Norfolk Island’s Reef Fish
On this page are images of some of the reef fish that call Norfolk Island home. It is constantly being updated, so check back for new photos and new species.
Keep scrolling down for the photos, while here are a few blog posts about our fish species to explore:
Barracuda
Blennies
Booth’s Pipefish
Butterfly fish
Cardinal Fish
The Norfolk cardinalfish, like other cardinalfish, is a mouth brooder. In the photo of the pair in the bottom row, you can clearly see the male with an enlarged mouth. In there are the eggs. These fish are known locally as big eyes.
Catfish
Clown toby
Cornetfish
Also known as flutemouths, these fish change colour, as can be seen in the photos.
Damselfish
The first images here are of the banded scalyfin, known locally as aatuti. They change appearance as they mature, but as juveniles they initially look quite similar to the multispine damsel. They are very territorial and will often charge at you. They are also amazing gardeners, and you will see them aggressively protecting a patch of algae. You can see one tending its algae patch in the last photo of the series. If they charge at me, I just shoo them away with a flick of my fingers. They soon behave!
Dart
Doubleheader
The double header is another fish that morphs in appearance as it matures, as can be seen from these photos.
Doug’s eviota
Drummers
Eastern footballer
The photo on the right shows the mado swimming upside down under the raft in Emily Bay. It did this for at least six months to my knowledge. Locally, they are called tweed trowsers.
Fivebar Flagtail
Flatfish
Freckled Hawkfish
Goatfish
Gobies
Goram Dragonet
Groupers And Cods
Hornpike Long Tom
Kermadec kahawai
Leatherjacket
Lizardfish
Moorish Idol
morwong
Mullet
Notch-head marblefish
Parrotfish
