Sohal Surgeonfish

Photo: Nicola Crockford · CC BY

The Sohal is the apex surgeonfish of the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, its electric blue and white striped flanks making it one of the most recognisable reef fish in the region. Highly territorial individuals maintain exclusive algae farms on specific coral heads, aggressively chasing away any fish that ventures too close regardless of size. Their grazing behaviour is ecologically important as it promotes coral recruitment by keeping algae cropped on sections of reef that might otherwise be smothered.