They are fish living in and around coral reefs. Some species can be found also elsewhere in the lagoon
Small, fish with vivid colors add to the coral reefs spectacular beauty. They are in particular the magnificent butterfly fish (poissons-papillons) yellow with black stripes or spots. They belong to the Chaetodontidae family with about one hundred species. Angel fish have similarly beautiful colors and a variety of shapes. Their family is named Pomacanthidae. Orange clownfish (poissons-clowns) are associated with the anemones which protect them. In the same family Damselfish have remarkably vivid colors in particular the Neon damselfish (étincelle) Pomacentrus coelestis which has an electric blue color. Microcanthe is a flat fish with yellow and black horizontal strips. Monodactyle has a lozenge shape a gray color and a yellow back. Platax have triangle or arrow shapes. There are numerous gobies. The very thin knifefishs (poisson-couteaux) stand vertically, head down, in between the long spines of Diadem Sea Urchins. The small Brownstripe red snapper (jaunets) are often occuring above coral reef mounds ("patates").
Larger fish are also associated with coral reefs. Among them the surgeon
fish (poissons-chirurgiens) and the beautiful blue Lined surgeonfish
( chirurgien à bandes bleues). In the same genus the
Eyestripe
surgeonfish (picot canaque) is brown-black. The Naso fish have
a horn prolonging their head , particularly the well known and well
appreciated on local tables, Bluespine
unicorn fish (dawa). Parrotfish are green and feed on coral.
Labridae
also occur with the famous
Humphead wrasse (napoléon) a large dark green fish. From the
same family the Golden-spot hogfish ("perroquet" banane)
is a pink fish often mistaken for a parrotfish. From the Scorpaenidae
family, the Red lionfish (rascasse-poule) is a splendid fish
with long spines, but the dorsal ones are venomous. Triggerfish (balistes
or poissons-gachettes or arbalétriers) are harmless
but fight without fear to protect their territory, even against much
larger fish. They have a stiff body like boxfish (poissons-limes
and poissons-coffres). Diodons such as the Spot-fin porcupine
fish (poissons-ballons) and the Long-spine porcupine fish (poisson-porc-épic)
inflate themselves with water for protection. Morray
(murènes) inhabit reefs holes. The Humpnose big-eye breams
(perches à gros yeux) gather in groups above the reefs.
Groupers (Serranidae - local name loches, in France : mérous) are fascinating fish living in coral reefs. The Giant grouper (loche géante) can weight 400 kg. Unfortunately it is getting scarce as a result of spear gun over-fishing. The mère-loche Epinephelus cylindricus is also a large fish (70-100 kg) victim of over fishing. The Leopard coralgrouper (saumonée) (30 à 70 cm) is much sought for its fine flesh. It has brown reddish colors with whitish or blue spots. The Highfin grouper (loche crasseuse) can give ciguatera (gratte) when eaten. The Humpback grouper (loche truite) of clear color with large brown spots has an excellent flesh. The Speckled blue grouper (loche bleue) reaches one metre in length. It can be caught sometimes by line trailing. Its flesh is very good too. The small grisette (also a Highfin grouper) is line fished, often from the shore.
The loche castex or castex is a Haemulidae (Grunts) as well as the Painted sweetlip (grosses lèvres). Castex are easy to spear-gun but their flesh is not appreciated.