Most Common Encounters

Mostly observed singly, occasionally in small groups. Small individuals in group of five or even more. Feeds on crustaceans, foraminiferans and wor...

Can be found buried in sand with only the eyes and small parts of body exposed. Mostly observed singly. Feeds on worms, crabs and squid.

Juveniles mostly observed singly, occasionally in small groups. Adults reported to inhabit areas of soft substrata in deeper waters, only moving inshore to ...

Large individuals generally encountered singly or in small groups, whereas juveniles form small groups or schools of more than 100 individuals. Poison...

Occurs singly. Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, worms and snails. In Taiwan, reported to be able to change sex from female to male. Fem...

Mostly observed singly, and occasionally in small groups. Feeds mainly on fishes. When stressed or harassed, may secrete a slimy skin toxin, grammistin,. Experime...

Wary of divers, juveniles are secretive and hide within coral and reef crevices. Mostly encountered singly. It also lives in single male with multiple females and...

Mostly observed singly. Viviparous species, offsprings develop inside the body females. In Hong Kong, males become mature from November to January a...

Observed to occur singly. Feeds on small fishes including rabbitfishes.

Occurs in small groups and mixed with other damselfishes, rarely observed singly. Females reported to attach eggs on substrates such as boulders, a...

Rarely observed singly, may occur in large groups comprising more than 100 individuals.

Occasionally seen swimming in the water column to feed on zooplankton. May occur in larger groups, with more than 100 individuals in an aggregation...

In Hong Kong, spawning season lasts from April to September, and females deposit 6 – 10 egg batches. Each batch can contain 462 – 2,612 eggs. T...

Rarely recorded singly. Often in pairs or small groups. Juveniles associate with drifting seagrass or artificial objects. Males reported to guard a...

Often recorded singly and in pairs. Juveniles often form small schools. Feeds on algae and small invertebrates.

Mostly encountered singly, perched on surfaces, sometimes with body in a slightly curved pose. Curious and relatively easy to approach by divers or...

Rarely observed singly, usually in small groups and occasionally in schools with over a hundred similarly-sized individuals. Often in crevices or c...

Generally observed singly, occasionally in small groups feeding in sandy bottoms. Feeds on crustaceans, fish, mollusks and worms. In Vietn...

Mostly found singly, but can also form small group. Feeds on planktons, jellyfishes, fishes, small crustaceans and benthic organisms including worm...

Often observed singly. Feeds on seagrass, algae, worms and small crustaceans. Can be seen sheltering among black corals at night.

Juveniles mostly recorded singly, whereas large individuals can form small groups. Juveniles can also be spotted in mangrove, estuaries, tidepools ...

Observed singly and occasionally in small groups. Feeds on small crustaceans, benthic invertebrates and fish roe. Able to change sex from ...

Initial phase individuals found singly or in small groups, whereas males observed singly. Females and males were once classified as separate species becaus...

Mostly observed singly or in small groups for initial phase individuals. Locally initial phase individuals observed forming small groups with other fishes, includ...

Observed to occur singly, in pairs or small groups. A curious species, can occasionally be closely approached. Feeds on benthic molluscs a...

Mostly observed in pairs hovering above sandy bottoms. Sieve sand through gills to seek small organisms as food. Able to dig own burrow.

Often observed singly, resting on sandy bottoms or boulders. Can be easily approached. Not much is known about the species’ biology.

Mostly observed singly or in pairs, hovering above sandy bottoms. Small individuals occasionally recorded in groups. Feeds on small crustaceans, or...

Adults mostly observed singly on sandy bottoms, whilst juveniles observed in small groups in sheltered waters near reefs or over boulders. Study in Japan r...

Observed singly or in small groups. Mainly feeds on small fishes and crustaceans. Can use long snout to forage on small fishes hiding inside jellyfish dome...

Adults occur singly or in small groups, sometimes even in mixed groups with other butterflyfish species. Feeds on coral polys, sea anemones and spo...

Often observed in small groups but can form large group containing up to a hundred individuals. Feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes. Ab...

Mostly observed singly, sheltering in crevices, floating seaweed and abandoned glass bottles or cans. Occasionally observed in groups, distributed along moo...

Observed singly, in pairs or in groups. Observed on one occasion in Hong Kong to occur in a group of more than 200 individuals, aggregating around an artifi...

Mostly encountered singly or in pairs when adults. Juveniles can be in small and loose schools. Not much is known about the species’ biology, and...

Mostly occur singly or in pairs. Courtship behaviour has been observed in Hong Kong waters in April and June. Males brood eggs by holding the...

Encountered singly, in pairs or small groups. Juveniles may form schools. Mouth structure in males is different from females. Males can open mouth ...