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Reef Fish

From frogfish and ghost pipefish on the muck slopes of Indonesia to endemic species on Hawaiian reefs. Reef fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates on the reef, and the easiest place to start learning one.

33 photos · Observations on iNaturalist

Dragon MorayEnchelycore pardalisOʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2023Coral reef Hawaiʻi
Striated FrogfishAntennarius striatusLembeh Strait, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia · 2013Sand and muck slopes Coral Triangle
Ornate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus paradoxusLembeh Strait, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia · 2013Sand and muck slopes Coral Triangle
Spiny SeahorseHippocampus histrixNegros Oriental, Philippines · 2023Sand and muck slopes Coral Triangle
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List).
Oriental Flying GurnardDactyloptena orientalisOʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2024Sand and muck slopes Hawaiʻi
Purple QueenfishMirolabrichthys tukaCagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines · 2023Coral reef Coral Triangle
Thompson's AnthiasPseudanthias thompsoniLehua Rock, Niʻihau, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2011Coral reef Hawaiʻi
Urchin CardinalfishSiphamia tubiferLembeh Strait, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia · 2019Sand and muck slopes Coral Triangle
Humpback SnapperLutjanus gibbusTubbataha Reef, Philippines · 2023Coral reef Coral Triangle
Ribbon Sweetlips with Golden SweepersParapriacanthus ransonnetiRaja Ampat, Papua Barat, Indonesia · 2013Coral reef Coral Triangle
Dusky ButterflyfishChaetodon flavirostrisLady Elliot Island, Queensland, Australia · 2014Coral reef Australia and the Tasman
Redfin ButterflyfishChaetodon lunulatusHonolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2023Coral reef Hawaiʻi
Copperband ButterflyfishChelmon rostratusGato Island, Cebu, Philippines · 2023Coral reef Coral Triangle
Bandit AngelfishApolemichthys arcuatusOʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2025Coral reef Hawaiʻi
Clarion AngelfishHolacanthus clarionensisSan Benedicto Island, Colima, Mexico · 2011Coral reef Eastern Pacific
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List).
Longnose HawkfishOxycirrhites typusKāneʻana Cave, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2015Coral reef Hawaiʻi
False Clown AnemonefishAmphiprion ocellarisRaja Ampat, Papua Barat, Indonesia · 2013Coral reef Coral Triangle
Cross's DamselfishNeoglyphidodon crossiLembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia · 2013Coral reef Coral Triangle
Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusRaja Ampat, Papua Barat, Indonesia · 2019Coral reef Coral Triangle
Endangered (IUCN Red List).
Matatakaro BlennyCirripectes matatakaroKiritimati Island, Kiribati · 2015Coral reef Pacific Islands
Scarface BlennyCirripectes vanderbiltiPūpūkea, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2015Coral reef Hawaiʻi
Bicolor BlennyEcsenius bicolorRa, Western, Fiji · 2025Coral reef Pacific Islands
MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidusLembeh Strait, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia · 2019Coral reef Coral Triangle
Yellow Pygmy GobyLubricogobius exiguusCoconut site, Tingloy, Batangas, Philippines · 2023Coral reef Coral Triangle
Pinnate SpadefishPlatax pinnatusLembeh Strait, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia · 2013Sand and muck slopes Coral Triangle
Horseshoe SurgeonfishAcanthurus fowleriGam, Papua Barat, Indonesia · 2012Coral reef Coral Triangle
Blue-spotted BristletoothCtenochaetus marginatusKiritimati Island, Kiribati · 2015Coral reef Pacific Islands
Humpback UnicornfishNaso brachycentronKoror, Palau · 2017Coral reef Pacific Islands
Pacific Orange-spine UnicornfishNaso lituratusOʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2023Coral reef Hawaiʻi
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolorVatu-i-Ra Passage, Fiji · 2025Open ocean Pacific Islands
Narrow-banded Spanish MackerelScomberomorus commersonVatu-i-Ra Passage, Fiji · 2025Open ocean Pacific Islands
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List).
Shy TobyCanthigaster ocellicinctaCagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines · 2023Coral reef Coral Triangle
Ocellate TobyCanthigaster rivulataHaleʻiwa, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA · 2023Coral reef Hawaiʻi