Table Of Content

Rudie H. Kuiter FISHES OF THE MALDIVES INDIAN OCEAN Applicable to Central and Western Indian Ocean: East Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius/Reunion, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Chagos, Laccadives, Cocos Keeling Islands. ATOLL tOlflONS To get the best out of this ebook, please click here・ It only takes a minute to read and will save you time! Published by: Atoll Editions, Cairns, Australia. First edition published as Photo Guide to Fishes of the Maldives, 1998. eBook Fourth edition, Fishes of the Maldives Indian Ocean, 2019 by Rudie H. Kuiter, with Sharks & Rays by Timothy Godfrey. Copyright Atoll Editions. Copyright in Rudie H. Kuiter and actual photographers where named. photographs: All photographs used in this publication remain the property of the original copyright holder. Photographs should not be reproduced or used in other contexts without written permission from the copyright holder. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: KUITER, R. H.: Godfrey, T. J. 2019. Fishes of the Maldives: Indian Ocean, Cairns, Australia, Atoll Editions. Front Cover photos: Main photo: Whale Shark Rhincodon typus 一 Melody Sky, www.melodysky.com ISBN: Soft cover edition: 978-1 -876410-25-4 Hard back edition: 978-1-876410-97-1 Design & Layout: Calvert & Co. www.calvertandco.com (cover and ebook conversion) Available from: Atoll Editions, www.atolleditions.com.au www.fishesofthemaldives.com ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword Acknowledgements Map of Maldives ABOUT THE MALDIVES ・ Geography Reef geomorphology ・ Weather ・ Currents ■ Cross section of a coral reef ■ Further readi ng 4 INTRODUCTION 5 ABOUT THE BOOK 5 ・ Species order 6 EVOLUTION - SPECIES CREATION 6 ■ General 6 ■ Adaption 7 -Faunas dividing 8 Scientific and common names FISHES OF THE MALDIVES 〇 0 ABOUT CARTILAGINOUS FISHES 0 Traditional shark fishery of the Maldives 1 -Sharks of the Maldives 1 Batoids (rays) of the Maldives 2 Identification of sharks and rays 2 Reproduction and development of elasmobranchs 3 Epipelagic oceanic elasmobranchs 3 Tropical marine elasmobranchs 4 Conservation and management 6 Protecting the Gentle Giants 6 ・ Further reading 7 二 External features 18 ABOUT BONY FISHES 18 Bony fishes of the Maldives 18 ・ Colour and camouflage 18 ・ Colour patterns 19 ■ Mimicry 20 1 Cleaning stations 21 Symbiotic relationships 22 Spawning and parental care 22 ・ Development and age 23 ・ Measurements 24 External features 26 Shapes of fishes FAMILIES AND SPECIES ACCOUNTS 27 CARTILAGINOUS FISHES 27 NURSE SHARKS 28 GINGLYMOSTOMATIDAE ■ ZEBRA SHARKS 29 STEGOSTOMATIDAE ・ WHALE SHARKS 30 RHINCODONTIDAE ・ THRESHER SHARKS 32 ALOPIIDAE ■ WHALER SHARKS 32 CARCHARHINIDAE ・ HAMMERHEAD SHARKS 38 SPHYRNIDAE ■ GUITARFISHES 39 RHYNCHOBATIDAE ■ TORPEDO RAYS 41 TORPEDINIDAE ・ STINGRAYS 41 DASYATIDAE ■ EAGLE RAYS 45 MYLIOBATIDAE ■ DEVIL RAYS 46 MOBULIDAE BONY FISHES 51 ■ MORAY EELS 52 MURAENIDAE ■ SNAKE AND WORM EELS 57 OPHICHTHIDAE ・ GARDEN EELS 59 CONGRIDAE ■ HERRINGS 60 CLUPEIDAE ・ HARDYHEADS 61 ATHERINIDAE HALFBEAKS HEMIRAMPHIDAE NEEDLEFISHES BELONIDAE EELTAIL CATFISHES PLOTOSIDAE LINGS OPHIDIIDAE ANGLERFISHES ANTENNARIIDAE LIZARDFISHES SYNODONTIDAE BONEFISHES ALBULIDAE FLASHLIGHT FISHES ANOMALOPIDAE SQUIRRELFISHES HOLOCENTRIDAE-1 SOLDIERFISHES HOLOCENTRIDAE-2 SEAMOTHS PEGASIDAE TRUMPETFISHES AULOSTOMIDAE FLUTEMOUTHS FISTULARIIDAE GHOST PIPEFISHES SOLENOSTOMIDAE PIPEFISHES SYNGNATHIDAE FLYING GURNARDS DACTYLOPTERIDAE LIONFISHES SCORPAENIDAE-1 SCORPIONFISHES SCORPAENIDAE-2 WASPFISHES TETRAROGIDAE FLATHEADS PLATYCEPHALIDAE SOAPFISHES SERRANIDAE-1 GROUPERS SERRANIDAE-2 BASSLETS SERRANIDAE-3 DOHYBACKS PSEUDOCHROMIDAE LONGFINS PLESIOPIDAE TRIPLE TAILS LOBOTIDAE TRUMPETERS & GRUNTERS TERAPONTIDAE FLAGTAILS KUHLIIDAE BIGEYES PRIACANTHIDAE CARDINALFISHES APOGONIDAE TILEFISHES MALACANTHIDAE REMORAS ECHENEIDAE JACKS AND TREVALLIES CARANGIDAE SILVER BATFISHES MONODACTYLIDAE PURSEMOUTHS GERREIDAE SPINECHEEKS NEMIPTERIDAE EMPERORS LETHRINIDAE SWEETLIPS HAEMULIDAE SNAPPERS LUTJANIDAE FUSILIERS CAESIONIDAE GOATFISHES 148 MULLIDAE ・ BULLSEYES 152 PEMPHERIDIDAE ・ RUDDERFISHES 153 KYPHOSIDAE ・ BUTTERFLYFISHES 154 CHAETODONTIDAE ・ ANGELFISHES 163 POMACANTHIDAE BATFISHES 168 EPH1PPIDAE -HAWKFISHES 170 CIRRHITIDAE ・ ANEMONEFISHES 173 POMACENTRIDAE 1 ・ HUMBUGS 174 POMACENTRIDAE-2 ■ PULLERS 175 POMACENTRIDAE-3 ・ DAMSELS 178 POMACENTRIDAE-4 ・ SERGEANTS 182 POMACENTRIDAE-5 ■ FARMER DAMSELS 184 POMACENTRIDAE-6 ■ BARRACUDAS 187 SPHYRAENIDAE -MULLETS 187 MUGILIDAE ・ SAND WRASSES 189 LABRIDAE-1 ・ SAND-REEF WRASSES 194 LABRIDAE-2 ・ CLEANER WRASSES 201 LABRIDAE-3 ・しUNATE-TAILED WRASSES 203 LABRIDAE-4 ・ SMALL-MOUTHED WRASSES 206 LABRIDAE-5 vii -CAVE WRASSES 208 LABRIDAE-6 MAORI AND THICKLIP WRASSES 209 LABRIDAE-7 ・ HOGFISHES 214 LABRIDAE-8 PARROTFISHES 216 SCARIDAE ・ GRUBFISHES 224 PINGUIPEDIDAE ■ SAND DIVERS 226 TRICHONOTIDAE ・ TRIPLEFINS 226 TRIPTERYGIIDAE ・ SABRETOOTH BLENNIES 228 BLENNIIDAE-1 REEF BLENNIES 230 BLENNIIDAE-2 =DRAGONETS 234 CALLIONYMIDAE -SHRIMP GOBIES 235 GOBIIDAE-1 ・ SAND GOBIES 239 GOBIIDAE-2 REEF GOBIES 243 GOBIIDAE-3 ・ SLEEPER GOBIES 250 GOBIIDAE-4 DART GOBIES &W0RM GOBIES 253 MICRODESMIDAE ・ MOORISH IDOLS 256 ZANCLIDAE ・ SURGEONFISHES 256 ACANTHURIDAE RABBITFISHES 266 SIGANIDAE ・ TUNASAND MACKERELS 268 SCOMBRIDAE ・しEFT-EYED FLOUNDERS 269 BOTHIDAE viii ・ RIGHT-EYED FLOUNDERS 270 PLEURONECTIDAE • SOLES 270 SOLEIDAE • FILEFISHES 271 MONACANTHIDAE TRIGGERFISHES 274 BALISTIDAE ・ BOXFISHES 279 OSTRACIIDAE ■ PUFFE RFISHES 281 TETRAODONTIDAE PORCUPIN EFISHES 286 DIODONTIDAE Index to Families and Species 288 About the authors 297 ix FOREWORD This is the second edition of the book that was The first edition of this book has enjoyed originally published as Photo Guide to Fishes of remarkable success as a comprehensive photo the Maldives, by Rudie H Kuiter, in 1998. Fishes of guide for snorkellers, divers, anglers and aquarists the Maldives Indian Ocean has been fully revised and this new edition will fill an important gap and substantially expanded to include, for the in current knowledge with the inclusion of a first time, all the sharks and rays of the Maldives comprehensive section on sharks and rays of the known within a divers depth range. In the present Maldives. volume, changes have been made to the scientific Latin name of 80 bony fishes. Around 25% of all This book serves primarily as an identification fish photographs have been replaced and fish text guide, however selected photos highlight not only has been fully revised and updated to reflect new colouration and key identification features, but information on life history, habitat, distribution and also the varied and unique habitat in which they identification. Text also includes notes on regional live. I sincerely h叩e this edition will assist all who and local endemic species, doubtful records and use it and provide a new generation of marine new discoveries for the Maldives. This book also scientists, educators and researchers with a differentiates between Maldives forms and other critical resource in which to better understand the forms that occur elsewhere, making it a versatile life history and habitats of fishes, sharks and rays fish guide for other regions in the Indian Ocean. of the Maldives and Indian Ocean region. Tim Godfrey, Publisher. January 2014. The role of taxonomy in understanding and at an alarming rate means that difficult but managing marine ecosystems is pivotal. important decisions have to be made now to Taxonomy provides basic and fundamental protect species and their habitats. Consequently, understanding of ecosystem components and accurate species identification in the field would units (biodiversity) that are important in its allow more people to understand and appreciate functioning, its maintenance and sustainable use. coral reef fish. This Guide is a fundamental step Without this understanding it is very difficult to forward in understanding and managing coral reef conserve species through targeted management fish species of the Maldives. intervention. The loss of global marine biodiversity Ameer Abdulla, PhD Senior Advisor, Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Science IUCN Global Marine and Polar Program Senior Research Fellow Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science University of Queensland, Australia