The family Acanthuridae boasts of charismatic, charming and iconic reef fishes that are immediately recognizable both in the field and in the trade. All eighty or so species spanning the six various genera have a single unifying trait, and that is…
Is Japan really home to any endemic Fairy Wrasses? Cirrhilabrus katoi disagrees
The reefs of Japan are known to harbour unique fauna found nowhere else on this earth. Rife with endemics, species such as Centropyge interrupta, Chaetodon daedalma, Genicanthus takeuchii, Chromis mirationis and a whole hodgepodge of other reef fish call this…
2.2 Fairy Wrasses: The cyanopleura group
The cyanopleura group is the next collection of fairy wrasses from the second major Cirrhilabrus clade (whose member taxa share the trait of mid-length pelvic fins) and is sister to the scottorum group. In the latter, certain traits that were diagnostic to the members will be…
Limited edition Fish and Corals of The World posters are now up for sale
Throughout the years of reefing and travelling, I’ve managed to amass quite the collection of fish and coral photos, many of which I use for day to day articles here. We sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures, and so it comes…
RVS fishworld’s haul of fame: Pseudojuloides mesostigma
First of all can we get a chest bump peace sign for pencil wrasses? Apart from Cirrhilabrus, Pseudojuloides has got to be one of my all-time favorite genera of labrids. Sleek, svelte, elegant, the pencil wrasses are the perfect package of…
2.1 Fairy Wrasses: The scottorum group
Moving away from the first major Cirrhilabrus clade, we explore the various species groups that differ by having larger and longer pelvic fins. The scottorum group is a small conglomeration of two confirmed species, one of which is highly polychromatic…
S.E.A’s coral reef display is a veritable kaleidoscope of beauty
Oh S.E.A. Where do we begin. In our travels we’re fortunate enough to visit a hodgepodge of public aquariums. Often times we get to see behind the scenes, to the heart of the facility, where the quiet humming of machines…
Poetry in motion, Chaetodon daedalma in notion
A leather bodice, of gunmetal grey, Of polished iron, for which I overlay. Woven in chains, I shine like mercury, A knight I am not, of the 17th century.
Bali babies on display at Aquarama 2015
Bali Aquarich, the Asian sensation of the aquaculture scene, has been collecting accolades and trail blazing this niche in the last few years. They’ve come a long way since captive bred clownfish, and now boasts a stunning repertoire of angelfish…
Papua New Guinean endemics on display by Paradise Aquariums at Aquarama 2015
Aquarama is a fish and accessories exhibition held biennially in Singapore, where exhibitors, exporters, industry authorities and hobbyists gather for a glimpse of the aquarium happenings in South-East Asia. Although Aquarama is mostly geared towards freshwater fish and their corresponding ribbon ponies, it…