Spotted drum

Photo: Sue · CC BY-NC

The spotted drum is one of the most visually arresting small fish on Caribbean reefs, with a dramatically elongated dorsal fin ribbon and bold monochrome spotting. Strictly nocturnal feeders on small invertebrates, they spend daylight hours in repetitive figure-eight swimming patterns beneath ledges and overhangs — a behaviour thought to be territorial display. Juveniles have even more exaggerated fin proportions that shorten as the fish matures.