Coral Reef Fish - Adaptations For Life on the Reef

Of the myriad creatures that inhabit coral reefs, none are more obvious, colorful, or appealing to Watch than the fishes that live there. Hundreds of species may be found in relatively small areas of reef, with many of these small, well camouflaged, or hidden.

Coral Reef Fish - Adaptations For Life on the Reef

Coral Reef Fish - Adaptations For Life on the Reef

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Coral Reef Fish - Adaptations For Life on the Reef

Coral Reef Fish - Adaptations For Life on the Reef

Coral reefs are unusually complicated and colorful marine environments. The physical buildings of these unique marine habitats differs radically from the open water habitats that comprise over 99% of the world's oceans, with a diversity of life unmatched in any other marine ecosystem. Therefore, it is not surprising that resident fishes have industrialized a amount of specialized adaptations for life in these colorful and complicated habitats.

Body Shape

The body shape of most species of fish that join together intimately with coral reefs differs substantially from the shapes of "typical" open water fishes. The latter are generally built for speed, and have evolved proper torpedo-like shapes that offer low frictional resistance to Movement through water. However. In the complicated reef environment, a premium is settled upon maneuverability rather than sheer speed. Thus, coral reef fish have evolved a body plan that maximizes their capability to make rapid turns, avoiding swift predators by quickly dodging into fissures in the reef or quickly circling nearby coral heads.

The essence of this make is a deep and laterally compressed body (shaped like a pancake), as well exemplified by the angelfishes and butterflyfishes. A less inevitable but principal aspect of this altered body plan includes a shift (compared to open water fishes) in the placement and orientation of the pectoral and pelvic fins, which act in concert with the flattened body shape to maximize maneuverability.

Coloration

Perhaps the most remarkable highLight of coral reef fishes is the variety of great and sometimes bizarre color patterns that adorn them. Again, the use of such color patterns in reef fishes contrasts starkly with the usual color patterns of open water fishes which typically are silvery.

The reasons for such appealing and discrete color patterns been debated for some time. In some cases, the patterns appear to facilitate concealment under inevitable conditions, as when the fish is resting in singular places. In other cases, coloration may be used in species recognition to assure mating success. Sometimes, appealing contrasting colors are used to warn predators of venomous spines or flesh so as to avoid "mistaken" attacks.

Feeding Structures

With the unusual variety of prey items available to coral reef fishes, it is not surprising that many species have evolved extremely specialized jaws, mouths and teeth distinguished to singular kinds of prey.

For example, "food specialists" like the butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) have evolved protruding mouths that are in essence forceps armed with fine teeth - a aggregate well distinguished to nipping the coral polyps that are the former food source of these fishes. Similarly, the parrotfishes (Scaridae) have evolved a beak-like mouth ideally distinguished for scraping algae from hard coral surfaces.

In contrast, many other base reef-dwelling fishes such as snappers (Lutjanidae) are generalized feeders that have retained a more "typical" mouth and jaw buildings that enables them to apply a wide variety of prey.

There is still much to learn about this appealing group of fishes, and the adaptations that have collectively made them such a diverse and flourishing part of the reef fauna.

Coral Reef Fish - Adaptations For Life on the Reef

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