Search

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.

Smooth glassies are small silver fish with translucent bodies. Their fins are almost completely translucent, with a deep notch in the centre of their dorsal fin.They can be distinguished from the almost identical bald glassy (Ambassis dussumieri) by the absence of serrations on their gill covers, facial spines and interruptions of their lateral line.Smooth glassies spend their entire lifecycles in estuaries, river mouths and floodplain lakes on the African east coast, particularly KwaZulu-Natal, Algoa Bay and Madagascar, where they form large schools. They are able to tolerate freshwater river mouths and a wide range of temperature fluctuations.They feed on floating crustaceans and zooplankton, as well as terrestrial insects, hunting primarily during mornings and evening in the summer, and all-day during winter.

Blacktails are medium-size, oval, silver fish. Their tails are not black as their name suggests, but they do have a large black spot on each side of their caudal peduncle. As juveniles, they have 8 to 10 pale vertical bars on their sides, but these fade with age.They are omnivores, equipped with both strong molars and sharp incisors to help process a variety of foods including red and green algae, starfish, urchins, snails, bivalves, polychaetes and sea squirts.Blacktails inhabit many shallow environments on the South African and Namibian coasts. They are highly resident, and adults rarely leave their preferred home region.Blacktails are hermaphrodites, and unlike many other hermaphroditic fish species, there is no relation between their age or size and their sex. In fact, many blacktails are able to be both male and female simultaneously.

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.

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.

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 peacock grouper is a member of the Serranidae family, native to the Indo-Pacific and common in home aquaria and as an invasive species.It is a mid-sized fish, growing up to 60cm. Thye have large mouths with thick lower lips and small fins.Its body is brown, but notable for the iridescent dark blue that tints it, particularly the edges of its fin. The peacock grouper is usually covered in hundreds of dark blue spots with cyan of white centres. As it ages, it commonly develops four to six thick white bars across the back portion of its body. One of its common names "argus grouper" is drawn from the many-eyed giant "Argus" of Greek mythology.

The foxface rabbitfish is a member of the Siganidae family, common in home aquaria, but native to reefs, lagoons and shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean, particularly Taiwan and New Caledonia.This fish is easily recognisable by its dorsal fin; usually flattened against the body, when stressed the rabbitfish will raise its spines, giving it a large, serrated appearance,The foxface rabbitfish has a bright yellow body and a white face with a black stripe from the top of the head, through the eye and to the snout, and a black patch from its pectoral fin to the bottom of its head. At night or when stressed, they can lighten their colouration to a mottled white-brown.The foxface rabbitfish is primarily herbivorous, requiring a diet of algae. However, it will readily feed on zooplankton if available.

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.

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.