Coral reefs occupy less than one percent of the surface area of the world’s oceans, but they provide a home for between 6,000 and 8,000 species of fish, about 25 percent of all marine fish species. The various species have evolved complex adaptive behaviours, such as hiding in reef or rock crevices, developing venomous spines, and in muck dive sites, residing in trash, like bottles, cans or empty crisp packets. They also exhibit a dazzling array of colours and patterns, unlike the pelagic fish, which are usually shaded in silver hues. Eels are a strange group of fish with elongated, snake like bodies. However, unlike most fish, eels have no scales, but instead have smooth and slimy skin. This aids them in moving through narrow crevices and burrows using fins that run along the length of their bodies. Some eels, like morays, have a second set of jaws that helps to pack large prey into their narrow bodies.
PHOTOGRAPHER Tofer Morales
PHOTOGRAPHER Jeen Snidvongs
PHOTOGRAPHER Mike Bartick
PHOTOGRAPHER Mike Bartick
PHOTOGRAPHER Pipat Cat Kosumlaksamee
PHOTOGRAPHER Aaron Wong
PHOTOGRAPHER Libbie Tan
