Some Fun Fish Facts Archives Pt. 1!!!

The HAWAIIAN SPOTTED BOXFISH  (called ‘pahu’) is a common fish we see diving in Oahu waters.  A fun fact about these amazing fish – research has found that their complex fin movement is so energy-efficient moving through the water that it’s used as a model for advanced submarine design.  Outside of the Pacific, the male boxfish (shown in picture) typically has gold spots along its sides, but Hawaiian boxfish lack this, and there is yet to be an answer why. 

Book a dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving and come find these fish yourself!

The MANTIS SHRIMP (called ‘alo’alo) are called so because they look like a mix between a praying mantis and a shrimp.  They are one of the most advanced invertebrates with eyes that can distinguish between 100,000 colors vs. humans that can distinguish 10,000 colors.  These ambush predators either have arms with a ‘spear’ on the end, or arms with a ‘mallet’ to stun and attack prey.  The ‘spearers’ (shown in picture) have spiny appendages with barbed tips to stab and snag their prey, whereas the ‘smashers’ use their mallet-like appendages to bludgeon their food.  They are said to have the fastest strike in animal kingdom, with the speed and acceleration of a .22 caliber bullet.  Because of the force, you can actually hear them attacking prey, or hitting the inside of your aquarium, which they have been known to shatter.  Their size can range from 1” to 12”, and Hawaii has 17 different species. 

Try to find these hiding creatures on a dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving!

The YELLOW TANG (called lau’ipala) is unique to the Pacific, seen primarily in Hawaii, but sometimes as far as Guam and Japan.  They’re completely yellow except for one small spot of white near their tail.  These fish can commonly be seen cleaning the shells of sea turtles, and are abundant on the reefs and wrecks.  They have a life expectancy of 20-30 years.  Research shows that tangs tend to be easy-going and stay in schools during day, but upon nightfall, their behavior dramatically changes, and they become aggressive to both their own species as well as other fish.  Come dive Turtle Canyon and watch these tangs clean the sea turtles, or come dive one of the many wrecks off the shores of Honolulu with Honu Hawaiian Diving to see these beautiful, vibrant fish!  

The ZEBRA MORAY (called puhi) is brown with over 100 white stripes, making them easy to identify.  They have blunt, pebble-like teeth to crush their food, which is primarily crabs.  This species of eel is one of the few that changes sex – female first then male.  They can grow to be 5’ in length, and can be see foraging in the open at times during the day.  Contact Honu Hawaiian Diving to schedule a dive to find this creature!

The COMMERSON’S FROGFISH, also called the Giant Frogfish, is the most common and largest frogfish seen in Hawaii.  Juveniles are often bright yellow, mimicking yellow sponge coral, and adults are often brown, yellow, or mottled in color.  They’re very territorial and remain in the same spot for months or years at a time.  With their amazing camouflage, they’re tough to spot, but one has been known to be hanging onto the railing of one of the wrecks off Honolulu.  Come dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving and see if you can find it yourself!

The OCTOPUS (called he’e or tako) is abundant in Hawaiian waters, with over 70 different species.  The most commonly seen one is the day octopus, given the name because it’s most active during the day and retreats into its lair at night.  Their anatomy consists of a funnel to help them move, 8 arms with approximately 1900 suction cups, a central mouth, 3 hearts, an ink sac, a hard beak and a toothed tongue.  Their normal life span is only about a year, and they only reproduce once.  Once the male impregnates the female octopus, she produces thousands of eggs which she continuously fans to keep them oxygenated, never leaving their side.  Eventually she will die, and her body will start to decompose which serves as food for her developing babies.  Book a dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving to find one of these fascinating creatures!

 The HAWAIIAN DASCYLLUS (called ‘alo’ilo’i) is a type of damselfish found in water depths 20-150’.  Their Hawaiian name means “bright and sparkly” because as juveniles, they’re black with a white patch that appears to shine in the light.  As they mature, the their sides bleach somewhat, and they become a shimmery gray.  However, at night or when agitated, the adults revert back to their juvenile colors.  After a female lays her eggs, the male partner forces her to leave the nest and he defends and cares for the eggs until they hatch.  These fish appear to be playful and can often be seen trying to dive bomb your mask while doing your 3 minute safety stop.  Come play with these fish at Honu Hawaiian Diving!

The RED STRIPE PIPEFISH is a long, thin pinkish red fish with a bright red stripe along its side and a fan-like tail.  These fish can be found generally in pairs hiding in caves and crevices.  Once impregnated, a female lays her eggs on the underside of the mail pipefish, where he will carry them until they hatch. These fish are sometimes seen as cleaners, most commonly for moray eels and cardinalfish.  Book a dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving and come find some pipefish hiding in swim-throughs and crevices in the rocks!

The ACHILLES TANG (called paku’iku’i) is a type of surgeonfish with an orange teardrop patch near the tail and white along edge of its tail.  It also has white highlights around mouth, gills and pectoral fins.  This fish is named after the Greek warrior Achilles, who symbolizes beauty and valor.  The “finger marks” near the tail recall a legend that Achilles’ mother used to hold her baby by the heels and dip him into the River Styx to make him stronger and invulnerable.  These fish spend a lot of time defending their territories against other algae-eating surgeonfish by quickly charging at groups of these intruders.  When agitated or threatened,  the Achilles Tang takes on a reddish glow and acquires white patches on its chest.  Come see this warrior fish defend its territory with Honu Hawaiian Diving!  

The YELLOWFIN GOATFISH (called weke ‘ula) are usually white with a yellow stripe and yellow tails when in the open during the day, huddling in groups almost motionless while resting.  They are also seen congregating in caves and under ledges where they turn almost entirely pink/red.  They also turn, and stay, red when removed from the water, hence the Hawaiian name ‘weke’.  Schedule a dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving and try to find the goatfish in both colors.

The BULLETHEAD PARROTFISH (called uhu) have blue-green beaks, occasionally with red around their mouths.  While courting a female, the male bullethead will intensify his colors and perform acrobatic moves expelling plumes of sand much like sky-writing planes, all to draw the attention of the ladies.  Another interesting thing this fish does is secrete cocoons of mucus around themselves at night to help protect themselves from eels because their smell is hidden.  Making this cocoon takes more than 30 minutes, and there are small openings left near its mouth for respirations.  Come dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving to find this interesting fish!