Page 31 - Fish and Amphibians (Britannica Illustrated Science Library)

26 LIFE IN THE WATER

Wonders of Color

ish use color to communicate with others of their species.
They also use color in mating rituals and even to hide from
F their prey. A young emperor angelfish has blue and white CLOWN TRIGGERFISH
Balistoides conspicillum
spirals, but it develops its own appearance when it reaches
maturity. This helps it to find a mate and define its territory. Half of its body is black with large white
spots, and the other half is nearly all black,
Today science is discovering how fish perceive differences of with a group of strange black shapes with
color and what sort of messages the colors convey. a yellow border. Its bright orange lips look
like those of a clown.

GOLDFISH
Carassius auratus
EMPEROR ANGELFISH
Pomacanthus imperator This adaptable fish is the
most popular for aquariums.
This fish comes in various sizes and colors. Its highly developed sense of
It also changes shades as it matures. Its white smell is important in its
stripes on a blue background form concentric
search for mates and food.
rings, and they grow just enough to give
the adult fish magnificent horizontal
yellow stripes.
WHITETAIL
DAMSELFISH
Dascyllus aruanus
SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH With its white body
Betta splendens and three thick black stripes, this
fish swims among rocks and coral,
One of the most popular freshwater
blending in with its environment.
species. Only the males exhibit a wide
variety of colors—red, green, blue, and
purple—which they obviously use as a
form of seduction. HARLEQUIN TUSKFISH
Choerodon fasciatus
One of the most brightly colored
species of fish in the tropical seas,
PERCULA CLOWNFISH this fish is endangered by its
Amphiprion percula popularity with aquarium aficionados.
The clownfish is known for THREADFIN BUTTERFLY FISH
OCELLARIS CLOWNFISH
its intense red, orange, and Chaetodon auriga
Amphiprion ocellaris
white colors. It lives among
anemones, a predator species This fish has an orange body with two white A dark band covers each eye,
that affords it protection from bands. It lives in coral reefs from Sri Lanka and a black eye-shaped spot on
possible attackers. its tail fools predators by
to the Philippines and north of Australia.
making them believe the fish is
bigger than it really is.
HUMPBACK GROUPER
Cromileptes altivelis
This fish is found in southeast Asia, and
its meat is considered a delicacy by WRASSE
gourmets. It lives in caves as a means of Bodianus sp.
defense from predators.
This fish's showy colors repel potential
predators, with the
contrasting tones
serving as a MANDARIN DRAGONET
warning. Synchiropus splendidus
Covered with psychedelic swirls in
green, blue, and yellow, this is one of
the most beautiful fish on the planet.
This small species lives hidden among
the rocks of coral reefs.