Pomacanthus imperator

Emperor angelfish

Adult fish

Juvenile form

Because of the small size of a coral reef (compared to the wild blue ocean out there) reef dwellers have developed very good ways to survive - even from being eaten or chased away by their own parents. In this case (and there are many more examples) the juvenile form is very different from the adults. This allows the babies to grow up enough to fend for themselves and find their own territory without being attacked by the resident adults: their own parents!

The varying feeding habits are another way in which a reef can support such a dense population of fish. When you look at the Longnose Butterfly fish you will notice the very long mouth which allows them to feed deep into the cervices between the coral polyps where other fish cannot reach..

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