Butterflyfish and Idols

Butterflyfish (and Idols)
Please click on any picture to see larger image.

Notes

The Butterflyfish family is large, and includes fish ranging from 10 cm to over 20 cm. They typically have markings to confuse predators, such as spots on the tail to mimic an eye (to confuse attacking fish as to which end the head is), or dark bands through the eyes, to camouflage the eyes. Most Butterflyfish mate with the same partner for life - and you can often see them swimming in pairs.

Comments on images (numbered from top left to bottom right):

1/ A Long-nose Butterflyfish. The even longer nosed (and imaginatively named ) Very-long-nose Butterflyfish is only distinguished from this by little black spots on its tummy (and a longer nose of course!).
2/ A pair of Long-nose Butterflyfish (as I said, you often see them in pairs) next to a Blue Clam.
3/ A Lined Butterflyfish.
4/ A Saddleback Butterflyfish (this picture is from Hawaii - this species isn't found in the Maldives) - but I added it to show the striking colours Butterflyfish can have.
5/ A shoal of Racoon Butterflyfish.
6/ A Moorish Idol - a fish in its own family. Striking Dorsal Fin - and orange marking on snout.
7/ A Moorish Idol proving they are difficult to photograph.

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