Coral Reef Scene

Beneath the sun shining through the Red Sea onto a hill of coral, butterfly fish (Chaetodon lunula), and angelfish swim together. The two fish can be confused for each other, but are distinguished by spikes that the butterfly fish has on its gills. The raccoon butterfly fish gets its name from the raccoon-like band across its eyes that you can see on the fish in the center of the photograph. This species of fish has been known to feed on the Aiptasia and Majano species of sea anemone, but will also eat soft corals. The angelfish has been known to release many eggs at one time, which float and end up amongst plankton. Unfortunately, many of these eggs become food for animals that eat plankton.