California Academy of Sciences, Philippine Coral Reef Gallery
The Philippine Coral Reef Tank focuses on the most diverse and fragile of marine ecosystems. From the main exhibit floor, visitors look down on a shallow, sandy lagoon -a calm, protected area inhabited by sharks, rays, and colorful fishes. Where the lagoon drops off to the deep reef, hundreds ...more ↓
Fungia
Fungia is a genus of mushroom, disc or plate corals in the family Fungiidae. Members of the genus are found growing on reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
Galaxea
Galaxea is a genus of colonial stony corals in the family Oculinidae. Common names include crystal, galaxy, starburst and tooth coral. They are abundant on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea. They are found in water less than 20 metres (66 ft) deep and favour turbid sites. They are sometimes kept in reef aquaria.
Galaxea fascicularis
Galaxea fascicularis is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Oculinidae, commonly known as octopus coral, fluorescence grass coral, galaxy coral among various vernacular names.
Bird Wrasse
The bird wrasse, Gomphosus varius, is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It occurs on coral reefs at depths of from 1 to 35 m (3.3 to 115 ft). This species can reach a standard length of 30 cm (12 in). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.
Gorgoniidae
Gorgoniidae is a family of soft corals, a member of the subclass Octocorallia in the phylum Cnidaria. Nearly all the genera and species are native to the east and west coasts of America.
Pastel-green wrasse
The pastel-green wrasse, Halichoeres chloropterus, is a species of wrasse native to the central western Pacific Ocean. It can be found on coral reefs and the surrounding areas at depths from the surface to 10 m (33 ft). Its coloration varies depending upon the habitat in which it occurs, ranging from bright green in fish living in areas with heavy algal growth to pale or with ...more ↓
Heliopora
Blue coral or Heliopora coerulea is a coral. It is the only species in the family Helioporidae and the only Octocoral known to produce a massive skeleton. This skeleton is formed of aragonite, similar to that of scleractinia. Individual polyps live in tubes within the skeleton and are connected by a thin layer of tissue over the outside of the skeleton. It is a common ...more ↓
blue coral
Blue coral or Heliopora coerulea is a coral. It is the only species in the family Helioporidae and the only Octocoral known to produce a massive skeleton. This skeleton is formed of aragonite, similar to that of scleractinia. Individual polyps live in tubes within the skeleton and are connected by a thin layer of tissue over the outside of the skeleton. It is a common ...more ↓
Pyramid Butterflyfish
The Pyramid Butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) is a species of butterflyfish in the genus Hemitaurichthys.
Pennant Butterflyfish
The schooling bannerfish, or false moorish idol, is a marine fish native to areas near Africa, that is sometimes traded, in aquaria, as a less expensive alternative to actual moorish idols.
Magnificent Sea Anemone
Heteractis magnifica, also known by the common names magnificent sea anemone or Ritteri anemone, is a species of sea anemone that lives in the Indo-Pacific area, and can grow up to 1 metre (3 feet) in diameter in the wild. It can be kept in aquaria but is considered one of the most challenging species to keep healthy. They require very strong lighting and very high ...more ↓
Spotted Garden Eel
The spotted garden eel, Heteroconger hassi, is a conger of the family Congridae, found in Indo-Pacific oceans at depths of between 7 and 45 m. Length is up to 40 cm, and the body diameter is up to about 14 mm. The species live in abundant colonies of up to a few thousand, on sandy burrows close to corals and reefs. They point their mouths towards the underwater current in order ...more ↓
Holothuria
Holothuria is a genus of marine animals of the family Holothuriidae. Members of the genus are found in coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions. They are soft bodied, limbless invertebrates that dwell on the ocean floor. They resemble a cucumber in form.
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
The bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, is one of several species of cleaner wrasses found on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and much of the Pacific Ocean, as well as many seas, including the Red Sea and those around Southeast Asia. Like other cleaner wrasses, it eats parasites and dead tissue off larger fishes' skin in a mutualist relationship that provides food ...more ↓
Lithopoma
Lithopoma is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails with a calcareous operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails....
Lobo Corals
Lobophyllia, commonly called lobo coral, is a genus of large polyp stony corals. Members of this genus are sometimes found in reef aquariums. It includes the following species:
Lobophyllia hemprichii
Lobophyllia, commonly called lobo coral, is a genus of large polyp stony corals. Members of this genus are sometimes found in reef aquariums. It includes the following species:
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis, the northern cleaner shrimp, scarlet cleaner shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp or Pacific cleaner shrimp, is an omnivorous shrimp species, which will generally scavenge and eat parasites and dead tissue. L. amboinensis is naturally part of the reef ecosystem, and is widespread in the Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific.
Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon meleagris, the Black-spotted wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It occurs on coral reefs at depths of from the surface to 30 metres (98 ft). This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Black Triggerfish
The black triggerfish or black durgon (Melichthys niger), called Humuhumu'ele'ele in Hawaiian, is a blimp-shaped triggerfish with bright white lines running along its dorsal and anal fins. When in the water, it appears to be completely black. However, if it is taken out and exposed to bright light, one can see that it is actually of a dark-blue/green ...more ↓
Pinktail Triggerfish
The pinktail triggerfish, Melichthys vidua, is a species of triggerfish from reefs in the Indo-Pacific. It is very dark green (often appears almost black) with translucent whitish-pink dorsal and tail fins. They can grow up to 40 centimetres (16 in).
Montipora
Montipora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Depending on the species and location, Montipora may grow as plates or ridges, appearing to some as a bowl or flower. Undisturbed, the plates expand radially and may encrust over surrounding rocks, shells or debris. These corals are extremely common on reefs in the Red Sea, the western Indian Ocean ...more ↓
Montipora capricornis
Montipora capricornis, also known as Leaf plate Montipora, Vase Coral, Cap coral, or simply Montipora, is a type of SPS (Small Polyp Stony) coral in the genus Montipora.
Montipora digitata
Finger coral, Montipora digitata, is a species of stony coral. It is found in East Africa, the Indo-West Pacific, Kenya, Mozambique and Rodriguez.
Nardoa
Bothrochilus is a monotypic genus containing the nonvenomous python species, B. boa, found on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Unicornfishes
The unicorn fishes are tropical, herbivorous marine surgeonfishes in the genus Naso. They are so named because of a spike that protrudes from the forehead. Some species have a bulbous protrusion rather than a pronounced spike, and some lack a spike altogether. Unicorn fishes usually have a pair of spines on each side of the tail shaft that are used for defense.
Paletail Unicornfish
The spotted unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) is a type of Unicornfish in the family Acanthuridae found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Another species, Naso maculatus may also be called the spotted unicornfish.
Orangespine Unicornfish
Naso lituratus is a species of fish in the family Acanthuridae, the tangs and unicornfishes. Its common names include barcheek unicornfish, clown tang, masked unicornfish, naso tang, orange-spine surgeonfish, orange-spine unicornfish, Pacific orange-spine unicorn, poll unicornfish, redlip surgeonfish, smooth-head ...more ↓
Bluespine Unicornfish
The bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) or short-nose unicornfish is a tang from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 70 cm in length. It is called kala in Hawaiian, and dawa in New Caledonia.
Bignose Unicornfish
Naso vlamingii is a species of fish in the unicornfish family known by the common names bignose unicornfish, scibbled unicornfish, Vlaming's unicornfish, and zebra unicornfish.
Nassarius
Nassarius, common name nassa mud snails (USA) or dog whelks (UK), is a genus of minute to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Nassariidae. They are scavengers.
Flame Hawkfish
Neocirrhites armatus, the Flame hawkfish, is a species of hawkfish native to tropical reefs of the Pacific Ocean at depths of from 1 to 10 metres (3.3 to 33 ft). This fish reaches a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in) TL. This species is also found in the aquarium trade. It is the only known member of its genus.
Norrisia norrisi
The marine snail Norrisia norrisi is a medium-sized gastropod mollusk within the family Trochidae. It has several common names, including Norris's top snail, Norris's topsnail, norrissnail, smooth brown turban snail, or kelp snail.
Redtoothed Triggerfish
The red-toothed triggerfish or Niger trigger, Odonus niger, is a triggerfish of the tropical Indo-Pacific area, the sole member of its genus.
Ophioderma
The genus name Ophioderma refers to both a genus of brittle stars in the family Ophiodermatiidae and a genus of ferns in the family Ophioglossaceae. This page is about the brittle stars. For the ferns, see Ophioderma (fern).
Regal Tang
Paracanthurus hepatus is a species of Indo-Pacific surgeonfish. A popular fish in marine aquaria, it is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus. A number of common names are attributed to the species, including regal tang, palette surgeonfish, blue tang (leading to confusion with the Atlantic Acanthurus coeruleus), royal blue ...more ↓
Arc-eye Hawkfish
The arc-eye hawkfish, Paracirrhites arcatus, is a species of hawkfish belonging to the genus Paracirrhites.
Dusky Batfish
Platax pinnatus, also known as the pinnate batfish, dusky batfish, shaded batfish, or red-faced batfish is a fish from the western Pacific that occasionally is kept in marine aquariums.
Harlequin Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides, the harlequin sweetlips, is a species of grunt native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is a denizen of coral reefs found at depths of from 1 to 30 metres (3.3 to 98 ft). It can reach a length of 72 centimetres (28 in) TL. The heaviest known individual weighed 7 kilograms (15 lb). This species is of minor importance to ...more ↓
Bubble Coral
Plerogyra sinuosa is a species of "bubble coral". It has grape-sized bubbles which increase their surface area according to the amount of light available: they are larger during the day, but smaller during the night, when tentacles reach out to capture food. This species requires low light and a gentle water flow. Common names for Plerogyra sinuosa include "grape coral", ...more ↓
brush corals
Pocillopora, is a genus of stony corals in the family Pocilloporidae occurring in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are commonly called cauliflower corals and brush corals.
Cauliflower Coral
Pocillopora damicornis, the cauliflower coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae. It is native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There are two subspecies, P. d bulbosa and P. d caespitosa.
Emperor Angelfish
The emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator, is a species of marine angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Austral Islands.
Blue-girdled Angelfish
Blue-girdled angelfish, Pomacanthus navarchus is a marine angelfish from the Indo-Pacific ocean as well as some parts of the east Indian Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. The Majestic Angelfish is one of the smallest of the larger species of angelfish. It grows to a size of 41 centimetres (16 in) in length, but usually much smaller, and can ...more ↓
Yellowmask Angelfish
Pomacanthus xanthometopon is a ray-finned fish in the family Pomacanthidae found in shallow parts of the Indo-Pacific. It is commonly known as the blueface angelfish or the yellowface angelfish because of its striking facial colouration.
