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Sand shrimp
The tiny sand shrimp is a scavenger, common in intertidal pools and rocky coasts along the west coast of Southern Africa and the southern Cape.
Red sea star
The red Sea stars (we don’t call them starfish anymore, because they’re not really fish!) is a prominent species, common off the South African coast.
Brown burnie
Brown burnies are rather drab compared to other butterflyfish. Other than a dull yellow head they are almost entirely brown. Even their eye bar, characteristic of butterflyfish, is brown. They are solitary, but sometimes pair up for hunting when they pursue small invertebrates. The brown burnie is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and has a stable population.Diamondback goby
The diamondback goby is a small fish that lives near and on the seabed.
Domino
These small black fish are characterised by the prominent white spots on their foreheads and sides.
Fire shrimp
Like other members of the genus Lysmata, the fire shrimp is a cleaner shrimp.
Black sea cucumber
This sea cucumber is uniformly black and like other sea cucumbers, its body is divided lengthwise into five distinct bands.
Kingklip
Kingklip is a species of cusk eel, and a common table fish eaten in South Africa. Cusk eels look like a cross between a “typical fish” and an eel.
Skunk cleaner shrimp
The skunk cleaner shrimp is a member of the Lysmata genus, a group of shrimps notable for their symbiotic relationships with other species, such as moray eels.
Old woman angelfish
The old woman angelfish is regarded as a rather dull looking fish. It is a bronze-brown colour with paler hindquarters. Juveniles of the species have blue vertical bars, which they lose at maturity. The old woman angelfish lives in small groups near the coast (east coast of Africa), feeding on algae and seafloor invertebrates. Juveniles remain in tidal pools or are swept away by the Agulhas current. The old woman angelfish is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and has a stable population.Vagabond butterflyfish
The vagabond butterflyfish is identifiable by its complex colour pattern. Vertical black bands run across its eyes and between its tail and body. Eight thin, black stripes run from its dorsal fin to its face, and fourteen more stripes intercept these from its sides. It is visually similar to the closely related threadfin butterflyfish, but lacks the eyespot and dorsal fin filament. Vagabond butterflyfish inhabit lagoons, reefs and river mouths across Africa’s east coast, the Red Sea and Japan. These butterflyfish form monogamous pairs that defend their feeding territory. Together the duo search for worms, algae and crustaceans to supplement their omnivorous diet. IUCN status is Least Concern with stable populations.Threadfin butterflyfish
Threadfin butterflyfish have predominantly white faces and bodies, with yellow hindquarters.