Red Sea Life
All photos: Hans Sjoeholm Sohal and Cleaner Wrasse
One of the most iconic Red Sea reef fishes, the blue-cheeked butterflyfish move along the reef. The Giant butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus) is,
(Chaetodon semilarvatus) is an endemic species. Easily recognized by its as its name suggests, the largest Red Sea butterflyfish, while the ornate
bright lemon yellow body, blue cheeks and larger build compared to (Chaetodon austriacus) is one of the most beautiful, and the orange-faced
other butterflyfish, they occur in pairs close to the reef. On occasion they butterflyfish (Chaetodon larvatus) is the rarest of all.
can be seen schooling in large numbers with the Red Sea bannerfish.
Being territorial, they are often encountered in exactly the same part of
The sohal surgeonfish is a Red Sea endemic that inhabits the shallow reef
the reef on different dives.
flats of reefs. It is a strikingly beautiful fish with black and white stripes
and a bright orange razor sharp spine at the base of its tail. The Sohal
The orangetail butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus) is another (their Arabic name) are extremely aggressive towards other fish that
territorial butterflyfish. Small in size with distinct striped markings and may venture into their territory and will even defend their patch from
an orange stripe through the eye and orange tail they can be seen in snorkellers or divers. They feed on algae that grow on the bare rock of the
disputes with members of the same species as they try to defend the reef.
favoured table corals on which they feed.
Being isolated, endemic species are particularly prone to environmental
More mobile species of butterflyfish can be found cruising the reef in threats both manmade and natural. The declining state of the world’s
search of food. The threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) and racoon reefs from destruction by man, climate change and pollution are well
butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) are colourful common species that documented and these threats can have an even greater effect on the
can be seen throughout the Red Sea nibbling on coral polyps as they presence of endemic species in areas such as the Red Sea. Simply put,
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54