Field Guide to About Mangroves for the Future Field Guide to Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development. It provides a collaborative platform among the many different agencies, sectors and countries who are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues, Reef Fishes Reef Fishes to work towards a common goal. MFF builds on a history of coastal management interventions of Sri Lanka before and after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, especially the call to continue the momentum and partnerships generated by the immediate post-tsunami response. It initially focused on the countries worstaffected by the tsunami; India, Indonesia, Maldives, of Sri Lanka Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. MFF has expanded to include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Viet Nam. MFF will continue to reach out other countries of the region that face similar issues, with an overall aim to promote an integrated ocean wide approach to coastal zone management. The initiative uses mangroves as a flagship ecosystem, but MFF is inclusive of all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, sandy beaches, sea grasses and wetlands. Its long-term management strategy is based on identified needs and priorities for long-term sustainable coastal ecosystem management. These priorities emerged from extensive consultations with over 200 Arjan Rajasuriya individuals and 160 institutions involved in coastal management. MFF seeks to achieve demonstrable results in influencing regional cooperation, national programme support, private sector engagement and community action. This will be achieved using a strategy of generating knowledge, empowering institutions and individuals to promote good governance in coastal ecosystem Arjan Rajasuriya management. Learn more at: www.mangrovesforthefuture.org Illustrations by Shantha Jayaweera Field Guide to Reef Fishes of Sri Lanka Arjan Rajasuriya Illustrations by Shantha Jayaweera Volume 1 The designation of geographical entities in this book and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Mangroves for the Future or IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of Mangroves for the Future or IUCN. This publication is produced by Mangroves for the Future with financial support of Danida, Norad and Sida. Published by: IUCN, Sri Lanka Country Office Copyright: © 2013 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Rajasuriya, Arjan (2013). Field Guide to Reef Fishes of Sri Lanka. Colombo: IUCN Sri Lanka Office. xxix+ 104 pages ISBN: 978-955-0205-25-7 Design by: Nisansala Karunaratne Rajapaksa Printed by: Karunaratne & Sons Ltd. 67, Industrial Estate, Katuwana Road, Homagama, Sri Lanka. Available from: IUCN, Sri Lanka Country Office 53, Horton Place Colombo 7, Sri Lanka Tel: ++94-011-2694094, 2682418 Fax: 2682470 http:// iucn.org/srilanka Contents Foreword vii Preface ix Acknowledgements x Introduction xi Description of the families xx Acanthuridae Acanthurus bariene 1 Acanthurus dussumieri 1 Acanthurus leucosternon 1 Acanthurus lineatus 1 Acanthurus mata 3 Acanthurus triostegus 3 Acanthurus xanthopterus 3 Ctenochaetus striatus 3 Naso annulatus 5 Naso brevirostris 5 Naso elegans 5 Zebrasoma desjardinii 5 Zebrasoma scopas 7 Apogonidae Cheilodipterus macrodon 7 Ostorhinchus aureus 7 Aulostomidae Aulostomus chinensis 9 Balistidae Balistoides conspicillum 9 Balistapus undulatus 9 Balistoides viridescens 11 Odonus niger 11 Rhinecanthus aculeatus 11 Rhinecanthus rectangulus 13 Caesionidae Caesio cuning 13 Pterocaesio chrysozona 13 Carangidae Caranx heberi 15 Caranx ignobilis 15 Caranx melapmygus 15 Caranx sexfasciatus 15 Gnathanodon speciosus 17 Trachinotus blochii 17 Carcharhinidae Carcharhinus melanopterus 17 Chaetodontidae Chaetodon auriga 19 Chaetodon bennetti 19 Chaetodon collare 19 Chaetodon decussatus 21 Chaetodon falcula 21 Chaetodon kleinii 21 Chaetodon lineolatus 23 Chaetodon lunula 23 Chaetodon melannotus 23 Chaetodon meyeri 23 Chaetodon octofaciatus 25 Chaetodon plebeius 25 Chaetodon trifascialis 25 Chaetodon trifasciatus 27 Chaetodon vagabundus 27 Chaetodon xanthocephalus 27 Forcipiger flavissimus 29 Heniochus acuminatus 29 Heniochus monoceros 29 Cirrhitidae Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus 31 Cirrhitus pinnulatus 31 Dasyatidae Aetobatus narinari 31 Taeniura lymna 33 Taeniura meyeni 33 Diodontidae Diodon hystrix 33 Diodon liturosus 35 Ephippidae Platax orbicularis 35 Platax teira 35 Fistulariidae Fistularia commersonii 37 Gobiidae Amblygobius semicinctus 37 Valenciennea strigata 37 Haemulidae Plectorhinchus ceylonensis 39 Plectorhinchus schotaf 39 Plectorhinchus vittatus 39 Hemiscylliidae Chiloscyllium griseum 41 Holocentridae Myripristis adusta 41 Sargocentron caudimaculatum 41 Sargocentron diadema 43 Sargocentron spiniferum 43 Kyphosidae Kyphosus cinerascens 43 Labridae Anampses lineatus 45 Bodianus neilli 45 Cheilinus chlorourus 45 Cheilinus undulatus 47 Coris formosa 47 Gomphosus caeruleus 47 Halichoeres hortulanus 49 Halichoeres marginatus 49 Halichoeres nebulosus 49 Halichoeres scapularis 51 Hemigymnus fasciatus 51 Hemigymnus melapterus 51 Labroides bicolor 53 Labroides dimidiatus 53 Stethojulis trilineata 53 Thalassoma hardwicke 55 Thalassoma jansenii 55 Thalassoma lunare 55 Lethrinidae Lethrinus harak 57 Lethrinus nebulosus 57 Lutjanidae Lutjanus argentimaculatus 57 Lutjanus biguttatus 59 Lutjanus decussatus 59 Lutjanus kasmira 59 Lutjanus quinquilineatus 59 Lutjanus rivulatus 61 Monodactylidae Monodactylus argenteus 61 Mugilidae Mugil cephalus 61 Mullidae Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 63 Parupeneus forskali 63 Parupeneus indicus 63 Muraenidae Echidna nebulosa 65 Gymnomuraena zebra 65 Gymnothorax favagineus 65 Gymnothorax javanicus 65 Nemipteridae Scolopsis bilineatus 67 Scolopsis vosmeri 67 Ostraciidae Ostracion cubicus 67 Ostracion meleagris 69 Pinguipedidae Parapercis clathrata 69 Pomacanthidae Apolemichthys xanthurus 69 Centropyge eibli 71 Centropyge flavipectoralis 71 Centropyge multispinis 71 Pomacanthus annularis 71 Pomacanthus imperator 73 Pomacanthus semicirculatus 73 Pomacentridae Abudefduf sordidus 73 Abudefduf vaigiensis 75 Amphiprion clarkii 75 Amphiprion nigripes 75 Amphiprion sebae 77 Chromis ternatensis 77 Chromis viridis 77 Chrysiptera brownrigii 77 Dascyllus aruanus 79 Dascyllus trimaculatus 79 Neopomacentrus azysron 79 Plectroglyphidodon dickii 79 Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 81 Pomacentrus chrysurus 81 Pomacentrus similis 81 Stegastes nigricans 81 Scaridae Chlorurus rhakoura 83 Chlorurus sordidus 83 Scarus rubroviolaceus 83 Scarus scaber 83 Scorpaenidae Pterois antennata 85 Pterois miles 85 Serranidae Cephalopholis argus 85 Cephalopholis formosa 87 Cephalopholis miniata 87 Cephalopholis sonnerati 87 Epinephelus faveatus 87 Epinephelus fuscoguttatus 89 Epinephelus malabaricus 89 Serranidae Epinephelus merra 89 Epinephelus polyphekadion 89 Pseudanthias squamipinnis 91 Siganidae Siganus javus 91 Siganus lineatus 91 Siganus virgatus 93 Synodontidae Synodus variegatus 93 Tetraodontidae Arothron hispidus 93 Arothron meleagris 95 Canthigaster solandri 95 Zanclidae Zanclus cornutus 95 Index of family names 97 Index of scientific names 98 Index of common names 100 Bibliography 103 viii Foreword Using his marine experience of nearly four decades, the author — Arjan Rajasuriya — has provided accurate descriptions of selected reef fishes, with precise illustrations by Shantha Jayaweera in this ‘Field Guide to Reef Fishes of Sri Lanka’. This book fills a long felt gap, as country-specific field guides for Sri Lanka have not been readily available for marine enthusiasts to learn about reef fishes in our waters. This publication will be immensely useful for those who are interested to learn about reef fishes and may also help officials in the identification of some of the species of reef fishes protected by law. This is the first in the series of field guides describing 158 species of reef fishes in Sri Lankan coastal waters. Subsequent volumes will cover the rest of the species. We believe this Field Guide to Reef Fishes of Sri Lanka will enhance awareness about these wonderful animals and their habitats for better conservation action. Shamen Vidanage Acting Country Representative IUCN, Sri Lanka ix Preface Ever since I first looked underwater more than 40 years ago, I have been fascinated by the diversity and number of fish on our reefs. Reef fish add colour and movement to a reef and fish watching is a fascinating and rewarding activity for snorkelers and divers. Knowing the names of fish adds to one’s enjoyment, especially in later discussions of what was observed underwater or to identify a fish from an underwater photograph. Identifying fish is equally important for a student or a naturalist who wants to record the diversity of reef fish at a location. Reef fish identification guides were not readily available in Sri Lanka forty years ago, and I often used the names