Halichoeres hortulanus (checkerboard wrasse)
initial phase
juvenile
Labridae (wrasses)
Halichoeres trimaculatus (threespot wrasse)
terminal phase
initial phase
Labridae (wrasses)
Labroides bicolor (bicolor cleaner wrasse)
Labridae (wrasses)
Labroides dimidiatus (bluestreak cleaner wrasse)
Labridae (wrasses)
Labroides rubrolabiatus (redlip cleaner wrasse)
Labridae (wrasses)
Stethojulius bandanensis (redshoulder wrasse)
female/initial phase
C. Wormald photo
male/terminal phase
Labridae (wrasses)
Thalassoma hardwicke (sixbar wrasse)
Lethrinidae (emperors)
Gnathodentex aurolineatus (striped large-eye bream)
Lethrinidae (emperors)
Monotaxis grandoculis (humpnose bigeye bream)
Lutjanidae (snappers)
Lutjanus fulvus (blacktail snapper)
Lutjanidae (snappers)
Lutjanus kasmira (bluestriped snapper)
Mullidae (goatfish)
Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (yellowstripe goatfish)
Mullidae (goatfish)
Parupeneus multifasciatus (manybar goatfish)
Muraenidae (moray eels)
Echidna nebulosa (snowflake moray)
Ostracidae (boxfish)
Ostracion meleagris (spotted boxfish)
male
from RF Meyers 1999
Penguipedidae (sandperch)
Parapercis millipunctata (spotted sandperch)
Pomacanthidae (angelfish)
Centropyge bispinosus (two-spined (dusky) angelfish)
Pomacanthidae (angelfish)
Centropyge flavissimus (lemonpeel angelfish)
Pomacanthidae (angelfish)
Pygoplites diacanthus (regal angelfish)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Abudefduf sexfasciatus (scissortail damselfish)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Amphiprion chrysopterus (orange-finned anemonefish)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Chromis iomelas (Pacific half-and-half chromis)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Chromis margaritifer (bicolor chromis)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Chromis viridis (blue-green chromis)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Dascyllus aruanus (humbug dascyllus)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Dascyllus flavicaudus (yellow-tailed dascyllus)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Dascyllus trimaculatus (three-spot dascyllus)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Pomacentrus pavo (blue damsel)
Pomacentridae (damselfish)
Stegastes nigricans (dusky gregory)
Ptereleotridae (dartfish)
Nemateleotris magnifica (fire dartfish)
Scaridae (parrotfish)
Chlorurus microrhinos (steephead parrotfish)
initial phase
Scaridae (parrotfish)
Chlorurus sordidus (bulletnose parrotfish)
terminal phase
juvenile
terminal phase
Scorpaenidae (lionfish & scorpionfish)
Pterois spp. (lionfish)
Pterois radiata
Serranidae (groupers)
Cephalopholis argus (peacock grouper)
Serranidae (groupers)
Epinephelus merra (honeycomb grouper)
Serranidae (groupers)
Pseudanthias spp. (anthias)
Pseudanthias mooreanus
Siganidae (rabbitfish)
Siganus spinus (scribbled rabbitfish)
Syngnathidae (pipefish & seahorses)
Corythoichthys flavofasciatus (network pipefish)
Synodontidae (lizardfish)
Synodus spp. (lizardfish)
Tetraodontidae (puffers)
Canthigaster solandri (spotted toby)
Zanclidae (moorish idol)
Zanclus cornutus (moorish idol)