(the dream of any vacationer) are washed by warm seas with inhabitants unprecedented in our latitudes. The Red Sea is especially rich in strange creatures and colorful fish. One of the countries located on its coast (for example, Egypt) is quite accessible to the average tourist with an average income. So everyone who is not too lazy strives to get there, not only to soak up the palm trees, but also to dive into the Red Sea with a mask and a camera - the fish in these latitudes are so picturesque that you want to see them yourself and show them to people.

But when going on an underwater journey, you should be careful and keep your delight at a certain distance from the wondrous creatures - many of them are as dangerous as they are beautiful.

Therefore, on the eve of the holiday season, information that most fully characterizes the most interesting Red Sea inhabitants will be extremely useful. In order for the fish of the Red Sea, photos and descriptions of which are given in the article, to become a reason for exclusively pleasant impressions, you should familiarize yourself with their lifestyle and the presence or absence of aggressiveness in advance.

Sharks

This “thunderstorm of the seas” is used to be feared by everyone who is not familiar with all the species of this superorder, who are frightened by their large size and sharp teeth, and who are accustomed to the idea that all of them are the most dangerous fish of the Red Sea.

The species diversity of sharks living in the water area we are considering is limited to nine names, among which the most unfriendly and aggressive is the silver one.

This three-meter-tall individual weighs an average of 160 kilograms and is one of the most dangerous predators posing a threat to humans. It can attack a diver unprovoked; usually such attacks have a fatal outcome for the latter. Although such cases are rare, since silver sharks prefer to keep their distance from divers and swimmers, if, God forbid, a person swam into its territory, the predator takes a threatening pose (arches its back, lowers its pectoral fins and bares its teeth). Having noticed such an angry shark, consider it best to retreat as quickly as possible, otherwise the silvery mistress of the waters will certainly cause serious injuries to the uninvited guest.

Among the most harmless and beautiful sharks of the Red Sea, which also allow themselves to be photographed and calmly allow people to get close, one should name the zebra. The beauty of an unusual color has long been a fashion model. Through her images, the audience recognizes and explores the underwater world of exotic seas.

Divers also consider the nurse shark (which looks very similar to catfish or burbot), blacktip and whitetip reef sharks to be quite friendly. The nanny is slow and phlegmatic, the reef fish are timid and cautious, sometimes one gets the impression that they themselves are seriously afraid of people.

But these huge fish of the Red Sea really don’t like intrusive tourists. When you try to pet them, touch their fins, or take a photo in an embrace, they may show their predatory nature.

Small fish are not always harmless

What admiration the Red Sea evokes! Fish, which are abundant in the shallow waters, and corals, among which you can travel all day long, enjoy great love and well-deserved interest among the inexperienced diver.

Newcomers only have stories about how irresistible the desire was to reach out and hold a small, cute fish in your palm.

But you also need to be extremely careful with little ones - many of the fish, especially the brighter ones, have protective properties. For example, they can release poison when potential danger approaches or pierce the skin of an enemy.

In any case, when diving into the depths of the exotic underwater kingdom, you should be on guard: the fish of the Red Sea have a deceptive appearance and an unpredictable character.

Balloon fish

During periods of danger, it swells and increases in volume. The venom of this fish is extremely dangerous, and although it does not bite humans, it is better to stay away from this inhabitant of the underwater world.

The balloon fish defends itself and attacks with needles filled with toxins. It is from it that the famous Japanese dish fugu is prepared. Only a very experienced chef can make such fish edible and safe.

sea ​​butterfly

Indigenous to these waters. The Red Sea, in which there are migratory fish found in other sea latitudes, has become the native and only home for this representative of the underwater fauna. It cannot be found anywhere else.

The sea butterfly has an unusual manner of movement - it swims with its nose down, while its fin closely resembles an antenna.

These fish are bright, yellow in color, keep in schools and live in the depths.

Clown fish

The fish of the Red Sea, photos of which demonstrate not only their appearance, but also their way of life, can truly surprise with the discrepancy of their size and irrepressible aggressive courage.

The tiny clown fish, for example, is not afraid of anyone at all. At least divers who have already survived the attacks of this little one more than once. Yes, the clown is capable of attacking people. He can't do much harm, but he tries to bite your finger. And if he succeeds, then the sensation of the bite remains not the most pleasant.

Performing the function of a protector for life, the clown is accustomed to being brave, so he reacts inadequately (from the point of view of people) to the appearance of uninvited guests near the anemone - the marine organism in which he lives. And since their favorite “dwellings” are located in shallow water, not far from busy beaches, the clown fish knows no peace - everything strives to attack those who disturb its peace. And people are even touched by this selfless courage of the little one.

Parrot fish

It is impossible not to notice that often correspond to their external resemblance to someone or something. As a rule, they repeat the color or behavior of their land-based counterparts in the animal world.

The parrotfish, for example, received its official name due to its color scheme, which is identical to the color of the green budgerigar.

Moreover, this fish has a beak, which is very convenient for eating corals. It can be seen most often there, near the reefs.

Imperial Angel

This fish deservedly received the title of the first beauty of the southern seas and the audience award. The original color, which is dominated by yellow, blue and white, can vary in any combination of shapes and shades: wide and narrow stripes, interrupted and solid, all colors at once or just a few - so different and so recognizable the imperial angel.

Well, not a fish, but simply “a charm from the eyes”!

The fish of the Red Sea, whose description cannot be contained in a few lines, are marvelous inhabitants of the underwater kingdom and our neighbors in a huge house whose name is Earth. There are bloodthirsty monsters among them, but there are also... angels. Such beauty as in the picture above just needs to be seen. And preferably in its natural habitat, and best of all in a flock. This is so lovely!

Masters of disguise

Fish that can blend into their environment pose a danger to tourists, beachgoers and divers. The next hero of our story has exactly this property.

Taking on the shape of a stone, the wart, or stone fish, can cause serious damage to health if it is not noticed and touched in time. Strikingly similar to a sea cobblestone overgrown with algae, this predator attacks with poison, piercing the victim’s body with sharp needles. The venom of a wart is four times stronger than that of a cobra, and the main danger is that this “cute fish” is often located in an area designated as a beach area. Even the notorious swimming shoes cannot save you from it. What is there! Boots with thick soles cannot protect against poisonous needles - warts can pierce the most reliable protection.

Another representative of the underwater kingdom that poses a certain threat is the devil fish. Small (only 35 cm), it adapts to any landscape, completely “dissolving” in it. One of the most ferocious and poisonous individuals. The devil's venom is three times stronger than the cobra's venom. It most often kills scuba divers.

The Red Sea, where fish are excellent at camouflage, requires a special approach to all types of recreation. Maximum caution must be observed when studying or admiring corals - surgeon fish may be hiding in them. This needle-like, poisonous creature has chosen reefs in the coastal waters of Egypt, the country most visited by tourists.

A large number of countries washed by warm seas have species of animals that are exotic in our area. Especially colorful unusual creatures and bright fish of the Red Sea. One of the countries located near this sea is Egypt. The country has affordable prices for an ordinary tourist with an average income, which is why many people flock there to not only relax under the palm trees, but also snorkel deep into the Red Sea - the marine life in these parts is so unusual that there is a great desire to see them for yourself , and show people. The fish of the Red Sea can be both completely harmless and very dangerous.

The Red Sea is especially replete with unusual creatures and colorful fish

general information

The Red Sea divides Eurasia and Africa, extending deep into the continent. The sea is connected to the Indian Ocean by the Bab El Mabdeb Strait, and Mediterranean Sea thanks to the artificially created Suez Canal.

The climate in these parts is very hot and dry, which means the evaporation of water here is intense. Because of climatic conditions the salt concentration here exceeds all permissible standards, second only to Dead Sea where almost no one lives.

In the Red Sea, unlike the Dead Sea, the underwater world is rich in diversity of life: more than half of the inhabitants of the Indian Ocean live here. Many species have adapted to high level salt, even new representatives of the fauna have appeared that live only in the Red Sea.

Dangerous sharks

The waters of the southern seas are home to at least 30 species of sharks, which can be encountered at any time of the day. Of course, the likelihood of an encounter increases when the fish is in search of food. For example, sharks of the coastal zone are active at night, and representatives of open waters - during the day. Although there are those who do not care about the time of day - this is the tiger shark.

Sharks in coastal areas often swim close to coastline- in bays and estuaries, near reefs. TO Red Sea fish catalog:

Pelagic species

1. Longfin shark. Grows up to 4 meters in length. When meeting divers, it does not get scared, but, on the contrary, circles around. In some cases, he may fall into a food frenzy. There are many cases with sad outcomes.
2. Silky shark. It also likes to stay in open waters, sometimes swimming into coastal areas. It grows up to 3.5 meters in length and is considered quite dangerous, but there are no recorded cases of attack.
3. Whale shark. It is the largest shark in the world, reaching a length of 15 meters and weighing 15 tons. They are considered harmless as they feed on plankton. Currently quite rare in the Red Sea.
4. Shark Mako. The fastest shark in the world, can accelerate to 60 km/h. It grows up to 4 meters and weighs half a ton.

Aggressive little fish

Fish that live in large numbers in shallow waters cause great admiration for inexperienced swimmers. Bright fish, which seem so harmless, are considered especially beautiful. Often it is small fish that are dangerous, as they can pierce the enemy’s skin or release poison. In any case, you need to be vigilant. The inhabitants of the Red Sea have an unpredictable character and deceptive appearance.

Poisonous cylinder

When in danger, the balloon fish inflates and increases in size several times. The poison of this individual is very dangerous, and although it does not attack humans, it is better not to approach it. Balloon fish are protected with needles that are filled with toxins. It is from balloon fish that the famous dish - fugu - is prepared. Only an experienced chef can prepare this dish, because with the slightest mistake, the cooked fish can kill a person.

When in danger, the balloon fish inflates and increases in size several times.

sea ​​butterfly

Refers to the indigenous inhabitants of this sea. Fish of the Red Sea can be migratory, which are also found in other bodies of water, but the Sea Butterfly lives only in this place; it is impossible to meet it in another body of water.

It is distinguished by an unusual manner of movement: it lowers its nose down, resembling an antenna with its fin. It has a bright yellow color and moves in a flock, living in the depths.

Clown (Amphiprion)

The fish of the Red Sea are different, for example, the clown fish combines small size and pronounced aggression. The tiny inhabitant of the pond is not afraid of anyone. At least it attacks swimmers quite often. The clown doesn't pose much danger, but he might bite your finger - it’s not a pleasant sensation.

The clown fish acts as a protector, driving away opponents from the anemone. And since the anemone, the fish’s home, is located in shallow water, meeting people occurs quite often.

Parrotfish and Imperial Angel

You can often notice that the names chosen for the fish are appropriate and accurately describe their appearance. Sometimes they emphasize similarities with land-based faunal brethren. So the parrot fish got its name for its similarity in color to a feathered fish. In addition, the fish's mouth resembles a beak, with which it likes to eat corals. Very often it can be seen near reefs.

The imperial angelfish is considered the most beautiful fish in the southern seas. The unusual color, which contains yellow, blue and white shades, can have various combinations. The colors merge into stripes, which can be narrow and wide, whole and interrupted, all shades together or only part of them - such a varied and recognizable imperial angel.

Camouflage specialists

A hidden threat lies in the areas designated as beach areas. There are fish that live there and can mix with their environment. One of these inhabitants is the warty fish, or stone fish, which takes on the shape of a cobblestone and can cause serious harm to health.

Resembling a stone overgrown with algae, this predator attacks with strong poison, piercing the enemy’s skin with sharp needles. Wart venom is much stronger than cobra venom, and the particular danger lies in the fact that the fish likes to live in coastal areas. Even the most durable swimming shoes will not save you from its needles - the wart penetrates any protection.

Another master of camouflage is the devil fish. It grows only up to 35 centimeters, but blends perfectly with any surrounding landscape. A very ferocious and poisonous inhabitant of the sea, posing a threat to scuba divers, who often die from its poison.

These are the fish found in the Red Sea. The inhabitants of this reservoir are good at camouflage, so some caution should be exercised. It is especially dangerous to be near reefs where a variety of predators hide.

Sea snake

Source: www.divefoto.ru

Encountering a sea snake is a rare occurrence for a swimmer. These creatures usually avoid people, and if they attack, it is only in self-defense. The greatest risk of being attacked by a snake is in dense marine vegetation, where it may not be noticed in time.

Moray eels or other sea eels are often confused with snakes. To understand for sure who is in front of you, look at the creature’s tail: if it is flattened on the sides and looks like a belt, then it is a sea snake.

The sea snake has a flattened tail

Source: dic.academic.ru

Sea snakes are small, up to 1 m long. They swim at a depth of up to five meters and feed on mollusks, crustaceans and fish.

Sea snakes are the most poisonous in the world. Their poison is similar in effect to poison, but is 10 times stronger than it. The bite of a baby snake is just as toxic as that of an adult. Symptoms of poisoning appear slowly: several hours pass from the bite to the first spasms of the jaw muscles.

First aid in case of a sea snake bite is to immobilize the victim. After this, you need to urgently transport the bitten person to a doctor, otherwise there is a risk of death.

Source: samiedem.blogspot.com

Sea urchins live mainly in coral reefs, underwater rocks and between stones. The needles of these creatures are so sharp that they can easily pierce rubber slippers and wetsuits.

Several species can be found in the Red Sea sea ​​urchins. Near the shore, red and gray-black Toxopneustes pileolus like to soak up the warm water. Their needles are very short, up to 2 cm in length, but no less dangerous than those of their relatives.

Diadema sea urchins live a little deeper in the sea. This subspecies has very long needles, up to 30-40 cm. In addition, the diadem hedgehog distinguishes between light and shadow with the help of special organs, and when it sees an object that suddenly appears in front of it, it instantly directs its spines at it.

The needles of sea urchins are very fragile; when they enter the human body, they break, and the debris causes inflammation. The hedgehog's venom is not fatal. In addition to burning pain at the injection site, the victim begins to experience shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and temporary paralysis may occur. First aid usually involves removing needles from the wound and treating it with disinfectants. You can treat the wound with lemon juice - it dissolves needle fragments. After this, you need to immerse the affected limb in very hot water for 30 minutes, and then consult a doctor.

Cone or conical snail

Source: animalreader.ru

The cone snail can reach a length of 50 cm and weigh several kilograms. However, large individuals are not as dangerous as small ones - which can be easily lifted from the bottom. Every third person who picks up a cone shell can die from the poisonous bite of this snail. The mollusk instantly plunges into the disturbed one one of the spikes, which replace its teeth, and are located in the narrow edge of the shell. The pain from the bite is so severe that the person may lose consciousness. In addition, his limbs become numb, and paralysis of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems may occur. Death can occur within minutes of the bite. Dozens of deaths from cone bites are reported every year. In the Pacific Ocean, up to three people die every year because of this mollusk, while only one is killed due to shark attacks.

Not all cones are dangerous. From the poison of some non-dangerous species of these mollusks, an anesthetic is made, to which there is no drug addiction.

Crown of thorns starfish

Source: livejournal.com

Starfish live on the bottom, moving along it with the help of numerous legs. These creatures come in all colors of the rainbow - from red to purple, and can reach one meter in diameter. The starfish is a predator and orderly of the sea; it feeds on plankton, mollusks and carrion. Some species are able to turn their stomach outward, envelop food in it and digest it in this way.

There are hundreds of species of starfish in the Red Sea, of which only the “crown of thorns” are dangerous. The spines of this creature are poisonous, but not fatal: if you touch them, you will get severe swelling. The pain is not very severe, but the burn requires a visit to the doctor.

Fire coral

Source: livejournal.com

Fire corals are not real corals, but pseudocorals. They are branched colonies of polyps - invertebrate animals 1-2 mm in size. Polyps create cell-like houses for themselves, in which they live their entire lives. Fire corals grow up to five meters in height, and colonies settle not far from the shore. Such an organism feeds on plankton, which it hunts by extending its tentacles outward and paralyzing the prey with poison from miniature harpoons.

Corals of any kind can cause painful cuts, and fire corals are also poisonous. The number of burns caused by this living organism is more than one and a half thousand per year. The main danger with such a wound is pain shock, which can cause a person to choke. In addition, contact with fire coral causes ulcers that do not heal for a very long time.

First medical aid after contact with coral is to treat the wound with lemon juice or vinegar - this should neutralize the poison. Then you need to see a doctor.

Fire sponge and red beard sponge

The Red Sea is a magical world with colorful corals and a variety of colorful, curious inhabitants. Any tourist will want to touch them closer, but you shouldn’t give in to this temptation so boldly. The inhabitants of the deep sea of ​​the Red Sea are often creatures with character, which should first be studied in order to know whether to be wary or to relax.

The Red Sea kabuba or antenna moth is a yellow fish with stripes across the body, also called a sea butterfly; it prefers to gather in schools near the coast. It has a fin that looks like an antenna.

Balloon fish (Pecilia balloon), which, in the event of any threat to itself, is inflated into a ball, is not dangerous to people, which cannot be said about sea ​​creatures, since its internal organs are highly poisonous, therefore dishes from this fish should be consumed with caution.

Barracuda looks like a pike, only more aggressive and larger in size, sometimes reaching two meters, and can easily harm a person.

Related materials:

Fish that can survive without water

Groupers, or blacks, or merows ( - a fish that sometimes reaches two meters in length and has completely different colors.

Residents of the Red Sea, which are dangerous to humans

Reef shark. There’s not even anything to talk about here, everyone can imagine what an encounter with a shark entails;

The undertaker is a relative of the above-mentioned balloon; it can reach a meter in size and looks like a box;

Fish is a guitar, something between a shark and a stingray;

The devil is an extremely poisonous fish up to 35 centimeters in size. The poison is found in the fins, it is three times stronger than the venom of a cobra; divers should especially be wary of it, because it can often be overlooked due to its excellent camouflage to its surroundings;

Sea urchin. It has black needles, the injections of which are very painful; if there is danger, the hedgehog can even shoot with them. Coral reefs are her home;

Stone fish. A very poisonous representative of the Red Sea. The fish is also dangerous because it reminds people of cobblestones. Stepping on a “rock” is extremely dangerous even with shoes on;

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Fishes big and small

Lionfish is a small fish, only 30 centimeters long, red or brown, very poisonous and dangerous, more often found at night due to its special rhythm of life;

The hammerhead is a very dangerous and aggressive shark, sometimes reaching six meters. So aggressive that it can attack other sharks;
Starfish are related to sea urchins; the crown of thorns is especially dangerous. “Star” sharp spikes, when in contact with them, can cause vomiting, swelling and even paralysis;
Called the sea dragon, the moray eel, up to three meters long, can grab you with a tight grip if teased. Its meat is poisonous;

Red Sea fish

The muzzle is rounded or almost wedge-shaped, with small nostrils having triangular flaps in front. The eyes are small. There are short furrows at the corners of the mouth.

Body length up to 18 cm. Common fish in the Red Sea.

Length up to 350 cm, oceanic species rarely approaching reefs. One of the largest species of the gray shark family. It is easily recognized by its size and rounded dorsal and pectoral fins with white tips. Chases schools of fish and hunts marlin, barracuda, tuna, mackerel and rays. Often accompanied by pilot fish. The longtip shark is considered to be one of the four most dangerous species to humans.

The largest species of shark, as well as the largest living representative of fish. Although, according to some eyewitnesses, they encountered specimens ranging from 18 to 20 m in length, the largest specimen ever measured was 13.7 m in length. The weight of whale sharks can reach 12 tons. Despite its impressive size, a whale shark is absolutely it is safe because, like the giant shark and the bigmouth shark, it feeds exclusively on plankton and other small organisms, which it filters by drawing water into itself.

It has a particularly bright color; its brown body has pronounced light stripes, which are especially noticeable in small fish. The length of the zebra shark reaches 3.3 m. It is an oviparous species. The oblong egg capsules are equipped with horny appendages, with the help of which they are attached to the bottom. The zebra shark feeds on crustaceans and mollusks and is not dangerous to humans.

Length up to 210 cm, found alone or in small schools on reefs, resting on the bottom during the day, hunting fish at night. Always returns to the same place, often to a cave.

Belongs to the family of gray sharks, up to 300 cm long. They live in open waters near coral reefs, usually deeper than 30 m. They are found alone or in pairs, as well as in small schools. It feeds on bottom-dwelling bony fishes and is a rather shy species.

Length up to 180 cm, found near coral reefs. Very curious, often becomes the “prey” of underwater photographers. It feeds on bony fish. Characteristic threatening behavior.

The usual dimensions are 3.6-4.5 m, and the weight with a length of about 4 m reaches 585 kg. The tiger shark has large, roughly serrated teeth. Young specimens, up to 1.5-1.8 m long, have dark brown spots on the back and sides on a gray background, merging into oblique or transverse stripes. With age, these spots gradually disappear, remaining longer on the caudal peduncle. This shark is ovoviviparous and very fertile. The female brings 30-50 and even 82 cubs.

Large representatives of the family, they do not exceed 180 cm in length. The upper part of the first dorsal fin and the lower lobe of the caudal fin have black pigmentation. Distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands. Reaches 2 m in length. Maximum weight - 14 kg. It feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods and other molluscs.

The hammerhead shark is white below, brown-gray or olive above. The teeth on the lower and upper jaws are very similar, having a triangular structure and smooth, even edges. Adults of this species can reach a length of 3.7-4 m, and can weigh over 400 kg. The hammerhead shark feeds on fish - herring, etc., as well as other sharks (including its own species), shrimp, skates, crustaceans and cephalopods. An ancient fish with the creepy appearance of a monster immediately frightens you with its appearance. Its long lifespan and far from friendly disposition lead to sad statistics: it ranks third in terms of human deaths. She is a real predator, but it is impossible to say that she specifically attacks a person; rather, she confuses him with her usual food. A fact was documented when, when opening a hammerhead shark, there was a half-decomposed body in its stomach, clearly belonging to a person. If you are scuba diving and suddenly a strong, large torpedo-shaped body flashes near you, do not panic. It is best to stop and stop all movement, if possible - hide in the shadow of rocks or corals.

The largest representative of the family reaches 4.5 and even 6 m in length.

A large, slow shark with pointed fins and a small mouth with small teeth. The caudal fin is much shorter than half the body length. There is no fold of skin between the dorsal fins. The pectoral fin is sickle-shaped. The back is brown, the color of the body becomes lighter from the back to the belly. The ends of the fins are noticeably darker. The squirrel is much smaller than the eyes. The first dorsal fin is located almost above the ventral fins. Found off the coast from the intertidal zone up to 70 m. Common in lagoons, near the outer wall of reefs, and also near sandy beaches. Active during the day, but activity increases at night. During the day, he prefers to relax in underwater caves, crevices and grottoes. Individuals gather in schools; in the most convenient caves, up to 12 sharks accumulate during the day, lying motionless one on top of the other. The diet is dominated by bottom fish, shellfish, squid and crustaceans.

Alticus kirkii Kirk's blenny

Dimensions 4 - 5 cm Found at Depths 1 - 20 m.

Dimensions 5 - 6 cm Found at a depth of 1 - 4 m.

During the day, these fish (usually a pair, they are also called clown fish or Anemon Fish) protect their sea anemone from external attacks, boldly driving away and even biting too curious divers. There are usually no more than two Ampifrions per sea anemone. In case of danger to themselves personally and at night, when the fish are sleeping, they hide among the burning tentacles of the sea anemone, to whose poison they are immune. More precisely, everything is arranged in such a way that sea anemones do not sting their clown fish. Ampifrions do not live separately from the sea anemone and do not move far from it. Thus, the population size of these fish directly depends on the number of sea anemones. If you see a clownfish among the coral, it means its anemone is somewhere nearby. As soon as you get close, Ampifrion will immediately swim from his sea anemone and come to its defense.

The body of these fish is covered with clearly defined hexagonal bony plates fused into a protective shell. On crowded reefs, many small species display an amazing ability to maneuver with the help of mobile fins. The skin is covered with poisonous mucus, which repels predators, but the poison is also released under stress, killing other fish. This pufferfish is found in all habitats from seagrass beds to coral reefs.

Belongs to the triggerfish family, length up to 75 cm. Lives in sandy areas with coral bushes. You should not approach him when he is guarding his nest at the bottom. The fish immediately attacks and bites with its large teeth. Triggerhorns feed on benthic invertebrates with hard shells, mollusks and echinoderms.

Length up to 38 cm, there are two antennae on the chin. These red mullets are regularly seen in schools of up to 200 fish. They feed by burrowing in the bottom, using their strong antennae to search for prey.

Length up to 190 cm, juveniles live in schools in mangroves and in shallow waters of coastal reefs. Adult fish have characteristic dark spots on their arrow-shaped body. These solitary diurnal fish are very curious and often approach divers. If you do not provoke these fish, in clean water they are not at all dangerous, despite their terrible teeth.

Belongs to the wrasse family, up to 21 cm long. Common species, found on the steep outer slopes of reefs deeper than 25 m. All wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites. This means that most males were originally full-fledged females. There are “primary” males, who were born males, and there are “secondary” males, who started life as females and then were reborn as males.

Belongs to the scorpionfish family. Length up to 25 cm. Uses the free lower rays of the pectoral fin as “walking legs” and even leaves footprints in the sand. The spines of the dorsal fin are poisonous. Often buried in sand up to the eyes.

Family Catalufidae (Priacanthidae). Catalufids have an oval, laterally compressed body, covered with small, coarse scales; the dorsal fin is single, with sharp spines in the front part. Their roof bones are armed with strong spines. The eyes are very large, the pelvic fins are connected to the body by a membrane and are sometimes very elongated. All catalufids are distinguished by a bright red uniform color, against which some species have dark stripes or spots. They live in the bottom layers of water, usually near coral reefs or rocky coasts, at a depth of 20-50 m or more.

Amikama goby (Callogobius amikami) English. Amikam's goby

Dimensions 2 - 5 cm Depth 4 - 8 m

Hector's goby (Amblygobius hectori) English Hector's goby

Dimensions 4 - 8 cm Depth 1 - 22 m The laterally compressed body of this goby is dark blue with bright yellow longitudinal stripes. On the second dorsal fin there is a false eye in the form of a black spot with a yellow rim. Sometimes these spots are several different sizes. Single individuals can be found in areas with sandy soil or debris at the base of corals. This is a fast, shy fish. In my own way appearance and in behavior it resembles juveniles of some wrasse fish. An omnivorous species, it feeds on both filamentous green algae and bottom invertebrates - amphipods, shrimp, nematodes.

Dimensions 7 - 7 cm Depth 1 - 25 m

Gobies - the largest family sea ​​fish, including more than 200 genera. The lemon goby is a small yellow fish with bright blue stripes up to 10 cm long. It is found exclusively among the branches of the Acropora coral. Common in lagoons, where it occasionally lives in colonies. Like all gobies, it secretes a lot of thick sticky mucus, which has a bitter taste, possibly serving to repel predators.

Dimensions 2 - 3 cm Depth 3 - 45 m Like other species of the same genus, the Yonga goby constantly lives on certain corals. These are braided corals of the genus Cirrhipathes, which are found both at shallow depths in the lagoon and on the outer side of the coral reef. Several gobies can live on one branch. Their translucent body is covered with wide transverse stripes of red, brown or olive color. Large eyes with reddish irises. Gobies leave their native branch only for a short time in order to grab prey passing by. The eggs are laid on the same coral branch, cleared of polyps, and are guarded by one of the parents. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 3 - 4 cm Depth 3 - 30 m

Dimensions 4 - 7 cm Depth 0 - 15 M

Dimensions 3 - 5 cm Depth 1 - 16 m

Dimensions 5 - 10 cm Depth 3 - 30 m These medium-sized gobies have three longitudinal red stripes with dark edges on the light sides of the body, the middle of which passes through the eye. These stripes are bright on the head and dull on the body. These stripes continue onto the caudal fin. There are also red stripes along the base of the dorsal and anal fins, and at the edges of these fins there is a blue edge. The pelvic fins are fused into a disk. This species lives on sandy soils, sometimes in silty areas near coral reefs. It is found throughout the tropical Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, and also in the western Pacific Ocean. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 2 - 4 cm Depth 7 - 27 m Very funny small gobies with an elongated body, usually not exceeding three centimeters in length, which are distinguished by the fact that in a small flock they soar in a weak current above large bushes of branched corals of the genus Acropora. They have a completely transparent body and fins, and the yellow peritoneum shines through the walls of the abdominal cavity. Large dark pink eyes. At the slightest sign of danger, a flock of these gobies hides among the branches of corals to resume hunting for plankton when everything around calms down. The timidity of these gentle creatures is understandable, since a large number of the inhabitants of the reef are not averse to eating them. They are especially annoyed by bullfish and pomacanths, which spend the entire day inspecting the coral thickets. Most often, soaring gobies can be found in the clear water of lagoons and closed bays with a depth of 5 to 15 meters, where there is a weak current. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 5 - 7 cm Depth 9 - 18 m

Dimensions 7 - 9 cm Depth 0 - 26 m

Dimensions 10 - 17 cm Depth 1 - 30 m A small motley-colored goby lives in sandy or silty areas around reefs. Lives in burrows that it independently digs under stones. Sometimes it cohabits with different types of crustaceans. The body is covered with ctenoid scales. The pelvic fins are fused into a disk. The middle rays of the first dorsal fin are elongated. The caudal and anal fins are pale yellow. On the pale olive body there are 7 dark green vertical stripes, between which there are dark vertical lines. There are round dark spots above the base of the pectoral fin and at the base of the caudal fin. The number and shape of spots on the tail vary between individuals. On the head there are longitudinal stripes and dots. Males have 3 black dots in the lower part of the second dorsal fin, and large light spots on the cheeks. Secretive, territorial fish. The biology of reproduction has not been studied. Apparently, during the spawning season they leave their shelters. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 1 - 2 cm Depth 1 - 10 m

Dimensions 4 - 7 cm Depth 1 - 20 m These small gobies come in different colors - from light brown to black. On the sides there is a longitudinal row of dark spots, which correspond to saddle-shaped spots on the back. On the head and body there are several longitudinal rows of large blue dots, which in adult fish continue onto the fins. All rays in the dorsal fins are soft. The third dorsal ray is filiformly elongated. The preoperculum has 3-9 short, round spines. They usually live in the lagoon at shallow depths, preferring a muddy bottom covered with fragmentary material with a large amount of fouling. They love muddy water, in which they feel safer. They feed on small bottom organisms and plankton. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 8 - 12 cm Depth 5 - 15 m

Dimensions 7 - 8 cm Depth 6 - 30 m This small goby, like other representatives of the genus, lives in burrows dug by click shrimp Alpheus spp. together with a pair of hosts at a depth of 6 to 30 m. On the almost white body there are 5 wide inclined red-brown stripes with blurred edges. On the head there are two thin diagonal stripes of the same color - one goes behind the eye, the second runs parallel to the first through the eye. The dorsal fin is transparent; the anal fin has a dark longitudinal stripe running along the midline of the fin. It is found throughout the Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, and in the western Pacific Ocean to the Great Barrier Reef in the south. It can live in symbiosis with at least three species of alpheus. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 5 - 7 cm Depth 5 - 25 m

Magnus's companion goby (Amblyeleotris sungami) English. Magnus" prawn-goby

Dimensions 6 - 10 cm Depth 4 - 25 m Five vertical orange-brown stripes are clearly visible on the white surface of the body of this goby. There are distinct blue and yellow spots on the back and dorsal fin. The front surface of the head may be pale or dark. Known mainly from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Along east coast Africa is found as far as the Seychelles. Possibly more widely distributed in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. It lives only in symbiosis with alpheus crayfish in their burrows, which the crayfish dig in sandy areas of the bottom at a depth of 4 to 25 meters. The Latin name of the species is given in honor of the discoverer, Professor Magnus, whose surname is spelled backwards. It feeds on bottom invertebrates. In turn, together with their owners, they are desirable prey for many predators, including stingrays, bottom sharks, octopuses, etc. Observing the relationship between gobies and their owners can bring a lot of pleasure if you show a little patience. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 4 - 6 cm Depth 4 - 25 m Based on the general light gray color tone and blurred dark spots, this goby can easily be confused with the yellow-striped ctenogobius. However, upon careful examination, one can notice that the pale ctenogbiops has no yellow spots and stripes, and the dark blurry spots are closer in shape to oval than elongated. Rare blue dots are scattered between the dark spots on the sides of the body and head. This goby can also live in symbiosis with different species of alpheus crayfish in burrows among coral debris and on sandy bottoms. At the same time, a pair of gobies usually lives in the same hole with the crayfish. They feed on small bottom invertebrates - amphipods, shrimps, isopods, etc. In turn, they are desirable prey for many rays, bottom sharks, and other predatory fish. Some octopuses can get gobies from a hole that is not deep enough, along with their partner. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 5 - 7 cm Depth 5 - 25 m Can live together with several species of click crayfish of the genus Alpheus in burrows on the sandy bottom or in crevices among large coral fragments. On a narrow steel-gray body from head to tail there are two rows of blurry elongated dark spots - one along the midline, the second along the back. Small round yellow-orange and blue spots are scattered among them. From the eyes to the base of the first dorsal fin there is a line of elongated yellow and blue spots. The number and size of all these spots vary significantly among different individuals. They feed on small benthic invertebrates. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 8 - 13 cm Depth 5 - 23 m

Steinitz's companion goby (Amblyeleotris steinitzi) English. Steinitz" prawn-goby

Dimensions 5 - 8 cm Depth 2 - 43 m One of several very closely related species of gobies that live together with Alpheus click shrimp in their burrows. The general tone of the body surface is almost white. There are five vertical, wide red-brown stripes on the sides. The white areas between the stripes have thin pale yellow lines. There are small orange dots on the transparent dorsal fin. Like other species of the same genus, the anterior part of the body is covered with cycloid scales, and the rear with ctenoid, sometimes larger ones. They are found almost everywhere in the Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, and the Indo-West Pacific. They live both in the lagoon and on the outer side of the reef in areas with sandy soil covered with debris. Habitat depth is from 2 to 40 m. They feed on a variety of small invertebrates that live on the surface of the soil and in the bottom layer of water. An excellent object for observing the symbiotic relationship between crustaceans and fish. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Lives on a sandy or rocky bottom in symbiosis with the click beetle. Spends most of its time motionless on the bottom or on coral. They spawn in pairs and look after each other. They use holes, small ledges, empty shells or any other small shelters for nesting. They lay several hundred sticky eggs. The male - or both fish - guard the eggs and nest.

Wheeler's companion goby (Amblyeleotris wheeleri) English. Wheeler's shrimp-goby

Dimensions 4 - 10 cm Depth 5 - 40 m

Dimensions 1 - 2 cm Depth 0 - 2 m

Dimensions 1 - 3 cm Depth 1 - 15 m Very small fish with a translucent body, living in quiet places among coral debris. On the sides there is a longitudinal row of rectangular brown spots, on the back there is a row of smaller spots of brown or red color. At the top of the head there are three reddish spots of irregular shape. The general background color under water looks greenish. In these gobies, the pelvic fins are divided and do not form suckers. The outer row of teeth on the upper jaw are enlarged. They feed on plankton. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Found in places with clear water, length up to 80 cm. This fish is easily recognized by its sickle-shaped caudal fin. They live mostly alone, protecting their territory. They feed on a variety of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.

Reaches 3 m in length and 225 kg in weight. Its main food is bottom invertebrates. Reproduction occurs by ovoviviparity.

Guitar player Halavi (Rhinobatos halavi) English. Halavi's guitarfish

Dimensions 60 - 100 cm, found at depths of 0 - 40 m. In terms of body shape, they occupy an intermediate position between typical sharks and rays. Their body is flattened, but its tail part is almost not externally separated from the body. The snout is elongated, the pectoral fins at the rear are not attached to the body, and the first dorsal fin is located above the ventral fins. They all have a two-lobed tail fin with pointed ends, very similar to the tail fin of sharks.

Dimensions 50 - 80 cm Depth 5 - 100 m A very peculiar stingray with a very thick oval disk up to one meter wide. The tail spine is missing. The upper side of a light gray or off-white color is covered with many flat plaques, between which in adult fish sharp conical spines and small teeth grow. A whip-like tail of a dark color without a blade. The species is quite rare, found on sandy and rocky bottoms. Fertilization is internal. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

It measures 20 - 30 cm and is found at depths of 5 - 100 m.

A common sight on coral reefs and rocky bottoms. It feeds on fish and crustaceans.

The most numerous cleaner fish. The cleaner wrasse announces its profession by “swimming-dancing” with specific up and down movements.

It has dimensions of 20 - 30 cm, is found at a depth of 0 - 50 m. They breed near the shores, juveniles often stay in highly desalinated areas.

It probably got its name because of its unexpected metamorphosis: invisible and ugly in lazy rest, it is transformed “in flight,” spreading its brightly decorated wings, bristling horns and thorns like Mephistopheles’s black and scarlet mantle!

The body length of an adult is up to 40 cm.

Belonging to the bristletooth family, it is a large family of brightly colored fish, including about 120 species. Length up to 20 cm, schooling fish active during the day, feeding on zooplankton. At times they swim in pairs, when they are very territorial. The center of the territory is a table coral, both fish move towards the boundaries of their territory and threaten neighbors of the same species, but let other butterfly fish through.

A rare species, 40 - 50 cm long, found at a depth of 2 - 37 m.

When this flounder lies in sandy shallow water, it is difficult to spot it. When you startle, it’s difficult to catch up.

Dimensions 26 - 35 cm, found at depths of 0 - 20 m. Schooling fish. Mullet are herbivorous and feed on fouling, as well as detritus, i.e. organic sediments. If possible, they do not refuse to eat fish eggs, larvae and soft invertebrates. Like all herbivorous fish, mullet have a long intestine, 4-6 times the length of the body. When frightened, they are able to jump out of the water, which is the basis of several methods of catching them.

Bottom view. found at depths ranging from 37 to 215 m. Maximum length 30.0 cm. The fins are darker in color and the tail has a black tip. The head is dark. A rare species, listed in the Red Book.

Found at depths of up to 80 meters. Length up to 1.3 m.

Dimensions 8 - 13 cm Depth 5 - 25 m The main background of the body of this goby is brownish-gray. On the head there are small blue spots mixed with red ones. There are 8-9 narrow transverse light stripes on the body. First dorsal fin without noticeably elongated rays. Both dorsal fins have round black spots. There is a downward-pointing spine on the lower edge of the operculum. The body is covered with cycloid scales. On the back of the head the scales reach to the middle of the head. Prefers sandy areas in or near thickets of aquatic plants. Lives in burrows together with click crayfish of the genus Alpheus. In the Red Sea it is most often A. djiboutensis. It feeds on small benthic invertebrates - amphipods, isopods, etc. The life of a bull and a crayfish together is very interesting, so time spent observing their behavior will not be wasted. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Cryptocentrus Luther (Cryptocentrus lutheri) English Luther's prawn-goby

Dimensions 7 - 11 cm Depth 10 - 28 m This goby is very similar to the eight-banded cryptocentrus, differing from it in the absence of a spine on the gill cover and in the fact that the scaly cover on the back of the head reaches the level of the eyes. It lives in burrows with several species of click crayfish of the genus Alpheus, which it warns of danger due to its sharper vision. It feeds on bottom invertebrates - amphipods, shrimps, isopods, etc. In turn, despite a good reaction and a nearby burrow, it often becomes prey for stingrays, bottom sharks, flounders and other predators. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Belongs to the scorpionfish family. It has a warning red and white coloration and very long poisonous needles. Their injections cause severe pain and can lead to paralysis. Typically found over hard bottoms at great depths. They hunt at night, using their wide pectoral fins to chase down fish.

Body length up to 24 cm. It feeds mainly on small crustaceans. The fin spines are poisonous.

Length up to 13 cm, lives mainly at great depths on the outer slopes of reefs. Mostly found deeper than 30 meters, but in some areas at 5 m, where black corals grow, which this fish uses as an observation point. This species feeds on small crustaceans.

The body of the boxfish is covered with a hard shell, consisting of fused hexagonal bone plates and having openings for moving parts - eyes, mouth, gills, fins and caudal peduncle. Despite their apparent clumsiness and phlegmatic nature, they can be very mobile and maneuverable.

Dimensions 150 - 350 cm Depth 5 - 300 m A distinctive feature of fox sharks is their long tail fin, which makes up up to half the total body length. The second dorsal and anal fins are very small. The pelagic fox shark is distinguished from other species of fox shark by the very narrow end of the caudal fin, slanted teeth with prominent lateral serrations, and the fact that the first dorsal fin ends noticeably in front of the base of the ventral fins. The back and sides are dark, gray-blue, the belly is white. Found in all tropical seas. Inhabitant of the water column of the open ocean, but likes to rise to the surface. Regularly approaches the shores and can enter the lagoons of atolls. These fish use their long tail to stun prey, or to force it into a dense school. The main food is schooling fish and squid. Fox sharks are ovoviviparous; their embryos begin to feed on unfertilized eggs while still in the womb. There are usually two babies in a litter. There were no cases of attacks on people. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

It can reach 3.5-4 m in length and weigh about 450 kg. It is considered the fastest of all existing sharks. Mako can jump above the surface of the sea. Its food consists of cephalopods and various fish, sometimes very large. Swordfish weighing 54 and 67 kg were found in the stomachs of two individuals weighing 300 and 360 kg.

The largest stingray, up to 670 cm long, lives in the open sea, but is also observed near reefs, where it pursues plankton and small fish. Manta fish is a filter feeder. The prey is guided into the huge mouth by the head fins. Manta rays often feed near the surface, collecting plankton. At the same time, she sometimes jumps out of the water. More common in the south of the Red Sea.

Dimensions 100 - 200 cm (adults usually reach 150 cm at most), found at a depth of 0 - 100 m. This representative of the manta family is the closest relative of the famous manta ray. The stingray is medium-sized with a compact head and short fins. The pectoral fins are strongly pointed and curved back. The whip-like tail is short, without a spine, at its base there is a small dorsal fin with a white tip. Small plaques without spines are scattered on top of the disc. The color is dark blue to black above and the underside is white. Pectoral fins with silvery tips. Found singly or in small groups in the upper layers of water in the open sea, but more often near the coasts. It feeds on planktonic crustaceans. Fertilization is internal, the eggs develop in the mother’s womb until the birth of the formed babies, which are somehow awkward to call “fry” due to their considerable size. They can jump out of the water like manta rays.

The average moray eel, body length 45 - 90 cm, is found at a depth of 0 - 30 m.

The moray eel is of medium size (body length up to 150 cm) with a slender body and elongated thin jaws. The main color background is yellowish or greenish-brown. The pattern consists of large, closely spaced black or dark brown spots of irregular shape, larger on the sides of the body, and smaller ones on the dorsal fin. The top of the head and ends of the jaws are often bright yellow. Most often found in rocky and stony areas, among boulders, on reef plateaus, it lives both in closed lagoons and along the outer walls of coral reefs facing the sea. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. It feeds on fish, cephalopods and various crustaceans.

Moray eels have a powerful snake-like body with a long tail, compressed laterally. Their constantly opening toothy mouth looks very menacing. Many moray eels are hermaphrodites; most of them first mature as males and later change sex.

Moray eels are medium-sized, body length 30 - 80 cm, found at depths of up to 30 m.

large teeth. This very active fish hunts at night, eating small reef fish of many species. It is yellowish-brown in color and dotted with small dark brown spots. The back of the long dorsal and caudal fins has a yellow-green border. The length is about 120 cm, but grows to a length of 240 cm. This moray eel is rarely seen in its entirety; it usually hides in burrows.

Large moray eel, body length 70 - 180 cm, found at depths of 1 - 170 m.

Medium-sized moray eel (body length up to 150 cm). The body is tall, noticeably flattened laterally. The muzzle is rounded, with a sloping forehead and short powerful jaws. Closely set teeth with blunt apices and wide bases are adapted for crushing the hard shells of invertebrates. It is found on coral reefs, both in closed lagoons and on seaward slopes. Leads a secretive, solitary lifestyle. It feeds mainly on small crabs of the Xanthidae family, but also on other crustaceans, mollusks, and sea urchins.

Small moray eel. body length 50 - 90 cm, found at a depth of 0 - 30 m. Adult moray eels lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle, usually in shallow waters near rocks or coral reefs. Most species are active at night and hide in crevices and cavities during the day. They feed mainly on crustaceans, cephalopods and small fish.

Found at depths of up to 40 m. Small moray eel, grows up to 65 cm.

A large moray eel, up to 140 cm long. It has a massive build. The body is tall and muscular. The head is large with shortened jaws. The painted moray eel does not have flattened teeth on the jaws and movable long fangs on the vomer. All teeth are more or less the same, conical in shape. Juveniles are yellowish with ring-shaped dark spots. In adults, the pattern blurs, turning into a uniform speckled pattern on a grayish or creamy background. Iris of the eye with four dark spots. Inhabits shallow water areas on coral reefs and rocky biotopes in the coastal zone. It feeds on small fish and crustaceans. It often pursues its prey on land, moving like a snake across the littoral during low tide.

Lives in the bottom layer of water, one might say at the bottom. During the day, moray eels sit in crevices of rocks or corals, sticking their heads out and usually moving them from side to side, looking for passing prey; at night they get out of their shelters to hunt. Moray eels usually feed on fish, but they also attack crustaceans and octopuses, which are caught from ambush.

Medium or large moray eel, body length 150 cm. Found at a depth of 15 - 50 m.

Small or medium moray eel, body length 50 - 120 cm, found at a depth of 2 - 5 m. Nocturnal predator, feeds on eels.

A large, massive moray eel (reaches a length of 300 cm), one of the largest eel species of the Indo-Pacific. It is distinguished by an attractive contrasting color of black spots on a white background. Juveniles have larger, sparsely spaced spots. With age, the spots decrease in size, their number increases and they are located more densely, forming a pattern somewhat reminiscent of a honeycomb. Some fish become almost entirely black. The pattern varies greatly among different individuals: moray eels living on reefs with clear water are lighter than those living in areas with muddy water. Inhabits shallow water areas and outer walls of coastal coral reefs facing the sea.

It is no more than a meter long and is not dangerous to humans. The echidna's body is similar to that of an eel, the snout is rounded, the jaws have strong teeth that can inflict serious bites. It does not have pectoral or pelvic fins, and it swims, bending in waves, like a snake crawling along the ground. The dorsal fin begins in front of the gill opening and runs along the entire body. The coloring is recognizable, with characteristic white and black spots and patterns. It lives in rocky areas and on coral-covered reef plateaus, inhabits both shallow lagoons and the outer slopes of reefs, and lives in the bottom layers at a depth of up to 10 meters. The diet is based on various crustaceans. Unlike most other moray eels, the star moray echidna eats virtually no fish.

Length up to 350 cm, easily recognized by white spots on the dark brown back. It lives both near reefs and near reefs located far from the shore above a sandy bottom and pebbles. Found singly or in small flocks. Eaglets collect bivalves from the bottom or dig them up with their “duck” nose.

Found in many parts of the region. This rather small species is attached to coral reefs. The body is yellowish in color, dotted with small brown spots. Moray eels hunt small fish at night. All prey is swallowed whole, since the teeth cannot cut it into pieces, but are only suitable for holding it. This moray eel is a synchronous hermaphrodite, i.e. each individual is both male and female

Common flathead, also known as crocodile fish. Length up to 100 cm, lives on sand and pebble bottoms and in islands of sea grass. Hiding, buried in the sand.

Has poisonous thorns.

Body length is up to 40 cm. It feeds on zooplankton and small fish near the surface of the water.

The most common of the fairy perches, up to 15 cm long. Lives in huge schools on the slopes of reefs. They feed on plankton.

Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Body length up to 30 cm. It feeds mainly on crabs, worms, and echinoderms. Found only in the Red Sea.

Belongs to the shark-tailed ray family. Length about 240 cm, caudal fin with lower blade. Lives on the sandy bottom near reefs, swims away from the bottom. Shark-tail rays have flat, powerful, crushing teeth designed to crush the shells of crabs, clams and sea urchins.

Dimensions 20 - 40 cm Found at depths of 3 - 30 m

It has an almost black body, decorated with white and blue concentric stripes forming circles on the tail of the body. Adult specimens of this species, which undoubtedly belong to the most beautiful fish, have about 25 thin yellow-orange stripes on the body on a bright purple background running at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the fish. Their head is emerald green on top and red-brown below, and their eyes are outlined with yellow and blue lines.

It feeds on coral polyps. Sometimes it even eats the tentacles of sea anemones. Endemic to the Red Sea.

Length up to 420 cm, found singly and in large migrating flocks. It has many electrosensitive pores on its head; the hammerhead shark is able to recognize the electrical potentials of the muscle activity of fish buried in the bottom. When prey is discovered, the head helps to make a difficult turn at considerable speed and catch the fleeing stingray. Not aggressive.

Belongs to the wrasse family. Length up to 230 cm, adult fish are found along the outer slopes of reefs, walls and sometimes in reef lagoons. They are easily recognized by their humpbacked forehead and large size. The Napoleon fish is the largest and heaviest (up to 190 kg) of all wrasses. It feeds mainly on mollusks, which it crushes with its teeth. This giant wrasse willingly takes chicken eggs and other food that people bring to it.

This is the largest species of soldier fish, up to 45 cm long. The din spine in front of the gill cover is poisonous. Its meat can be toxic, and eating such fish can be deadly. These fish are active at night and hide under reef ledges during the day.

Belongs to the surgical family. Up to 40 cm long, this species occurs in loose schools over the sandy bottom of lagoons and seaward reefs. This fish has a double stomach. The caudal fin is crescent shaped and has a black stripe running from the spine on the caudal peduncle to the head. The black-striped tangfish feeds on zooplankton.

Belongs to the whistler family. Also known as the flute fish. Length is about 150 cm, lives alone or in groups over sandy slopes or coral reefs. It feeds on fish and shrimp.

They grow from 30 to 80 cm in length. They feed on smaller fish and invertebrates. They, in turn, feed on larger fish. Stuns its prey with an electrical discharge. They reproduce by ovoviviparity, i.e. The embryos develop in eggs located in the mother’s body and are hatched there.

A very large slope, the width of the disc reaches 2 meters. The back is light or dark brown, covered with white or yellow lines forming a reticulate or marbled pattern. The belly is white. The disc is bare, with one central row of small flat plaques. The tail is three times longer than the body. The tail has alternating dark and light rings. There is one small spike at the base of the tail. The marbled stingray is often found on sandy beaches, lagoons, among corals and in estuaries. Enters fresh water. It feeds on bivalves, crabs, shrimp, worms, jellyfish and fish.

Maximum size: 71 cm, maximum disc width in diameter 30 cm. In addition to hunting, when stingrays dig out small crustaceans, mollusks and worms from the sand, they like to lie on the sandy bottom under overhanging corals, lightly sprinkling themselves with sand. Having found a steep sandy slope, stingrays like to dig through them, causing miniature avalanches of sand to fall, revealing invertebrates hidden in the ground. Another stingray hunting method is to spread out like a pancake on the sand and sharply raise the central part of the mouth. The vacuum that forms under his body sucks all kinds of living creatures out of the sand.

Size 1.5 meters in diameter. They can often be seen lying on the ocean floor, covered with a layer of sand.

It lives on coral reefs, where during the day it lies motionless, relying on its protective coloration and poisonous spines. At night it moves to more open places and hunts fish from ambush. He attacks them with a quick throw and swallows them whole. Often found in pairs.

Belongs to the grunt family. Sweetlips are reef inhabitants; during the day they hide in schools under coral ledges, and at night they swim above the sandy and rocky bottom and feed on benthic invertebrates. Most swim close to the bottom, waving their tails vigorously.

Dimensions are 7 - 8 cm, found at a depth of 2 - 68 m. Soleas live by burrowing in the ground and looking for food mainly using the sense of smell, feeding on sedentary bottom organisms - polychaetes, small mollusks, small crustaceans. Most species are modestly colored, usually sandy-coffee tones, but there are also very brightly colored striped species. Many salts are of great commercial importance; their meat is tender and tasty.

Known as the “blue-eye stingray”, length up to 100 cm. Lives on reefs, often under corals, hides in the sand, feeds on worms, shrimp, hermit crabs. The tail sting is poisonous.

The tail is half the length of the body. There are numerous whiskers on the lower part of the jaw. The body is covered with many small folds. It is found in the mud near coral reefs area, at a depth of 1-10 meters, but most live deeper, at a depth of 38 meters. Usually the eel's body is hidden in the sand, only its head is exposed. Eats small fish and crustaceans. Very rare fish, included in the Red Book, is under protection.

It grows to a size of 97 cm in length, but the usual sizes are 30 - 50 cm. It is found at a depth of 5 - 25 m.

It has a light cream body with dark spots that change location as the eel grows. Young individuals (up to 25 cm in length) have a number of spots along the sides. Blackheads are 30 - 50 cm long and have spots on the back and sides. Fish over 50 cm in length have 2-3 rows of spots on the sides of the body and small spots below. The maximum size of the species is 1 meter.

A common inhabitant of sandy areas on reef shallows and lagoons. This fish is often mistaken for a sea snake, but eels are distinguished by the absence of scales and a pointed tail (sea snakes have a rounded tail).

It loves rocky shores or looks for at least a rocky bottom on flat shores and hides here in recesses and crevices of stones, although it is excellent at hiding by burying itself in the sand. This is an unusually voracious animal, which, due to its predatory inclinations, does not spare even the weaker representatives of its kind. The strength of its jaws is so great that it easily crushes shells. Often this predator finds lobster tops and takes possession of the crayfish that have fallen into them, but he often pays for his greed with freedom and life.

It has dimensions of 20 - 50 cm, found at a depth of 5 - 25 m.

Dimensions 100 - 180 cm Depth 1 - 60 m The width of the disk of this stingray is slightly larger than its length. The eyes are small and very widely spaced. The rostrum and fins are pointed. The length of the tail is twice the length of the disc. The tail itself, flattened at the base, becomes cylindrical towards the middle of its length. One or two long spines are set further from the base of the tail than on other stingrays. A fin fold runs along the tail, not reaching its end. The upper side of the disc is unpatterned, grey, brown or black, the lower side is white. The caudal fold is black. With a maximum disc width of 1.8 m, the total length is about 3 meters. It is found in coastal areas, on muddy or sandy soils, as well as in mangroves. Often visits estuaries and can go far into fresh water. It feeds on fish, worms, shrimp and crabs. Fertilization is internal. The width of the disc of newborn cubs is 18-20 cm. The tail spine is very dangerous because it is located far from the base of the tail. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

Dimensions 100 - 200 cm Depth 10 - 50 m Very large stingray. The dorsal side is light to dark brown, covered with white or yellow lines forming a reticulate or marbled pattern. The ventral surface is white. The tail has alternating dark and light rings. The disc is diamond-shaped with a sharp rostrum and rounded fins. The tail is whip-shaped, three times longer than the body. There is one small spike at the base of the tail. The disc is bare, with one central row of small flat plaques. The marbled stingray is often found on sandy beaches, lagoons, among corals and in estuaries. Enters fresh water. The species is ovoviviparous; the female carries fertilized eggs until the birth of the offspring. (Author of the Text - Smirnov S.A.)

A medium-sized stingray with a short, wide, triangular snout. Maximum length up to 70 cm, disc diameter up to 50 cm. There are no spines on the upper side of the body. It feeds mainly on crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans. The prick of a thorn, especially from large specimens, can be very painful.

Dimensions 200 - 200 cm, found at a depth of 0 - 50 m. Usually stingrays lie on a sandy or muddy bottom, partially burrowing into the ground and becoming invisible from the outside. When disturbed, they swim quite quickly, flapping their pectoral fins. Stingrays feed mainly on worms, mollusks and crustaceans.

Dimensions 10 - 25 cm, found at a depth of 1 - 50 m. Stingrays got their name because the tail is armed with one or more sharp dagger-shaped needles. The length of the needle in large stingrays can reach 37 cm. It is attached with its base directly to the skin in the middle part of the tail and lies back on its surface with its tip. There is a groove running down the needle, at the bottom of which there are cells that secrete a poisonous secretion. The tail needle itself is motionless, but by bending its tail in a whip-like motion, the stingray can deliver powerful blows with it. In large fish, the impact force is such that the needle penetrates deeply into the human body through shoes or clothing. The poison, penetrating the wound, causes sharp pain, a drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, vomiting, and paralysis. Fatal cases are known.

Belongs to the large kennel family. It lives mainly on the bottom, feeds on zooplankton or attacks other fish. Most blennies are territorial and live in small holes in rocks, or in empty worm tubes or shells. The swim bladder of the blenny is underdeveloped, therefore, in order to stay in the water column, the blenny must swim continuously.

Lizardheads are an apt name for these fish, whose heads resemble those of reptiles. Length up to 25 cm, the most common lizardhead living on reefs. Found from coasts to distant reefs. Alone or in pairs, lizardheads lie motionless on solid ground. They catch fish, shrimp or squid by making a lightning-fast short throw.