“The fish, oh my. They are my favourites. Snappers, parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, oriental sweetlips, mullets, trevally – the list is endless!”
If you thought this volunteer was talking about our tasty local cuisine, you’d be wrong. He was instead amazed at the fish communities he saw while diving in and around Cousin Island.
One of the most exciting things about snorkelling or diving in this marine protected area is the chance to observe and admire marine animals in their natural habitat. Although the coral has been affected by climate change-induced bleaching, there is still a wide array of marine life and you never know what you’ll bump into.
“It’s not just the turtles that are great to see,” he continues. “It’s looking straight ahead and seeing a school of tiny beautiful fish swimming around a coral – blue, orange, green, yellow, turquoise, all hues, adding a dash of tropical colour to the ocean.”
More than a thousand fish species occur in Seychelles, giving divers and snorkellers an authentic underwater feast for the eyes. Fish are also an important resource for tourism, nutrition, and research.
It can be quite fun to identify individual species by their appearance and to interpret their behaviours as they go about eating, resting, breeding, and interreacting with other species.
Fish often exhibit unique behaviours and movements that stand out underwater. They dance, flutter, or dart through the water. Some species have stunning patterns and colours that are difficult to miss.
The social structure of fish is diverse. Several species form large schools that include several hundred individuals. These can create mesmerizing displays as they swim together. Other species are territorial and defend their reef area from competitors. Pay attention to the fish’s behaviour, as they can indicate whether they are curious or shy. Some fish quickly swim away when you get close. Others require a sharp eye, as they have outstanding camouflage or are mimics using their resemblance to other fish as a defence mechanism. Fish also display a wide range of mating and parental behaviour.
It is mesmerising to see relationships like the one between the Seychelles anemonefish and the sea anemone it inhabits, for example. The two have a symbiotic relationship where the fish lives and is protected by the anemone’s tentacles, and in return it defends the anemone from its predators and parasites.
You might see the cleaner wrasse performing its duties at cleaner stations. Fish – called “clients” – come to the cleaner wrasse to get rid of parasites and dead tissue. Cleaner wrasses perform a special dance when approaching their clients. This behaviour together with their characteristic colours ensures their intention is not mistaken.
Lionfish are famous for their stunning colour, fins, and spines. But beware of those spines as they are dangerous to humans.
Parrotfish have specially constructed beaks and jaws that bite coral chunks. They crush the coral, digest the coral tissue and pass the coral sand out the other end.
There’s a lot to admire about fish. Inspired? Go and explore the underwater world for yourself!