Kids’ Corner

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The slow moving grouper is a sly hunter. It catches other fish by waiting in ambush, and then suddenly darting forward to swallow its victim in a single bite. Some groupers grow to more than ten feet and over five hundred pounds. With their large seize, groupers eat just about any fish that carelessly strays too close. Because they are delicious themselves however, groupers often end up on the menus of seafood restaurants.
The slow moving grouper is a sly hunter. It catches other fish by waiting in ambush, and then suddenly darting forward to swallow its victim in a single bite. Some groupers grow to more than ten feet and over five hundred pounds. With their large size, groupers eat just about any fish that carelessly strays too close. However, because they are delicious themselves, groupers often end up on the menus of seafood restaurants.
This fish is named for its bright colors and strong beak-like jaws, which it uses to bite off chunks of coral. Parrotfish then grind the rocky coral into a fine sand, and eat the tiny plants and animals that live within. If you swim about on a coral reef you will hear them going CRUNCH! CHRUNCH! CHRUNCH! all day long. Much of the sand found around reefs is really coral that has been crushed by parrotfish. Parrotfish change color as they grow, with the largest and brightest fish being the oldest.
This fish is named for its bright colors and strong beak-like jaws, which it uses to bite off chunks of coral. Parrotfish then grind the rocky coral into a fine sand, and eat the tiny plants and animals that live within. If you swim on a coral reef you will hear them going CRUNCH! CHRUNCH! CHRUNCH! all day long. Much of the sand found around reefs is really coral that has been crushed by parrotfish. Parrotfish change color as they grow, with the largest and brightest fish being the oldest.
The colorful wrasse is a close cousin of the parrotfish. There are many different kinds of wrasses found on coral reefs. Most are small, but a few grow to more than seven feet. Some wrasses play a special role in the coral city. These are called "cleaners" because they eat unwanted animals that have attached themselves to the bodies of other fish. When being cleaned, the wrasses's customers will even open their mouths and allow the wrasse to swim in without danger of being eaten! At night, you will seldom see a wrasse on the reef because they bury themselves in the sand to sleep.
The colorful wrasse is a close cousin of the parrotfish. There are many different kinds of wrasses found on coral reefs. Most are small, but a few grow to more than seven feet. Some wrasses play a special role in the coral city. These are called “cleaners” because they eat unwanted animals that have attached themselves to the bodies of other fish. When being cleaned, the wrasses’ customers will even open their mouths and allow the wrasse to swim in without danger of being eaten! At night, you will seldom see a wrasse on the reef because they bury themselves in the sand to sleep.
With its unusual colors and unlikely shape, this is one of the real clowns of the sea. Filefish spend much of the day swimming or drifting at odd angles, using nothing but their almst invisible fins to pusch themselves along. Young filefish are often found far at sea, using rafts of seaweed or other debris for shelter from hungry predators. In this way, they are able to travel safely across hundreds of miles of open ocean. When they finally find a reef, they leave their rafts and swim below to begin their new lives.
With its unusual colors and unlikely shape, this is one of the real clowns of the sea. Filefish spend much of the day swimming or drifting at odd angles, using nothing but their almst invisible fins to push themselves along. Young filefish are often found far at sea, using rafts of seaweed or other debris for shelter from hungry predators. In this way, they are able to travel safely across hundreds of miles of open ocean. When they finally find a reef, they leave their rafts and swim below to begin their new lives.
The angelfish is without doubt one of the most beautiful fish found on coral reefs. A living rainbow, it is a favorite of photographers and fishwatchers alike. Angelfish spend most of the time cruising gracefully around the reef feeding on the sponges and plants that live there. Their pancake-shaped bodies allow them to turn quickly. They are so thin and flat that they seem to disappear when they turn to face a diver.
The angelfish is without doubt one of the most beautiful fish found on coral reefs. A living rainbow, it is a favorite of photographers and fish watchers alike. Angelfish spend most of the time cruising gracefully around the reef feeding on the sponges and plants that live there. Their pancake-shaped bodies allow them to turn quickly. They are so thin and flat that they seem to disappear when they turn to face a diver.
This fish is named for its bright colors that sometimes look much like those on the wings of real butterflies. Like its larger cousin the angelfish, the butterflyfish is seldom seen in groups. Instead, it prefers to travel alone or in pairs. The long slender jaws and tiny teeth allow the butterflyfish to nibble at small animals that live int he reef. Many butterflyfish have stripes through the eyes and a large spot near the tail, making it difficult to tell which way this fish is really facing!
This fish is named for its bright colors that sometimes look much like those on the wings of real butterflies. Like its larger cousin the angelfish, the butterflyfish is seldom seen in groups. Instead, it prefers to travel alone or in pairs. The long slender jaws and tiny teeth allow the butterflyfish to nibble at small animals that live in the reef. Many butterflyfish have stripes through the eyes and a large spot near the tail, making it difficult to tell which way this fish is really facing!
The triggerfish is named for the large strong spine on its back. This makes it less likely to become dinner for larger fish. Imagine trying to eat a board with a nail sticking out of it! A favorite food of some triggerfish is the spiny sea urchin, an animal that looks like a purple pincushion. To avoid hurting itself while dining on such a treat, the eyes of the triggerfish are not on the front of its face, but instead back where its ears should be.
The triggerfish is named for the large strong spine on its back. This makes it less likely to become dinner for larger fish. Imagine trying to eat a board with a nail sticking out of it! A favorite food of some triggerfish is the spiny sea urchin, an animal that looks like a purple pincushion. To avoid hurting itself while dining on such a treat, the eyes of the triggerfish are not on the front of its face, but instead back where its ears should be.