Reef fish

Marine Life / Reef fish

There are so many varieties of reef fish around the Philippines, and here are just a few

Flying gurnard Dactyloptena orientalis
The flying gurnard (Dactyloptena orientalis) is a bottom-dwelling fish that spreads huge, wing-like pectoral fins when disturbed.
Crinoid clingfish Discotrema crinophilum
The crinoid clingfish (Discotrema crinophilum) is a tiny fish that lives among the arms of feather stars and matches their colors.
Bobbit worm Eunice aphroditois
The bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) is a giant predatory marine worm that hides in the sand and snaps its jaws shut on passing fish. It is not a fish, but a polychaete worm.
Radial Filefish Acreichthys radiatus
The radial filefish (Acreichthys radiatus) is a small, leaf-shaped filefish that lives among soft corals and algae, its mottled green-brown body covered in fine radiating lines.
Forster's Hawkfish Paracirrhites forsteri
Forster's hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri), also called the freckled hawkfish, is a bold reef predator with dark freckles on its head and a broad dark band along its body.
Arc Eye Hawkfish Paracirrhites arcatus
The arc eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) is a small hawkfish named for the distinctive horseshoe-shaped ring of colour behind its eye.
Longnose Hawkfish Oxycirrhites typus
The longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) is an elegant hawkfish with a long snout and a red-checkered pattern, almost always found perched in sea fans or black corals.
Dwarf Hawkfish Cirrhitichthys falco
The dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco) is a small, white hawkfish with red-brown saddles and tufted cirri on its dorsal spines.
Threadfin Hawkfish Cirrhitichthys aprinus
The threadfin hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys aprinus), also called the spotted hawkfish, is a small hawkfish covered in reddish-brown blotches, with a dark spot on its gill cover.
Mandarin Fish Synchiropus splendidus
The mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) is one of the most colourful fish in the sea, a small dragonet patterned in swirling blue, orange and green.
Orange and Black Dragonet Dactylopus kuiteri
The orange and black dragonet (Dactylopus kuiteri) is a striking sand-dwelling dragonet with a huge, sail-like dorsal fin and finger-like pelvic fins it uses to walk across the bottom.
One-line Clingfish Discotrema monogrammum
The one-line clingfish (Discotrema monogrammum) is a tiny clingfish that lives on feather stars, marked with a single pale stripe running down its back.
Long-snout Clingfish Diademichthys lineatus
The long-snout clingfish (Diademichthys lineatus) is a slender, striped clingfish that lives among the spines of sea urchins and has a remarkably long snout.
Black-banded Damsel Amblypomacentrus breviceps
The black-banded damsel (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) is a small, silvery-grey damselfish with bold dark bands, typically found on open sand and silt rather than coral reefs.
Springer's Demoiselle Chrysiptera springeri
Springer's demoiselle (Chrysiptera springeri) is a small, electric-blue damselfish with a black line running from its snout through the eye.
Whitetail Dascyllus Dascyllus aruanus
The whitetail dascyllus (Dascyllus aruanus), or humbug damselfish, is a small black-and-white striped damselfish that lives in tight groups among branching corals.
Reticulated Damselfish Dascyllus reticulatus
The reticulated damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus) is a grey-green damsel with a fine net-like scale pattern and a dark bar behind the head.
Threespot Dascyllus Dascyllus trimaculatus
The threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus), or domino damsel, is a black damselfish with white spots that young fish often shelter among the tentacles of sea anemones.
Black Damsel Neoglyphidodon melas
The black damsel (Neoglyphidodon melas) is a dark adult damselfish whose juveniles look completely different: white with bright yellow and blue fins.
Speckled Damselfish Pomacentrus bankanensis
The speckled damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) is a small damsel with a speckled head, a white tail and a dark eyespot on its dorsal fin.
Burrough's Damselfish Pomacentrus burroughi
Burrough's damselfish (Pomacentrus burroughi) is a plain brownish damsel with a pale tail and a dark spot at the base of its pectoral fin.
Neon Damselfish Pomacentrus coelestis
The neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) is a brilliant blue damsel with a yellow belly and tail, often seen in loose groups over rubble.
Princess Damselfish Pomacentrus vaiuli
The princess damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) is a colourful damsel with blue-lined scales, a yellow tint and a dark, blue-ringed eyespot on its dorsal fin.
Redbreasted Wrasse Cheilinus fasciatus
The redbreasted wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) is a robust wrasse with dark and white bands and a bright orange-red chest.
Canary Wrasse Halichoeres chrysus
The canary wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) is a bright yellow wrasse with small dark spots on its dorsal fin, often seen darting over sand and rubble.
Cheeklined Wrasse Oxycheilinus digramma
The cheeklined wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) is a reddish-brown predatory wrasse with fine diagonal lines across its cheeks.
Yellow-flanked Fairy Wrasse Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis
The yellow-flanked fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis) is a small, brilliantly coloured wrasse whose males flash yellow flanks and electric blue and purple fins during display.
Little Dragonfish Eurypegasus draconis
The little dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis), also called the short dragonfish or seamoth, is a strange, armoured little fish that 'walks' across sand on its fin rays.
Comet Calloplesiops altivelis
The comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) is a dark, white-spotted fish that mimics the head of a moray eel with its tail.
Striped Catfish Plotosus lineatus
The striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus) forms dense, rolling balls of juveniles that sweep across sand and seagrass.
Black-tail Sergeant Abudefduf lorenzi
The black-tail sergeant (Abudefduf lorenzi) is a silvery damselfish with dark bars and a black-edged tail.
Surge Damsel Chrysiptera brownriggii
The surge damsel (Chrysiptera brownriggii) is a small damselfish of wave-swept shallows, with variable colours often including a blue line.
Bristle-tail Filefish Acreichthys tomentosus
The bristle-tail filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) is a small, mottled filefish that hides in seagrass and algae.
Mimic Filefish Paraluteres prionurus
The mimic filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) copies the toxic black-saddled pufferfish to avoid being eaten.
Rhino Filefish Pseudalutarius nasicornis
The rhino filefish (Pseudalutarius nasicornis) is a slender filefish with a long horn-like spine above its eyes.
Scrawled Filefish Aluterus scriptus
The scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) is a large, flat filefish covered in blue scribbles and dark spots.
Fingered Dragonet Dactylopus dactylopus
The fingered dragonet (Dactylopus dactylopus) walks over sand on finger-like pelvic fin rays and flashes colourful fins.
Angler Flounder Asterorhombus intermedius
The angler flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) is a small flatfish that wiggles a lure on its first dorsal ray to attract prey.
Black-tip Sole Soleichthys heterorhinos
The black-tip sole (Soleichthys heterorhinos) is an elongated sole with dark bands and fins edged in blue and black.
Hook-nosed Sole Heteromycteris hartzfeldii
The hook-nosed sole (Heteromycteris hartzfeldii) is a small, mottled sole with a hooked snout.
Whiteblotched Sole Soleichthys maculosus
The whiteblotched sole (Soleichthys maculosus) is a slender sole whose juveniles mimic toxic flatworms.
Blacktip Grouper Epinephelus fasciatus
The blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus) is a red-barred grouper with black tips on the spines of its dorsal fin.
Coral Grouper Cephalopholis miniata
The coral grouper (Cephalopholis miniata) is a vivid red-orange grouper covered in small blue spots.
Slender Grouper Anyperodon leucogrammicus
The slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) is a long, narrow grouper with orange spots and pale lines.
Moorish Idol Zanclus cornutus
The Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus) is a black, white and yellow reef fish with a long, trailing dorsal fin.
Titan Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens
The titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) is the largest reef triggerfish, famous for fiercely guarding its nest.
Golden Damselfish Amblyglyphidodon aureus
The golden damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) is a deep-bodied, bright yellow damselfish with tall, pointed fins.
Staghorn Damselfish Amblyglyphidodon curacao
The staghorn damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon curacao) is a greenish to silver damselfish with broad dark bars and a yellowish belly.
Sapphire Damsel Chrysiptera cyanea
The sapphire damsel (Chrysiptera cyanea) is a small, electric-blue damselfish.
Rolland's Demoiselle Chrysiptera rollandi
Rolland's demoiselle (Chrysiptera rollandi) is a small damselfish with a dark blue-grey front half and a pale rear.
Talbot's Demoiselle Chrysiptera talboti
Talbot's demoiselle (Chrysiptera talboti) is a small damselfish with a yellow head, lilac body and a dark spot on the dorsal fin.
Ambon Damselfish Pomacentrus amboinensis
The Ambon damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) is a yellowish damselfish with fine blue markings and a dark eyespot on juveniles.
Razorfish Aeoliscus strigatus
The razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus), also called the shrimpfish, is a flat, blade-like fish with a black stripe that swims head-down in tight groups.
Blackspotted Puffer Arothron nigropunctatus
The blackspotted puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) is a round puffer with scattered black spots on a grey, brown or yellow body.
Orange-lined Triggerfish Balistapus undulatus
The orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) is a dark green triggerfish with curving orange lines across its body and an orange tail.
Blacksaddled Toby Canthigaster valentini
The blacksaddled toby (Canthigaster valentini) is a small pufferfish with four dark saddles across a white body dotted with orange-brown spots.
Bicolour Parrotfish Cetoscarus ocellatus
The bicolour parrotfish (Cetoscarus ocellatus) is a large parrotfish; juveniles are white with an orange-edged dark head band, while adults are green and pink.
Saddle Butterflyfish Chaetodon ephippium
The saddle butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) is a large butterflyfish with a black, white-edged saddle on its back and orange-red marks on its throat.
Spot-banded Butterflyfish Chaetodon punctatofasciatus
The spot-banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) is a yellowish butterflyfish with dark bars on its back that break into spots.
Five-lined Cardinalfish Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus
The five-lined cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus) is a silvery cardinalfish with five dark stripes and a yellow tail base with a black spot.
Violet Soldierfish Myripristis violacea
The violet soldierfish (Myripristis violacea) is a large-eyed soldierfish with silvery scales edged in dark red-violet.
Broadstriped Cardinalfish Ostorhinchus angustatus
The broadstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus angustatus) is a pale cardinalfish with five dark stripes and a black spot on its tail base.
Yellowstriped Cardinalfish Ostorhinchus cyanosoma
The yellowstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma) is a small silvery-blue cardinalfish with orange-yellow stripes.
Yellow Boxfish Ostracion cubicum
The yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicum) has a cube-shaped body; juveniles are bright yellow with black spots, and adults turn duller.
Spotted Boxfish Ostracion meleagris
The spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) is a small boxfish with white spots on a dark body; males have blue sides.
Oriental Maori Wrasse Oxycheilinus orientalis
The oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) is a small wrasse with a mottled body and a dark stripe through the eye.
Cylindrical Sandperch Parapercis cylindrica
The cylindrical sandperch (Parapercis cylindrica) is a slender fish with dark bars and a white body.
Manybar Goatfish Parupeneus multifasciatus
The manybar goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) is a goatfish with dark bars along a pale body and two barbels on its chin.
Longfin Batfish Platax teira
The longfin batfish (Platax teira) is a tall, disc-shaped fish with dark bars and a dark patch near the belly.
Harlequin Sweetlips Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
The harlequin sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides) has thick lips; juveniles are brown with white blotches and swim in a wriggling motion, while adults are spotted.
Red-cheeked Anthias Pseudanthias huchtii
The red-cheeked anthias (Pseudanthias huchtii) is a green-yellow anthias with a red stripe below the eye.
Two-lined Monocle Bream Scolopsis bilineata
The two-lined monocle bream (Scolopsis bilineata) has a yellow-edged white stripe on its body.
Variegated Lizardfish Synodus variegatus
The variegated lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) is a slim, mottled lizardfish with a reptile-like head.
Bicolor Goatfish Parupeneus barberinoides
The bicolor goatfish (Parupeneus barberinoides) is a goatfish with a dark front half and a pale or yellowish rear half, often with a white stripe and a dark spot near the tail.
Black-bar Chromis Pycnochromis retrofasciatus
The black-bar chromis (Pycnochromis retrofasciatus) is a small, pale grey to brownish damselfish with a single dark bar across the rear of its body, just in front of the white tail.
Cigar Wrasse Cheilio inermis
The cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) is a very long, slender wrasse with a pointed snout, shaped more like a cigar than a typical reef fish.
Floral Wrasse Cheilinus chlorourus
The floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) is a stocky wrasse covered in tiny white and orange-red spots, with mottled bands that help it blend into rubble and algae.
Goldenstriped Soapfish Grammistes sexlineatus
The goldenstriped soapfish (Grammistes sexlineatus) is a dark brown to black fish with bold yellow or white stripes running along its body.
Halfmoon Triggerfish Sufflamen chrysopterum
The halfmoon triggerfish (Sufflamen chrysopterum) is a brown triggerfish with a pale crescent at the edge of its tail and, in many individuals, a white or yellowish bar behind the eye.
Humphead Bannerfish Heniochus varius
The humphead bannerfish (Heniochus varius) is a dark-bodied butterflyfish relative with a bump on its forehead, short horn-like projections above the eyes and a white band curving across its body.
Red Coris Wrasse Coris gaimard
The red coris wrasse (Coris gaimard) is famous for its striking juvenile, an orange-red fish with several white, black-edged saddles that looks nothing like the adult.
Longhorn Cowfish Lactoria cornuta
The longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) is a yellow to olive boxfish with two long horns projecting forward from its head and two more at the rear of its body.
Panther Flounder Bothus pantherinus
The panther flounder (Bothus pantherinus) is a flat, left-eyed flounder with a pale body covered in dark rings and spots, which it can shift to match the sand.
Regal Angelfish Pygoplites diacanthus
The regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) is one of the most colourful angelfish, with bold orange-yellow and white, black-edged bars across its body and a blue and yellow dorsal fin.
Reticulate Boxfish Ostracion solorense
The reticulate boxfish (Ostracion solorense) is a small boxfish whose patterns differ between the sexes.
Saw-jawed Monocle Bream Scolopsis ciliata
The saw-jawed monocle bream (Scolopsis ciliata) is a pale, elongate bream with a dark back, a thin white stripe running from the eye towards the tail and a yellowish tail.
Spangled Emperor Lethrinus nebulosus
The spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) is a large, yellowish to bronze emperor fish with a pale blue spot on most scales and blue lines on its cheeks, giving it a spangled look.
Tripletail Wrasse Cheilinus trilobatus
The tripletail wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) is a large, green-brown wrasse with red-orange dashes on its head and pale bands on its body.
Two-spot Bristletooth Ctenochaetus binotatus
The two-spot bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) is a brown surgeonfish with fine blue lines on its body and a dark spot at the rear base of the dorsal and anal fins.
Yellowtail Barracuda Sphyraena obtusata
The yellowtail barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata) is a small, silvery barracuda with a yellowish tail and a faint yellow stripe along its side.
Zigzag Wrasse Halichoeres scapularis
The zigzag wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis) is a slender wrasse with a dark zigzag stripe running from its eye along its body.
Batu Coris Coris batuensis
The Batu coris (Coris batuensis) is a small wrasse with a pale body, faint dark bars along its back and two small dark spots on the dorsal fin.
Bluespine Unicornfish Naso unicornis
The bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) is a large, grey-olive surgeonfish with a short horn on its forehead and two bright blue spines at the base of its tail.
Charcoal Damsel Pomacentrus brachialis
The charcoal damsel (Pomacentrus brachialis) is a dark grey to blackish damselfish with a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish Chaetodon baronessa
The eastern triangle butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa) is a triangular butterflyfish with chevron-like lines on its body and dark bands through its eye.
Eightband Butterflyfish Chaetodon octofasciatus
The eightband butterflyfish (Chaetodon octofasciatus) is a pale yellow to white butterflyfish crossed by eight thin, dark bars, including one through the eye.
Harlequin Jawfish Stalix histrio
The harlequin jawfish (Stalix histrio) is a small jawfish with a large head and mouth, marked with dark bands and pale patches.
Jaguar Dottyback Pseudochromis moorei
The jaguar dottyback (Pseudochromis moorei) is a small dottyback with a pale body covered in dark spots, like a jaguar's coat, and a pointed head.
Emperor Angelfish Pomacanthus imperator
The emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) has a striking juvenile with blue, white and black concentric rings, while adults are blue with yellow stripes and a dark mask over the eyes.
Map Pufferfish Arothron mappa
The map pufferfish (Arothron mappa) is a large puffer with a pale body covered in a maze of dark lines radiating from the eyes, like a map.
Orange-spotted Spinefoot Siganus guttatus
The orange-spotted spinefoot (Siganus guttatus) is a rabbitfish with a silvery-blue body covered in golden-orange spots and a yellow spot at the rear of the dorsal fin.
Sea Goldie Pseudanthias squamipinnis
The sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), or scalefin anthias, is an orange anthias; females are golden-orange, while males are pinkish-purple with a long third dorsal spine and a red patch on the…
Purple Queen Anthias Mirolabrichthys tuka
The purple queen anthias (Mirolabrichthys tuka), long known as Pseudanthias tuka, is a vivid purple anthias; females have a yellow stripe along the back, and males have a purple patch on the dorsal…
Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Canthigaster solandri
The spotted sharpnose puffer (Canthigaster solandri) is a small puffer with an orange-brown body covered in blue spots, blue lines around the eye and a pointed snout.
Tail-spot Wrasse Halichoeres melanurus
The tail-spot wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) is a small, colourful wrasse whose males are banded in orange and blue-green with a dark spot at the base of the tail.
Sunset Wrasse Thalassoma lutescens
The sunset wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens) is a lively wrasse whose females are bright yellow-green, while terminal males turn green with a blue-purple head marked by pinkish lines and a deep…
Thornback Cowfish Lactoria fornasini
The thornback cowfish (Lactoria fornasini) is a small boxfish with two short horns above the eyes, a sharp spine in the middle of its back and a pale body marked with blue lines and spots.
Two-spot Wrasse Oxycheilinus bimaculatus
The two-spot wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) is a small, mottled wrasse with a dark spot behind the eye and another on the side of the body.
Twospot Coralfish Coradion melanopus
The twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) is a butterflyfish with broad brown bands across a pale body and two dark, white-ringed eyespots on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins.
Brushtail Tang Zebrasoma scopas
The brushtail tang (Zebrasoma scopas) is a brown surgeonfish with a tall dorsal and anal fin, a pointed snout and a patch of brush-like bristles in front of the sharp blade near its tail.
Golden Bristle Worm Chloeia flava
The golden bristle worm (Chloeia flava) is a fireworm with a flattened, oval body edged in tufts of golden-white bristles and marked with a dark spot on each segment.