Aquatic tableau

Distributed in the tropical Western Atlantic, the red reef hermit is a nocturnal crustacean recognizable by its bright red legs. Omnivorous, it relies on gastropod shells to protect its abdomen.

The palette surgeonfish sports a pair of venomous, erectable scalpel spines at the base of its tail, used for self-defense against predators. It primarily dwells in small groups within coastal reefs. Its electric blue color inspired the character of Dory in "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory".

Its attractive coloring is mainly due to the refraction of light on the scales. They breed easily in aquariums.

This fish lives near diadem-urchins. At the slightest danger, it takes refuge between the long spines of sea urchins. The male guards the eggs in the mouth until they hatch. It is threatened in the wild because of fishing for the aquarium trade. This species breeds in captivity.

It is carnivorous, its sharp teeth have earned it the local name. (Pira = fish, Nha = tooth). Its dangerousness was often exaggerated: it serves as prey of many animals (alligators, giant otter ...). Piranhas are especially dangerous for humans in the dry season, when they lack food.

The regal angelfish is native to the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to the Tuamotu Islands. It inhabits coral reefs in lagoons and outer slopes, mainly feeding on sponges and tunicates.

The Tiger Hillstream Loach is a small fish from central Vietnam. Its large pectoral and pelvic fins form an adhesive disk allowing it to attach to rocks and climb waterfalls. It is vulnerable to overexploitation and dam construction that weaken its environment.

The eye of this fish is masked by a black band that disrupts the visual perception of it body by predators. It has venomous spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins. It is easy to maintain in captivity but they need hiding places for shelter.

The discus, an oviparous fish from the Amazon regions, reproduces at the beginning of the flood season, giving its young a better chance of survival. It naturally resides in slightly acidic waters, favoring flooded forest areas to protect and feed itself.

The picturesque dragonet is easily recognized by its brown ocellated spots. Still poorly documented, this fish is a common inhabitant of the coral reefs of Indonesian and Philippine seas. Like its counterparts, these fish form pairs and feed on microcrustaceans that they pick from the substrate.

The skin of this species secretes a toxic mucus for predators and parasites. This fish is territorial and fights involving males are common. To lay eggs, both partners embrace and rise to the surface to release their reproductive cells that will be mixed by sea currents.

The Indian sail-fin surgeonfish is a tropical fish native to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific. This fish has very large dorsal and anal fins, which it can use to double its size. It uses these features to impress its counterparts during courtship.