<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" > daily species story| elves in the coral reef</h1>
Author: Fang Hongda Lu Xiangli
#每日物种故事 #
In the ocean, coral reefs, which make up less than 0.1 percent of the area, provide a living environment for nearly 25 percent of marine species, making coral reefs one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Because of its rich biodiversity, high primary productivity, and rapid material circulation, coral reefs are called "tropical rainforests in the ocean".
In the South China Sea, coral reefs provide habitat for many marine life. In this hidden and livable underwater world, what little-known marine spirits live? Through a set of pictures, let's know and understand them. At the same time, we also hope that more people will cherish marine resources and protect marine biodiversity.
Long-snout tweezers
The adult body length of the long-snout tweezer is about 20 cm. The kiss of the long-snout tweezer. The body is yellow on the outside, the upper part of the head is black, the lower part is silvery-white, and there are dark spots on the chest. The fin is located below the base of the caudal fin and has distinct dark spots.
The longnout tweezers prefer to live alone or in pairs and inhabit outer reefs at depths of 5 to 60 m. It is found in the south China Sea and in the Dongsha Islands, Nansha Islands, Xisha Islands and Zhongsha Islands.
Narrow band of fine scaled helmetfish
The sub-adult of the narrow band of fine scaled helmetfish has a maximum body length of 10 cm, is slender in shape, and has a white to light green body appearance, with 3 light red longitudinal bands on the side of the body or a longitudinal band arranged by several spots and thin bands.
The narrow-banded, slender-scaled helmetfish tend to live alone or in small groups, mainly on sandy or gravel land. It is found in the Dongsha Islands, Nansha Islands, Xisha Islands and Zhongsha Islands.
Caudal nine-spined perch
The caudal nine-spined perch has a maximum body length of 27 cm. The appearance of the body is brown to reddish brown, and the color gradually darkens from the head to the caudal fin, with a blurred light horizontal stripe, and a white slash on each top and bottom of the caudal fin.
The caudal nine-spined perch is a common fish in coral reef areas, where it prefers to live alone and inhabits an environment of less than 60 meters in water depths. It is found near the South China Sea and in the Dongsha Islands, Nansha Islands, Xisha Islands and Zhongsha Islands.
Double-spotted ctenophores
Adults with double-spotted ctenophores have a maximum body length of 20 cm. The body surface is orange-brown, with light blue spots on the head, a light blue longitudinal stripe on the torso, and a black spot behind the base of the dorsal and fins.
The diplodocus is usually solitary and inhabits lagoons at depths of 12 to 53 m or in gravel areas on the slopes of reefs. It is found in the coastal areas of the South China Sea and in the Dongsha Islands, Nansha Islands, Xisha Islands and Zhongsha Islands.
Source: Fish Catalogue of Coral Reefs in the Nansha Islands