Fish Portraits

Fishes are the most numerous and most diverse group of vertebrates, with over 25,000 species so far described. The greatest diversity of marine fishes is found among the inhabitants of Western Pacific coral reefs - particularly those around Indonesia and adjacent waters - with the number of species gradually diminishing as one travels east or west. Many of these fish are brightly colored - a device meant to advertise their presence, while others blend with their surroundings so well as to be almost undetectable (see "Camouflage").

Damselfish, Indonesia — Damselfish,
Indonesia

Mandarinfish, Indonesia — Mandarinfish,
Indonesia

Wrasse, Indonesia — Wrasse,
Indonesia

Parrotfish, Bahamas — Parrotfish,
Bahamas

Grouper, Red Sea — Grouper,
Red Sea

Parrotfish, Red Sea — Parrotfish,
Red Sea

Butterflyfish, New Guinea — Butterflyfish,
New Guinea

Butterflyfish, Red Sea — Butterflyfish,
Red Sea

Butterflyfish, New Guinea — Butterflyfish,
New Guinea

Angelfish, Indonesia — Angelfish,
Indonesia

Angelfish, Caribbean — Angelfish,
Caribbean

Angelfish, Australia — Angelfish,
Australia

Boxfish, Australia — Boxfish,
Australia

Gobies, Japan — Gobies,
Japan

Stonefish, (© G. Jamison) — Stonefish,
(© G. Jamison)

Blenny, New Guinea — Blenny,
New Guinea

Stonefish, New Guinea — Stonefish,
New Guinea

Angler, Indonesia — Angler,
Indonesia

Lionfish, New Guinea — Lionfish,
New Guinea

Blenny, St. Vincent — Blenny,
St. Vincent

Fangblenny, Solomon Islands — Fangblenny,
Solomon Islands

Grouper, Bali — Grouper,
Bali

Irish Lord, British Columbia — Irish Lord,
British Columbia

Pikeblenny, Japan — Pikeblenny,
Japan

Triggerfish, Bali — Triggerfish,
Bali

Cowfish, New Guinea — Cowfish,
New Guinea

Unicornfish, Bali — Unicornfish,
Bali

Wolf eel, British Columbia — Wolf eel,
British Columbia

Stargazer, New Guinea — Stargazer,
New Guinea

Lumpfish, Japan — Lumpfish,
Japan

Surgeonfish, New Guinea — Surgeonfish,
New Guinea

Garibaldi, California — Garibaldi,
California

Angelfish, Bali — Angelfish,
Bali

Cowfish, St. Vincent — Cowfish,
St. Vincent

Stargazer, Indonesia — Stargazer,
Indonesia

Moray, Japan — Moray,
Japan

Lizardfish, New Guinea — Lizardfish,
New Guinea

Lionfish, Japan — Lionfish,
Japan

Handfish, Tasmania — Handfish,
Tasmania

All images © David Hall. Any unauthorized use or reproduction of these images is strictly forbidden.