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Spinynose horsefish
Discover the Spinynose Horsefish: A unique species known for its distinctive spiny snout and remarkable adaptability in aquatic environments
Redfingers
Bottom-dwelling endemic species found in the cool water of tidal pools and subtidal gullies off the southern African coast. Feeds on small invertebrates. Has enlarged pectoral fins which act as tactile sensors and also stabilize the fish when it is ‘lying’ on the bottom. Attains 30 cm in length.Slender glassy
Smooth glassies are small silver fish with translucent bodies.
Blacktail
Blacktails are medium-size, oval, silver fish. Their tails are not black as their name suggests, but they do have a large black spot on each side of their caudal peduncle.
White-spotted butterflyfish
Chaetodon means ‘hair-like teeth’. Common on coral and rocky reefs in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Occurs singly or in groups as it browses the reef for food items such as soft corals, zooplankton, small crabs, worms and seaweed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, but it has been known to crossbreed with the teardrop butterflyfish.Dusky cherub
The dusky cherub inhabits rubble bottoms near coral reefs at depths from 1 to 40 m. It is also found around corals in lagoons and on outer reefs. Some rare colour variations of yellow-orange markings on the body have been recorded. It feeds in small groups mainly on algae. These fish are very approachable underwater.
Kelp lice
Kelp lice are marine isopods of the genus Paridotea that live and feed on various seaweeds. Kelp lice have a specially developed digestive mechanism to combat the anti-herbivorous chemicals the kelp uses to defend the spore areas on which the lice preferentially feed.
St Paul rock lobster
St Paul rock lobsters are nocturnal scavengers, hiding in cracks and caves on the rocky sea floor and coming out at night to feed on seaweed and carrion.
Peacock grouper
The peacock grouper is a member of the Serranidae family, native to the Indo-Pacific and common in home aquaria and as an invasive species.
Foxface rabbitfish
The foxface rabbitfish is a member of the Siganidae family, common in home aquaria, but native to reefs, lagoons and shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean, particularly Taiwan and New Caledonia.
Black-saddle goatfish
Black-saddle goatfish inhabit the Indo-West Pacific region - this includes the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, south to South Africa and Reunion Island.
Galjoen
The galjoen is the national fish of South Africa. It is a distinct-looking fish, it belongs to a family of fish which are endemic to our coastline and so we’re proud of it!Sadly, our national fish is fast disappearing – it has been overfished and is now listed as Red by SASSI (Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative).Recreational anglers may only catch two galjoen (minimum size = 35cm) per day between 1 March and 14 October each year. They are not allowed to sell their catch.