40 Fish Families - ReefoDivers

Study these 40 fish families for a bronze level certificate at Reefodivers in Diani Beach, Kenya.

Scalpel
Size: 40 cm

Acanthuridae
(surgeonfish)

Huge, superior mouth
Angler Globular body
Hand-like pelvic fins
Size: 10 cm

Antennariidae
(frogfish)

Small body often with stripes
Symmetrical fins
Big eyes
Size: 5 cm

Apogonidae
(cardinalfish)

Lines on body
Size: 40 cm

Aulostomidae
(trumpetfish)

Big mouth
Stout and heavy body
Size: 40 cm

Balistidae
(triggerfish)

Often have cirri
Single, continuous dorsal fin
In rest: curved body
Size: 5 cm

Blenniidae
(blennies)

Small mouth
Torpedo-shaped body
Deeply forked tail
Size: 20 cm

Caesionidae
(fusiliers)

High, streamlined body
Continuous fins
Size: 60 cm

Carangidae
(jacks)

Elongated body
Swim upside down
Size: 10 cm

Centriscidae
(razorfish)

Elongated nose
Round body
Eye-stripe
Size: 15 cm

Chaetodontidae
(butterflyfish)

Elongated nose
Round body
Eye-stripe
Size: 15 cm

Chaetodontidae
(butterflyfish)

Elongated nose
Round body
Eye-stripe
Size: 15 cm

Chaetodontidae
(butterflyfish)

Pectoral fins
Size: 60 cm

Congridae
(garden eels)

Spines on body
Size: 30 cm

Diodontidae
(porcupinefish)

Disk-like body
Juveniles: enlarged fins
Size: 50 cm

Ephippidae (batfish/spadefish)

Tail filament
Size: 20 cm

Fistulariidae
(cornetfish)

Two-part dorsal fin
In rest: straight body
Size: 5 cm

Gobiidae
(gobies)

Small mouth with very big lips
Patterns
Size: 30 cm

Haemulidae
(sweetlips)

Blunt snout
Upright second dorsal fin
Size: 20 cm

Holocentridae
(soldierfish)

Terminal mouth
Teeth
Size: 20 cm

Labridae
(wrasses)

Sloping head
Often silver
Size: 35 cm

Lethrinidae
(emperors)

Large mouth with teeth
Often yellow
Size: 30 cm

Lutjanidae
(snappers)

Small mouth
Elongated and thin body
Size: 20 cm

Monacanthidae
(filefish)

Barbels
Size: 25 cm

Mullidae
(goatfish)

Opening and closing mouth
Large, stout body
No pectoral fins
Size: 100 cm

Muraenidae
(moray eels)

Small mouth
Body markings
Size: 20 cm

Nemipteridae
(monocle breams)

Slender body
No dorsal fin
Size: 60 cm

Ophichthidae
(snake eels)

Rectangular body
Size: 15 cm

Ostraciidae
(boxfish)

Typical shape body
Long anal fin
Size: 15 cm

Pempheridae
(sweepers)

Small mouth
Continuous dorsal fin
Stand on ventral fins
Size: 15 cm

Pinguipedidae
(sandperches)

Gill spine
Size: 25 cm

Pomacanthidae
(angelfish)

Gill spine
Size: 25 cm

Pomacanthidae
(angelfish)

Small, high body

Size: 10 cm

Pomacentridae
(damselfish)

Very big eyes
Size: 30 cm

Priacanthidae
(bigeyes)

Beak
Size: 35 cm

Scaridae
(parrotfish)

Finlets
Torpedo shaped body
Size: 100 cm

Scombridae
(mackerels)

Often has tassels
Well-camouflaged body colour
Small, high body
Size: 10 cm

Scorpaenidae
(scorpionfish)

Large mouth with teeth
Stout body
Size: 60 cm

Serranidae
(groupers)

Rabbit-like mouth
Size: 20 cm

Siganidae
(rabbitfish)

Big mouth
Pointed teeth
Elongated body
Size: 70 cm

Spyraenidae
(barracudas)

Teeth filled mouth
Short dorsal fin
Size: 15 cm

Synodontidae
(lizardfish)

Globular body
Size: 25 cm

Tetraodontidae
(pufferfishes)

Globular body
Size: 25 cm

Zanclidae
(moorish idol)

Gill spine
Upright second dorsal fin
Size: 15 cm

Holocentridae
(squirrelfish)