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The Living Encyclopedia
Explore our comprehensive database of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Discover detailed care guides, morph varieties, and community setups.
fish
Purple Tang
Zebrasoma xanthurum
Zebrasoma xanthurum, the purple tang or yellowtail tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is endemic to the north western Indian Ocean.
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fish
Flame Angel
Centropyge loriculus
The flame angelfish is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae found in tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. Other common names include flame angel, flaming angelfish and Japanese pygmy angelfish.
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fish
Coral Beauty
Centropyge bispinosa
The twospined angelfish, also known as the dusky angelfish, or coral beauty, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. They are found in the Indo-Pacific.
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fish
Lawnmower Blenny
Salarias fasciatus
Salarias fasciatus, commonly known as the jewelled blenny or lawnmower blenny is a benthic, neritic, marine fish species endemic to Australasia. Despite being known as the lawnmower blenny, due to its propensity to consume algae growth in aquaria, it is principally a detritivore, with plant material making up only about 15% of its diet. The lawnmower blenny camoflauges itself with its surroundings, even changing color to hide from predators.
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fish
Scooter Blenny
Synchiropus ocellatus
The ocellated dragonet or scooter dragonet is a species of tropical marine fish in the family Callionymidae. It is native to the southwest Pacific Ocean from southern Japan to the Marquesan Islands.
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fish
Yellow Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
The yellow prawn-goby is a species of goby native to the Western Pacific, where it can be found at depths of from 1 to 25 metres in coastal bays and lagoons. This species is symbiotic with alpheid shrimps. They share burrows with these shrimp. The species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) SL. These fish vary greatly in appearance, ranging from brilliant yellow to gray and even brown forms or combinations of each coloring. This species is often kept in salt water aquariums. The yellow prawn-goby can be kept in aquariums as small as 20 gallons. In the marine hobby they are often partnered with tiger pistol shrimp.
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fish
Firefish Goby
Nemateleotris magnifica
Nemateleotris magnifica, known by a variety of common names including fire goby, magnificent fire fish, fire dartfish, or red fire goby, is a species of dartfish native to coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific oceans.
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fish
Purple Firefish
Nemateleotris decora
Nemateleotris decora, the elegant firefish or purple firefish, is a species of dartfish native to tropical waters in the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius to Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands, and south to New Caledonia, from depths ranging between 25 and 70 m. It is found over hard, open bottoms of reefs, sandy patches and rubble, as well as deeper coastal outer reef drop-offs where there are strong currents. It reaches a maximum length of 9 cm (3 in). This species is often found in pairs and is monogamous. They feed on zooplankton, especially the larvae of copepods and crustaceans. They will dart into holes when alarmed. The populations of this species from the western Indian Ocean have been recognised by some workers as a distinct species, Nemateleotris exquisita, however, the validity of this taxon needs more taxonomic research.
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fish
Diamond Watchman Goby
Valenciennea puellaris
Valenciennea puellaris, the Orange-spotted sleeper-goby, Orange-dashed goby, or Maiden goby, Diamond Watchman goby, is a species of goby native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It inhabits lagoons and outer reefs where it occurs on sandy substrates with larger pieces of rubble to burrow under. It can reach a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) SL. It is a prevalent fish in the aquarium hobby. Its main diet is composed of zoo plankton and dead fish or invertebrates.
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fish
Clown Goby
Gobiodon okinawae
The yellow clown goby, also known as the Okinawa goby or yellow coral goby, is a member of the goby family native to the western Pacific, from southern Japan to the southern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef. As the common name implies, this goby is bright yellow in color, save for a whitish patch on each cheek.
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fish
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
The six-line wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae which has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. This species is associated with coral reefs and can be found in the aquarium trade.
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fish
Melanurus Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus
The tail-spot wrasse, Halichoeres melanurus, is a species of wrasse in the western Pacific from Japan to Samoa and Tonga and south to the Great Barrier Reef. This species is found along rocky shores or on coral reefs at depths from 1 to 15 m. It can reach 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length. This species is popular for display in public aquaria and can be found in the aquarium trade.
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fish
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Halichoeres chrysus
Halichoeres chrysus, commonly called the canary wrasse, golden wrasse or yellow wrasse, is a wrasse native to the central Indo-Pacific area.
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fish
Pajama Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera
The pajama cardinalfish, spotted cardinalfish, coral cardinalfish, or polkadot cardinalfish is a species of fish belonging to the family Apogonidae. It is a popular aquarium fish. It grows to a total length around 8.5 cm (3.3 in) and features distinctive red eyes and a broad, dark, vertical 'waistband' with scattered red spots toward the tail. It is considered to be of low vulnerability, and is distributed throughout much of the western Pacific Ocean, from Java to Fiji, and from the Ryukyu Islands south to the Great Barrier Reef. The male pajama cardinalfish incubates the eggs in his mouth until they hatch.
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fish
Black Cap Basslet
Gramma melacara
The blackcap basslet, or blackcap gramma, is a species of fish inhabiting reefs in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean. It prefers vertical surfaces with crevices in which it can hide. It can be found at depths from 10 to 180 metres. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
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fish
Chalk Bass
Serranus tortugarum
Serranus tortugarum, the chalk bass, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae, classified as part of the family Serranidae which includes the groupers and anthias. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. This species is found in the aquarium trade.
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fish
Longnose Hawkfish
Oxycirrhites typus
The longnose hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, where it can be found at depths around 10 to 100 m. It prefers the steep outer slopes of the reefs amongst gorgonians and black corals. This species can reach 13 cm (5.1 in) in total length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member in its genus.
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fish
Flame Hawkfish
Neocirrhites armatus
The flame hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is native to tropical reefs of the Pacific Ocean at depths of from 1 to 10 metres. This species is also found in the aquarium trade. It is the only known member of its genus.
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fish
Copperband Butterflyfish
Chelmon rostratus
The copperband butterflyfish, also known as the beaked coral fish, is found in reefs in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This butterflyfish is one of the three species that make up the genus Chelmon and all have long beaks.
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reptile
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Aldabrachelys gigantea
The Aldabra giant tortoise, Aldabra tortoise, or simply giant tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae and genus Aldabrachelys. The species is endemic to the Seychelles, with the nominate subspecies, A. g. gigantea native to Aldabra atoll. It is one of the largest tortoises in the world. Historically, giant tortoises were found on many of the western Indian Ocean islands, as well as Madagascar, and the fossil record indicates giant tortoises once occurred on every continent and many islands with the exception of Antarctica.
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