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Ray Mullet's expert analysis
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There are 41 different types of frogfish which hide in reefs, sea-grass beds and sandy seafloors. They all have a
dorsal fin
spine that acts as a small fishing rod. When the frogfish sees something it wants to eat it just raises the rod, waves it about
a little and waits until dinner comes close enough to grab.
The species in the picture is the sargassum anglerfish,
which is unique because it floats amongst the sargassum algae - huge
floating rafts of algae in the Sargasso Sea. In fact, with its brown blotches and flaps of skin this fish would also be a
contender in the camouflage competition. Its pattern will change depending on the fish's surroundings or mood, and it is very
difficult to see amongst the algae, even if you know it is there.
The sargassum anglerfish's rod is not as long as other frogfishs' but it still manages to catch lots of shrimp and fish.
However, the anglerfish is more than capable of eating fish almost as long as its own body, and will even eat other frogfish.
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Sargassum anglerfish (Histrio histrio)
(click image for a larger version)
© Photomax
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Great barracuda
(click image for a larger version)
© Matt Chamberlain
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The barracuda is a ferocious predator, using speed to
attack and wound its prey. It cruises through the warm oceans, covering
great distances in the search for food. Once it has found its prey, the barracuda's streamlined, muscular body allows it to zoom
into the shoal, snapping at anything in its path with rows of large razor-sharp teeth. The barracuda then returns to eat the
wounded fish, cutting up larger fish with wide, powerful chomps.
The barracuda can grow up to 2 metres (6 feet) in length. Its body is long and sleek, covered in small, smooth scales that help
the barracuda cut through the water.
Barracudas are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, mainly near coral
reefs. There are 18 different species, ranging from the solitary
Great barracuda, to smaller pack-hunting species. These smaller
fish find safety and food in numbers.
The barracuda has been known to attack man, but its flesh can sometimes be more of a threat to humans than its teeth. At
certain times of the year, many warm seas contain billions of tiny floating
plankton including creatures called
flagellate protozoans. Some of these carry a poison called
ciguatoxin which, when eaten by small fish cause the fish to become poisonous.
The barracuda eats the fish and the poison builds up in its body, making the barracuda's flesh harmful and causing
ciguatera poisoning in man.
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Eating coral may not sound very interesting, but the coral butterflyfish has it down to a fine art. Like other butterflyfish
it has a slightly extended snout, a small mouth and lots of little brush-like teeth - ideal for nibbling a wide variety
of soft coral polyps. Other butterflyfish eat small
invertebrates, fish eggs and
algae, but the coral butterflyfish feeds only on tiny coral polyps.
The coral butterflyfish does not stray far from its spot on the reef, and adult pairs will defend their patch aggressively.
They dart in and out of the coral, using their pelvic and
pectoral fins to stop still in the water.
This species grows to about 12 cm (5"), but others members of the 114-strong family can reach 30cm (12"). All butterflyfish
have brightly coloured, disc-shaped bodies and many have eye stripes. These help disguise the position of the fish's eye
and confuses predators so they don't know one end of the fish from the other.
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Coral butterflyfish
(click image for a larger version)
© Below Water
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Yellow tang
(click image for a larger version)
© Matt Chamberlain
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The Yellow Tang is no great hunter; in fact it very rarely eats meat at all. It is mainly vegetarian and,
as a result, does not have to travel very far to find its food. Yellow Tangs gather in large shoals grazing on
algae growing on
rocks and dead coral in warm, shallow waters, rather like herds of cows in grassy fields.
The Yellow Tang's short snout is perfectly formed to nibble at the algae - the skin around its mouth is hardened to
withstand being rubbed against hard, rough surfaces.
Yellow Tangs grow to around 15cm (6") long. They belong to the surgeonfish family and have a pair of scalpel-like blades
in special grooves near their tails. These can be flipped out and used to defend against predators or to attack rivals.
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