Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
smaller clown fish hanging around. This is a non-mating male who functions as a kind of in-
surance policy. If the female clown fish dies, the dominant male changes sex and the smaller
fish takes over as the male. Surprisingly feisty, clown fish will rush up to your mask if you
get too close.
Closely related to the clownfish is the ubiquitous
damselfish
. Only around 5cm from nose
to tail, damselfish come in a huge range of colours, the most vivid being the golden and
black-and-white striped versions. Larger but just as colourful are the elegant
butterflyfish
and
angelfish
. Difficult to tell apart, these species both whizz around the reef in pairs. If you
can get up close you may notice a small spine by the gills that indicates an angelfish rather
than a butterflyfish. Also possessing a sharp spine is the aptly named
surgeonfish
, a stream-
lined version of the angelfish often found in large schools.
One of the few fish you can hear underwater is the
parrotfish
, who munch away at the reef
making a distinctive scraping sound with their sharp, beaked mouth. Larger reef fish found
in lagoons include the thick-lipped, grumpy-looking
grouper
and the long, streamlined
bar-
racuda
, who often file past in squadrons.
DO NOT DISTURB!
Triggerfish
Fiercely territorial, the brightly coloured triggerfish has an unnerving habit of
rushing full speed towards divers encroaching on its space. It has small but sharp teeth and
can give a nasty nip.
Lionfish
Named after its large mane of feathers, this beautiful fish is often seen hovering
at reef walls. Between the feathers is a set of sharp, venomous spines that can deliver a
painful sting.
Moray eel
Growing up to 3m in length, moray eels are nocturnal predators with sharp teeth
and large, gaping jaws. By day they rest in crevices and holes in the reef, occasionally pok-
ing their heads out to have a look around. They will only bite humans if provoked.
Pufferfish
The most poisonous marine animal in the world, puffer fish blow themselves up
into a ball when threatened - an obvious sign to leave well alone.
Sharks
Of the dozens of shark species found in Fijian waters, by far the most common are the smaller
reef sharks
(blacktips, whitetips and, to a lesser extent, grey reef). These elegant shallow-
water predators seldom reach over 2m in length and feed on small reef fish, squid and crus-
taceans. Of the
big sharks
, bulls, tigers and hammerheads are present in Fiji but rarely enter
the lagoons, preferring the deep current-fed passages along the outer edges of the reefs, or,
as is the case with bull sharks, lurking in the murky coastal waters and mangrove estuaries.
Bull sharks have beady eyes and a blunt snout and are considered the most aggressive shark
