A pair of Fourspot Butterflyfishes disturbed a pair of Arc-eye Hawkfishes perched in a head of Cauliflower Coral, as they often do. The coral head is doing OK, but areas of it have died off, probably during one of the coral bleaching events that have happened in the past few years, where the water gets too warm.
I can get chilly fairly easily when I go swimming, but for me, it’s more distressing when the water feels oddly warm because I know this is bad news for the corals.
These butterflyfishes are easily recognizable because of their distinctive black coloring. This one came over to check me out and, as most fish are wont to do, quickly got bored with me!
The distinctive Bluestripe Butterflyfish, which is endemic to Hawaii, is unusual in that it has no eye camouflage. This one was nibbling on algae on part of an old pier.
Milletseed Butterflyfishes are quite common, at least where I swim, but I think they’re one of the prettiest butterflyfishes around.
I was snorkeling recently in a marine reserve where fishing is prohibited and the fish there are noticeably more mellow than those in my usual snorkeling spot, where fishing of all kinds takes place.
The Raccoon Butterflyfishes there passed close by without concern. Smaller groups maintained a tight formation, while the odd one wasn’t shy about checking me out.
A Bluestripe Butterflyfish probes for food in the neighborhood of a Collector Urchin.
Fish tend to have their territories, so that when I swim, I often see the same kind of fish in the same place. This stretch of water is a place where pyramid butterflyfish can usually be found.
This week’s Friendly Friday challenge theme is ‘Something Fishy.’ See more responses here.
This seemed like a good opportunity to post a gallery of some of the fish I see when I snorkel around here. Most are brightly colored or have distinctive markings.
Also posted in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge theme of ‘Bright.’ See more responses here.
Graham's Island 