Vardhan Patankar
( Parapercis hexophthalma )
Found at depths of 2-25 m, in sandy areas or rubble near coral reefs.
Growing up to about 28 cm, the front of their body is shaped like a cylinder while the back end is more flat. Their eyes on the front are fairly close together and they sort of stand over the sea floor with their fins like that of a camera tripod. They are coloured greenish-brown with speckles of black-brown spots along their body, they also have a large black spot on their tail fin.
They feed on small crustacean and other invertebrates that move along the sea floor.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Antennarius striatus )
They inhabit areas which are sandy or rocky in and around reefs. They are most commonly spotted at depths of 40 m, but can also have a deeper range in association with corals or sponges.
The hairy frogfish can grow up to 22 cm in length, they like the rest of the frogfish have a rounded body that can extend and the skin is bumpy with hair like extensions. Their mouth is also able to extend, allowing them to swallow prey as big as itself! Their colour can vary depening on the environment each individual is located in but a common feature is that they have dark patches all over the body. They have an extension on the top of their body that they use to lure prey to their mouth by tricking them into thinking this is a fish or crustacean.
They feel on any small animal that they lure in or that comes into their vicinity. They are also known to feed on other species of their own family.
Evan Nazareth
Evan Nazareth
Joydeep Sarkar
( Antennarius maculatus )
They are found in sheltered rocky and coral reefs, usually found in association with coral or sponges. They have been usually spotted at around 20 m deep.
The warty frogfish can grow up to 15 cm in length. They have a spherical shaped body that can extend. Their skin has bumpy growths and their colour can vary considerably depending on its surrounding environment. They have an extension on the top of their body that they use as a fishing rod to lure in prey, they extend this to fool prey into thinking it is a small fish or shrimp as the prey approach, they open their mouth to catch. A striking feature of this species though, is its ability to exhibit red biofluorescence when exposure to white light.
They feel on any small animal that they lure in or that comes into their vicinity. They are also known to feed on other species of their own family.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Antennarius ocellatus )
Usually found at depths of about 50 m, the ocellate frogfish is usually found in sandy areas near reefs.
The white frogfish can grow up to a maximum length of 38 cm. They have a spherical shaped body that can extend. Their skin has bumpy growths and their colour can vary considerably depending on its surrounding environment. However, they are most commonly found in the colour white. They have an extension on the top of their body that they use as a fishing rod to lure in prey, they extend this to fool prey into thinking it is a small fish or shrimp as the prey approach, they open their mouth to catch.
They feel on any small animal that they lure in or that comes into their vicinity.
Vardhan Patankar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Synodus variegatus )
The depths between 4-90 m is where you will commonly spot the variegated lizardfish.
They have a broad and flattened head with a large mouth. Their fins at the underside of their body act as a prop when the fish is resting at the bottom on a rock or a coral. They are found in several colours, such as grey to red but the most common feature amongst individuals are their hourglass shaped markings over their body.
They are known to feed on small fish and shrimp.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Parapercis millipunctata )
Found in and around coral reefs especially in the outer reef areas where there is rubble, rock or sand. They have a depth range of about 2-50 m.
The spotted sandperch is recognized by its spots and patterns over the back with a series of brown blotches behind the eyes on top of the head. They also have a white blotch on the tail. The front of their body is shaped like a cylinder while the back end is more flat with a maximum length of about 18 cm. Their eyes on the front are fairly close together and they sort of stand over the sea floor with their fins like that of a camera tripod.
They feed on small crustacean and other invertebrates that move along the sea floor.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Parapercis tetracantha )
Found alone or in smal groups, spotted commonly on deep coastal slopes from shallow rocky, rubble areas to deep soft bottom zones.
The reticulated sandperch has three rows of large white spots along with a dark greyish brown pattern between the spots. In addition, they also have display a pale spot with a black ring above the gill opening. These sandperches can grow up to about 26 cm in length. Like most sandperchers, you can find them resting on the bottom of the sea floor in sandy areas.
They feed on small crustacean and other invertebrates that move along the sea floor.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Synodus dermatogenys )
Residing at depths as deep as 70 m, you can find them in sand and rubble areas of lagoons and seaward reefs in small groups or as individuals.
Displaying an intricate pattern of stripes and bars on the whole body, the banded lizardfish is truly an enigmanitc fish. They also display a blue-silvery coloured stripe along the side of their bodies. Usually found partially buried in sand, these species might be easy to miss! These species also have biofluorescence where it emits green light when shone on by blue or ultraviolet light.
Feed on small fish and crustaceans.