Planet Ocean Montpellier

This tropical fish lives in shallow coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates and is distinguished by its five vertical black bands. It is capable of changing sex depending on its social group.

This damselfish lives in shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates, and is recognized by its 5 black vertical stripes and the fluorescent yellow band under its dorsal fin.

Commonly known as spiny chromis, this damselfish is found in the western part of the Pacific, from the Philippines to Northeastern Australia and New Caledonia. Living in coral reefs up to 65 m deep, these fish form territorial pairs during reproduction and actively guard eggs and fry.

Iconic species of Polynesian and Hawaiian reefs, the Achilles Tang is immediately recognizable by its dark silhouette marked with a large orange drop-shaped spot. It is seen in wave-swept areas, always on the move, grazing on algae attached to rocks.

The powderblue surgeonfish typically measures around twenty centimeters but some rare individuals reach forty. This herbivore is common from East Asia to Bali. It gets its name from the white spot under its snout.

Adult, Acanthurus olivaceus has a brownish body with a vertical orange spot. The young also have this spot, but they are fluorescent yellow. This fish feeds on fine filamentous algae covering rocks and sand.

The sohal surgeonfish is native to the Persian Gulf, but an invasive population has established itself on the Greek coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. This territorial fish mainly lives alone, feeding on algae (sargassum) in outer reefs.

Acanthurus xanthopterus is a large surgeonfish found throughout the Indo-Pacific and the eastern Pacific. A benthopelagic species, it lives up to 34 years, reaches 70 cm in length, and feeds on algae, detritus, and organic matter.

The bristle-tail file-fish (Acreichthys tomentosus) is a master of mimicry, able to change the color and texture of its skin to blend in with the epiphytes of tropical seagrass beds. It plays an ecological role in controlling the proliferation of these organisms, thus protecting the photosynthesis of the seagrasses it lives in.

The spotted eagle ray, inhabits the coastal and estuarine waters of the Indo-Pacific region. The largest individuals can grow to over 3 meters. Threatened by overfishing, this species with its gregarious lifestyle and low fecundity is endangered throughout its range. Partial protection measures exist in certain areas such as the Maldives and Australia.

To reproduce, this cichlid forms strong pairs. Each couple chooses a dark cavity to deposit its eggs and then protects the spawn. The parents fan the embryos and move the young to pits, caring for them until they are independent.

Clark's anemonefish is found in a large part of the Indo-Pacific region, going by over a dozen names depending on the region. Capable of living in numerous species of anemone, it is the least picky anemonefish in terms of hosts.

Amphiprion ephippium is commonly known as red saddleback anemonefish in reference to the shape of the dark spot on its flanks. It is found in the tropical waters of the eastern Indian Ocean. It lives in symbiosis with the bulb-tentacle anemone and the leather anemone.

Unlike its famous cousin from the movie Nemo, the tomato clownfish is reddish with a darker body. It has a single white vertical stripe just behind the eye. Young individuals have one to two additional stripes that they lose as they grow.

Amphiprion ocellaris is the best-known species of clownfish. It was popularized by Disney's productions "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory". It is mainly found in the eastern Indian Ocean, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, along the coasts of Thailand and Malaysia, as well as from northwestern Australia to Singapore.

The wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) is a marine predator living in the northern East Pacific. It is characterized by its violet-grey body covered with black spots and its imposing mouth. This highly territorial fish primarily hunts crustaceans and sea urchins.

Commonly known as the porkfish, this species is native to the western tropical Atlantic Ocean. During the day, this fish seeks refuge alone or in small groups in crevices, actively hunting mollusks and crustaceans at night. Young porkfish also participate in cleaning sessions with larger fish.

The swallowtail seaperch is found between 30 and 200 meters deep. It lives near cavities where it seeks refuge in case of danger. The male has large pectoral fins and is surrounded by a harem of about a dozen females. If he dies, the dominant female transforms into a male (protogynous hermaphroditism).

Fertilization is internal. The male uses his anal fin to fertilize the female. The female lays a batch of eggs that the male will keep in his mouth until the young hatch. During this period, he does not feed and can die from starvation if he has not accumulated enough reserves.

The arapaima, a freshwater giant reaching sizes of up to 4.5 meters, plays a vital role as a dominant predator in the Amazon basin. Equipped with thick and resilient scales that provide effective protection against predators, this iconic freshwater fish is threatened by overfishing. Juveniles breathe through their gills while adults often use their swim bladder to gulp air at the surface.

With its large eyes, this tete sea catfish detects prey and threats in coastal waters. During reproduction, the male protects the eggs in its mouth until hatching, a rare form of parental care among catfish.

The blackspotted puffer protects itself from predators with powerful toxins accumulated in its tissues. These substances, deadly to humans, make consumption dangerous.

With its characteristic reticulated pattern, this pufferfish can be found from India to New Caledonia. Solitary in nature, it often rests on muddy bottoms during the day and feeds on invertebrates, corals, and algae at night. Like its cousins, it has the ability to inflate and produce toxins.

An ambush predator, the oscar quietly hunts fish, crustaceans, and insects in the calm, wooded waters of South America. It has been introduced to various countries with detrimental environmental consequences, notably in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Astyanax jordani, also known as blind cave fish, is a species of fish native to Mexico that lives in underground rivers and caves. Descended from Astyanax mexicanus, these fish have developed a troglodytic lifestyle over time.

The common moon jelly, also known as Aurelia aurita or moon jellyfish, is found in all oceans and seas globally, except for the very cold waters near the poles. Often found near coastlines, it poses no danger to swimmers, as its stings are only mildly irritating.

This fish crushes the shells of its prey with its particularly strong teeth. During the breeding season, the male digs a nest in the sand where the female lays her eggs. The male protects the eggs until they hatch. In an aquarium, this species can be aggressive towards other fish.

The grey triggerfish, is a fish found from the Black Sea to the Caribbean Sea. The males, larger than the females, defend their nest aggressively and provide care to their offspring.

Solitary and territorial, the clown triggerfish is aggressive during the breeding season. Its first dorsal spine, which it locks like a switchblade, allows it to protect itself in the crevices of the reef.

Bodianus diplotaenia, commonly known as the Mexican hogfish, is a tropical reef fish native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. At night, they gather in cracks and crevices of rocks to sleep. They are carnivorous species. They are born female and change sex as they grow, transitioning to males with a change in color.

The Spanish hogfish changes color according to the depth: blue in shallow waters, red in deeper areas, always with a bright yellow tail.

The boarfish lives on soft or rocky bottoms in the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic (up to 700 meters deep). Recognizable by its laterally compressed body and pointed snout, it can quickly extend its mouth forward to capture small prey.

Young blue runners seek refuge in floating sargassum rafts. These algae provide them with both shelter from predators and abundant food, a key passage before joining adult coastal schools.

A powerful predator of the Atlantic, the crevalle jack lives in fast-moving schools or solitarily as an adult. Juveniles frequent estuaries and seagrass beds before moving to coastal and offshore waters where they hunt fish and shrimp.

The sandbar shark is a predator found in temperate and tropical waters of various oceans. It is characterized by its dark-colored pectoral fins and gray-blue coloration on the back. Although considered potentially dangerous to humans, attacks remain rare. This shark feeds on a variety of prey, including fish and cephalopods, and is found at depths ranging from the surface to about 100 meters.

Colored in fluorescent yellow, this angelfish has earned the nickname 'lemon angelfish.' All individuals are born female, and some undergo a gender change during growth. These fish, well-known among aquarium enthusiasts, are found in the western Pacific Ocean, in coral-rich tropical waters.

This species is encountered in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galápagos Islands. It forms schools ranging from the surface to a depth of 120 m in coral reefs and primarily feeds on plankton in the water column above the reefs.

This fish is very shy and it is easy to approach it when diving. it eyes are hidden by transverse black lines. It has a black eyespot on the dorsal fin, which attracts the attention of predators to parts of its body where there are no vital organs.