Coryphaena equiselis Linnaeus, 1758

English Name: Pompano dolphinfish
Family: CORYPHAENIDAE
Local Name: Aila
Order: Perciformes
Size: Common to 50cm; max. 75 cm
Specimen: MRS/01 18/87

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Distinctive Characters: Single dorsal fin usually with 52-59 rays. Anal fin with 23-29 rays. Pectoral with 18-21 rays. Body depth more than 25% of standard length. Anal fin withconvex outline. Pectoral fin about half of head length.

Colour: Back metallic blue-green in life. Grey after death. Sides silvery with black spots. Juveniles with white edged caudal fin.

Habitat and Biology: Pelagic, inhabits in open waters but also approaches the coasts. Probably resembles C. hipppurus in following ships and forming aggregations. Feeds on small fishes and squids.

Distribution: Oceanic, in most tropical and subtropical waters.

Remarks: Coryphaena equiselis is much rarer than, but so similar to C. hippurus that it has probably been confused with that species. C. hippurus has a more elongatedbody (less than 25% of standard length) and its pectoral fin is Yonger than half its head length.

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Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758)

English Name: Pilot fish
Family: CARANGIDAE
Local Name: Kafihi mas
Order: Perciformes
Size: Common to 35 cm; max. 70cm
Specimen: MRS/P0l83/88

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Distinctive Characters: First dorsal fin with 4-5 separate spines, second dorsal with I spine and 25-29 rays. Anal fin with 2 detached spines followed by I spine and 15-17 rays. Body elongate, shallow and barely compressed. Caudal peduncle without scutes but with a long fleshy keel on each side.

Colour: Silver-grey with 6-7 blue black bars. White tips to caudal lobes, and also on soft dorsal and anal lobes, most of fins dusky to dark.

Habitat and Biology: Primarily pelagic in oceanic waters. Occurs solitary, in pairs or in groups. Juveniles drift with seaweed and jellyfish. Shows pilot behaviour.

Distribution: Circumtropical.

Remarks: Naucrates ductor has a semi-obligate commensal relationship with large sharks. rays and other fishes, turtles and also ships and drift wood.

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Rhinecanthus aculeatus (Linneaus, 1758)

English Name: Picasso triggerlish
Family: BALISTIDAE
Local Name: Gabulhi rondu
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Size: Max. 28 cm
Specimen: MRS/0054/86

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Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 3 spines and 24-26 rays. Anal fin with 21-23 rays. Pectoral fin with 12-14 rays. Head pointed; dorsal and ventral profiles nearly straight. 3 rows of forward curving spines on caudal peduncle. Caudal fin rounded to double emarginate, the corners angular.

Colour: Pale brown shading to white below. Complexly coloured with blackish, blue, and yellow hands. Peduncular spines black edged with blue. Anus black.

Habitat and Biology: Common on shallow lagoon reef environments dominated by sand. Omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of invertebrates.,fishes and also algae.

Distribution: lndo-Pacific.

Remarks: Rhinecanthus acu/eatus is a very common inhabitant on Maldivian reefs. It is often seen sleepingon its side at night and makes a whirring noise when startled. A popular aquarium fish.

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