Top 10 Most Beautiful Saltwater Fishes in the world

Saltwater fish are beautiful creatures that have the most amazing colors and markings. Life underwater is immensely diverse and contains many beautiful and unusual creatures. Here are some of the most amazing and beautiful saltwater fishes in the world.



10. Clown Triggerfish - (Balistoides conspicillum)

By H. Zell

Also called as The Bigspotted Triggerfish, Clown Triggerfish is broadly distributed within the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean. It is most typically seen along outer reef slopes with clear water until 75 m depth.The clown triggerfish is a compact sized fish which gets bigger up to 50 cm. Its body has a stock appearance, oval shape and compressed laterally. Clown Triggerfish is one of the most demanded saltwater fish for aquariums because of its attractive coloration.


9. Maroon Clownfish - (Premnas biaculeatus)

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The maroon clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus, is a species of clownfish that is found in the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef. They are able to develop to approximately 17 cm and while they grow, they become much more aggressive against other clownfish. In the wild, Premnas biaculeatus is strictly connected with the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor. Maroon clownfish are omnivorous and can eat undigested food from their host anemones, and the waste from the clownfish provides nutrients to the sea anemone.


8. Manta Ray - (Cephalopterus manta)

By Steve

Mantas can be found in tropical and sub-tropical waters in most the world's major oceans. They are recognized for their large size, wide heads, triangular pectoral fins, and the horn-shaped cephalic fins situated on both side of their mouths. Mantas move through the water by the wing-like movements of their pectoral fins, which push water backwards. The larger species, Manta birostris could reaches 7 m (23 ft) in width while the smaller species, Manta alfredi, reaches 5.5 m (18 ft). The biggest threat to manta rays is overfishing and because of that in 2011, mantas started to be strictly protected in international waters and included in the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals.


7. Ornate ghost pipefish - (Solenostomus paradoxus)

By Steve Childs

Also known as Harlequin ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus, can be found in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean along reef edges prone to strong currents. They reach a maximum length of 12 cm. They vary in color from red or yellow to black and nearly transparent. Solenostomus paradoxus is typically solitary. However, also been noticed in pairs or small groups. Harlequin ghost pipefish is a weak swimmer, moving itself by rapidly fanning its fins. While this technique provides pretty accurate control over body position.


6. Killer Whales - (Orcinus orca)

PD

The Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) is found inhabiting almost all oceans of the world. They have been seen from as far north as the Artic Ocean near pack ice to as far south as the Antarctic Ocean. Although Orcinus orca seems to prefer colder environments, they have also been seen in tropical waters. Killer whales are the largest extant members of the dolphin family. They range from 6 to 8 metres (20 to 26 ft) long and weigh in excess of 6 tonnes. Killer whales have the second-heaviest brains among marine mammals, and can be trained in captivity which makes them often described as intelligent.


5. Blueface Angelfish - (Pomacanthus xanthometopon)

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Commonly called Blueface angelfish or The Yellowface angelfish, Pomacanthus xanthometopon can be found on coral reefs in the eastern part of the tropical Indo-Pacific. It is able to grows up to a maximum length of 38 centimetres and have a laterally compressed body shape. It favours lagoons, external reef slopes and channels at depths down to about 25 metres and is frequently seen among rocks and near caves. The yellowface angelfish commonly lives individually or in pairs and eats on tunicates, sponges, various other encrusting organisms and algae.


4. Lionfish - (Pterois)

By Christian Mehlführer

Also known as lionfish, Pterois is a genus of venomous salt-water fish native to the Indo-Pacific. Pterois is identified by noticeable warning coloration with red, white, creamy, or black bands, flamboyant pectoral fins as well as venomous spiky fin rays. Pterois are categorized into several different species, range from 5 centimetres to 45 centimetres in length. It can live from five to fifteen years and considered one of the most popular aquarium fish.


3. Whale Shark - (Rhincodon typus)

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The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) can be found in all tropical and warm temperate seas excluding the Mediterranean. Whale Shark lifespan is about 70 years. Whale sharks have very large mouths, and as filter feeders, they feed primarily on plankton. The whale shark is the largest noncetacean creature on the planet. The regular size of adult whale sharks is approximated at 9.7 m (31.82 ft) and weigh around 9 tonnes. The whale shark is targeted by commercial fisheries in a number spots where they seasonally aggregate. The population is unclear and the species is regarded as being in danger by the IUCN.


2. Bicolor Parrotfish - (Cetoscarus bicolor)

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Bicolour parrotfish can be found in the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea. The bicolour parrotfish is correlated with coral reefs. It frequently can be found in lagoons as well as seaward reefs at depths between 1 to 30 m. It is actually among the largest parrotfishes, occurring to a length of around 90 cm when mature. Such as plenty of its relatives, it is a sequential hermaphrodite, starting up to be female (the initial stage) after that transforming to male (the terminal stage).


1. Mandarin Fish - (Synchiropus splendidus)

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The mandarinfish is well known in the saltwater aquarium market. Inhabitant to the Pacific, this fish distribution is ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia. The well-known name of the mandarinfish originates from its incredibly vibrant colouration, evoking the robes of an Imperial Chinese mandarin. Mandarinfish are reef dwellers, preferring protected lagoons and inshore reefs. As they are slow-moving and also relatively common within their range, they are not easily found because of their bottom-feeding behavior and their small size which reaching no more than 6 cm. They feed mainly on tiny crustaceans and other invertebrates.