Fact Friday

butterflyfish

Which end is which? Many butterflyfish have dark stripes across their eyes and spots on their bodies, which are meant to confuse predators and allow the fish to escape. “Eyespots” are often found near the rear fin of the fish. The spot looks like an eye to the predator. This “fake eye” tricks the predator and costs it an opportunity to get food.

Photo Attribution: Bennett’s Butterflyfish by Klaus Stiefel [CC BY-NC 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/)] 10 June 2010 via Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/8c45wB

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French Angelfish

February 9, 2024

French Angelfish

“Til death do us part.” It’s common to find fish that mate for life in a coral reef ecosystem. French angelfish exhibit permanent, monogamous breeding pairs. Mating for life comes with benefits. These fish cooperatively feed and defend their territory from other fish. This is much easier to do with two fish, rather than one.  

Photo Attribution: French Angelfish by Thundafunda [C BY-NC-ND 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)] 7 April 2020 via Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/6ubYnw