Published by Periplus Editions with editorial offices at
61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12, Singapore 534167.
www.periplus.com
Copyright © 2004 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ISBN: 978-0-7946-0186-7
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0728-1 (ebook)
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Printed in Malaysia 1410TW
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Contents
Blacktip Reef Shark
Silvertip Shark
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Manta Ray
Ribbon Eel
Giant Moray
Striped Catfish
Spotfin Squirrelfish
Trumpetfish
Smallscale Scorpionfish
Leaf Scorpionfish
Red Firefish or Lionfish
Flame Anthias
Square-blotched Anthias
Coral Grouper
Giant Grouper
Coronation Grouper
Banggai Cardinalfish
Bigeye Trevally
Blue and Gold Fusilier
Oriental Sweetlips
Butterflyfishes
Teira Batfish
Longfin Bannerfish
Anemonefishes
Angelfishes
Indo-Pacific Sergeant
Blue-green Chromis
Blue Devil
Neon Damsel
Lemon Damsel
Humbug Dascyllus
Three-spot Dascyllus
Giant Wrasse
Yellowtail Coris
Cleaner Wrasse
Bumphead Parrotfish
Blue-barred Parrotfish
Chevron Barracuda
Jawfishes
Fire Dartfish
Blueband Goby
Moorish Idol
Palette Surgeonfish
Striped Surgeonfish
Yellowkeel Unicornfish
Spotted Unicornfish
Foxface
Clown Triggerfish
Orange-lined Triggerfish
Coral Filefish
Yellow Boxfish
Sharpnose Puffer
Black-spotted Puffer
Freckled Porcupinefish
Introduction
Fishes are by far the most abundant group of vertebrates—approximately 24,000 species inhabit fresh and marine waters. They are also the oldest backboned animals, having evolved in ancient seas nearly 500 million years ago. An incredible variety of habitats are populated by fishes—virtually every conceivable aquatic environment, from deep ocean trenches to high alpine streams. The group is so diverse it is difficult to define them, but most breathe by means of gills, have a protective layer of scales, and propel themselves through water (a medium that is 800 times denser than air) by means of fins. However, there are numerous exceptions—eels, for example, usually lack scales and have either much reduced fins or none at all.
Warm, clear seas of the Indo-Pacific, the vast region stretching between East Africa and the islands of Polynesia, have nurtured the development of nature's richest realm—the living coral reef. This region, centred on the Indonesian-Philippine Archipelago, is the world's most extraordinary biological province. Nowhere else can one find such a wealth of colourful and diverse marine life. More than half of the world's total fishes are found in this region. They range in size from the gargantuan, 12-metre-long Whale shark to diminutive gobies that are smaller than one's fingernail.
Except for a relatively small number of locally or regionally restricted species, known as endemics, most fishes in the Indo-Pacific have