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[Big Fishes] [School] [Macro] [Other] [Land creatures]
■Scientific name:Paraluteres arquatWatch video here. Endemic to the Andaman Sea. Said to closely resemble the poisonous Scribbled Toby.Prefers sandy areas across the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Neosynchiropus moyeriWatch video here. Indian Ocean version of a Scooter Blenny. Its red and white patches are just like its surrounding environment so finding it is hard. Seen around the Similan Islands off Anitas Reef at Island 5 and Christmas Point at Island 9.
■Scientific name:Cirripectes auritusWatch video here. Characterised by yellow specks with black borders behind the gills. Like the Longnose Hawkfish,it moves constantly but tends to return to where it started. It's 2-5cm long, and found around the Similan Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.
■Scientific name:Amblyeleotris auroraWatch video here. Said to be the Indian Ocean version of the Steinitz Goby in the Pacific Ocean. As well as red tear-like patterns under its eyes, it has beautiful specks on its tail.Found around the Similan Islands off Shark Reef at Island 3, Anitas Reef at Island 5 and Three Trees at Island 9.
■Scientific name:Chaetodon decussatusWatch video here. Said to be the Indian Ocean version of the Vagabond Butterflyfish in the Pacific Ocean. Vagabond is Hourou in Japanese. Found found across the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Dascyllus carneusWatch video here. Looks a lot like the Two Stripe Damselfish but has no black band on its tail fin. Usually lives in coral reefs and swims above them but if approached, will quickly hide between the coral.Usually found across the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Melichthys indicus Randall(Clown triggerfish)Watch video here. Looks like the Triggerfish in the Pacific Ocean but its tail and back area have white bands.Endemic to the Indian Ocean and found across the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Hippocampus comesWatch video here. The idol of Richelieu Rock and popular with divers. Grows to 5-10cm long. Its mouth is long and its body often yellow or blackish brown.Found at Richelieu Rock.
■Scientific name:Chaetodon collareWatch video here. Those off the Similan Islands tend to form groups of small numbers.At 10cm long, they're found around the Similan Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. Said to be the Indian Ocean version of the Yuzen (Wrought Iron Butterfly Fish) in the Pacific Ocean (Hachijojima in Japan).
■Scientific name:Amphiprion ephippiumWatch video here. When young, they have a white band behind the eye like the Oneband Anemonefish. As they grow, the band disappears and only black specks remain. They're 5-10cm long, and found off Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.
■Scientific name:Chaetodon madagaskariensisWatch video here. Looks like the Pearl Scale Butterfly Fish but its tail area is orange red.At 5-7cm long, it's found off Shark Fin Reef at the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Siganus magnificusWatch video here. Gets its name because its facial expression looks like a fox. Often seen swimming in pairs off the Similan Islands. Body patterns disappear at night and it becomes dark brown. It's 0.2cm - 0.5cm long, and found around the Similan Islands, Island 9.
■Scientific name:Gymnothorax favagineusWatch video here. Gets its name because its patterns look like a bee's nest. Not often seen off the Similan Islands but can be found off Koh Tachai and Bunsoon Wreck.It's 1-15m long.
■Scientific name:Paracheilinus mccoskeriWatch video here. A beautiful wrasse that's usually known as a Flasher Wrasse. Often seen on piles of rock and coral in deeper areas. The male produces a harem and opens his dorsal and pectoral fins during courtship dancing. As it swims quickly, photographing it while its fins are open is quite difficult. It's 2-7cm long, and is found off the Similan Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.
■Scientific name:Pseudanthias ignitusWatch video here. Indian Ocean version of the Dispar Anthias. There is clearly a mix of Sea Goldie in it too. It's 2-7cm long, and found off the Similan Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.
■Scientific name:Pseudanthias evansiWatch video here. This species' name comes from its scientific name (Evansi). Its actual English name is different but divers call it Evans. It's 2-7cm long, and found off the Similan Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.
■Scientific name:Amphiprion akallopisosWatch video here. Distinguished by its pink body and white dorsal fin. Said to be the Indian Ocean version of the Yellow Clownfish in the Pacific Ocean. Found off the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.
■Scientific name:Acanthurus leucosternonWatch video here. Typical of and endemic to the Indian Ocean. In the Maldives it swims in shoals but in the Similan Islands it's often seen alone. Found in rocky dive sites off the Similan Islands, Boulder City off Island 3 and Deep Six off Island 7.
■Scientific name:Pomacanthus imperatorWatch video here. Also seen in the Pacific Ocean. The dorsal fin of the one in the Pacific is longer but the back of the one in the Indian Ocean is rounder. Found in rocky dive sites off the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Pomacanthus annularisWatch video here. Also found in the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the Emperor Angelfish, the one in the Pacific has a rounder dorsal fin, while the one in the Indian Ocean has a longer one.Found in rocky dive sites off the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Plectorhinchus macrospilusWatch video here. Said to be a cross between the Harlequin Sweetlips and Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips. Lives in the Indian Ocean but there are very few numbers. It's very shy, and hides in the shades of rocks when approached. Mainly found off the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Pomacentrus alleniWatch video here. Endemic to the Andaman Sea and looks like the Neon Damselfish. Shines metallic blue and lives either by itself or in small groups on the seabed. Easily frightened and hides away in its nests.Around 5cm long and found along piles of rock and coral off the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Hemitaurichthys zosterWatch video here. Said to be the Indian Ocean version of the Pyramid Butterfly Fish in the Pacific Ocean. Often forms shoals in medium depths, slightly away from coral reefs. Found off the Similan Islands, off Deep Six at Island 7 and Three Trees at Island 9.
■Scientific name:Heniochus variusWatch video here. Indian Ocean version of the Horned Bannerfish. Looks dull but if you approach and look closely, the small spines above its eyes look just like curled eyelashes.An unexpectedly charming species.
■Scientific name:Gymnothorax favagineusWatch video here. As its name suggests, this species (Indian Moray in Japanese) lives only in the Indian Ocean. It's cream-coloured with a black mottled pattern and grows to around 1.5cm. Found off all dive sites in the Similan Islands.
■Scientific name:Acanthurus bahianus CastelnauWatch video here. Endemic to the Indian Ocean. The young look exactly like the Blacktail Angelfish. Easily spotted as it's often lurking around the reef.
■Scientific name:Valenciennea cf puellarisWatch video here. Indian Ocean version of the Orange-Spotted Goby. Swims over the sand in pairs and is big compared to other gobies.Its face has some beautiful turquoise spots. Found off the Similan Islands. Also known as the Orange Banded Sleeper Goby.