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Moorish idols are strikingly beautiful. They have thick black and white vertical stripes and finer yellow colourations on their face and rears. Most notable are the elongated white dorsal fins, which extend far beyond their tails. Although very similar in appearance to some species of butterflyfish, the Moorish idol can be easily distinguished by its black, triangular anal fin. Moorish idols hunt small invertebrates along coral and rocky reefs using their pronounced snouts. They also feed on sponges and coral polyps. Adult Moorish idols develop bony protrusions above each eye. As they age, the elongated dorsal spine becomes shorter. After hatching, Moorish idols have a comparatively long larval stage during which the young fish live in the open ocean. This long period of time allows the larvae to spread widely. This makes the Moorish idol quite unusual, as it has almost no geographic variations in its colouring. Moorish idols got their name from the Moors, an ancient African civilization who believed this fish was a source of happiness. The Moorish idol’s IUCN status is Least Concern with stable populations.

Emperor angelfish are large reef fish, with compressed bodies and a multitude of yellow and blue horizontal stripes along their sides. Their mouths are light blue or white and their eyes and gill covers are coloured dark blue with pale blue borders. Their gill covers each have a prominent spike. Juveniles are dark blue with blue and white rings.One of the reasons for this difference is that adults are very territorial and fight with one another. Because the juveniles have a different colour and pattern they are allowed into adult territory. It takes 24 to 30 months for an emperor angelfish to obtain its adult colouring.The emperor angelfish hunts small invertebrates, or forages on sponges in coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

African spadefish have flat, deep bodies and long, sloping foreheads. Their bodies are silver-grey, with a series of dark, vertical bands that fade with age. Sometimes faded yellow colouration is present on their caudal and dorsal fins and their bellies.Spadefish feed on both free-swimming and bottom-dwelling crustaceans.African spadefish inhabit inshore reefs on the African east coast, from Somalia to South Africa's Eastern Cape.

The galjoen is the national fish of South Africa. It is a distinct-looking fish, it belongs to a family of fish which are endemic to our coastline and so we’re proud of it!Sadly, our national fish is fast disappearing – it has been overfished and is now listed as Red by SASSI (Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative).Recreational anglers may only catch two galjoen (minimum size = 35cm) per day between 1 March and 14 October each year. They are not allowed to sell their catch.

Black-saddle goatfish inhabit the Indo-West Pacific region - this includes the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, south to South Africa and Reunion Island. Goatfish are so named because of the ‘barbels’ which hang from their chins similar to a goat’s beard. Goatfish use the barbels to search for food on the seabed.They are found singly or in groups foraging for food such as worms, brittle stars and crustaceans, they do this by extending the two barbels from their chin and stirring up the sediment. They often have other fish in tow which hoover up any creatures left behind.Adults grow up to 23 cm long and inhabit reefs, sand flats, slopes and seagrass beds at depths between 2 -75m.Black-saddle goatfish also appear to use their barbels in courtship displays and will eagerly entwine barbels with prospective mates.

Kelp lice are marine isopods of the genus Paridotea that live and feed on various seaweeds. Kelp lice have a specially developed digestive mechanism to combat the anti-herbivorous chemicals the kelp uses to defend the spore areas on which the lice preferentially feed.

The dusky cherub inhabits rubble bottoms near coral reefs at depths from 1 to 40 m. It is also found around corals in lagoons and on outer reefs. Some rare colour variations of yellow-orange markings on the body have been recorded.It feeds in small groups mainly on algae. These fish are very approachable underwater.

Chaetodon means ‘hair-like teeth’. Common on coral and rocky reefs in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Occurs singly or in groups as it browses the reef for food items such as soft corals, zooplankton, small crabs, worms and seaweed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, but it has been known to crossbreed with the teardrop butterflyfish.

Bottom-dwelling endemic species found in the cool water of tidal pools and subtidal gullies off the southern African coast. Feeds on small invertebrates. Has enlarged pectoral fins which act as tactile sensors and also stabilize the fish when it is ‘lying’ on the bottom. Attains 30 cm in length.

The piggy is a small silver-olive coloured fish with a notable dark black-brown blotch on its gill covers, and the top of its body is noticeably pinker than the bottom. Its fins are usually transparent but can take on a yellow tint. It is elongated and has a short snout compared to other grunters.It inhabits the Indian Ocean, particularly the African coast where it dwells in sandy and reef habitats to a depth of 90m. It occurs in large shoals in these waters where it serves as a vitally important prey animal of a number of large predators, such as sharks and cetaceans. These large shoals are often juveniles who will migrate to deeper waters when they mature.The piggy is one of the smallest fish in the grunter family, but is still a proficient predator, feeding on shrimp, octopusses and flatworms.