What kind of fish can be seen in the sea of Ishigaki Island?

Hello everyone!
Ishigaki Island, the largest tropical resort in Japan, is characterized by pure white beaches and crystal clear emerald green waters. Ishigaki Island has the largest coral area in the northern hemisphere, Ishinishi lagoon, where you can see more than 400 species of corals and abundant tropical fish.
In this article, we will introduce the fish that can be seen on Ishigaki Island.

20 Fish of Ishigaki Island

Fish of Ishigaki Island (1) Aigo

The bigeye is a 25-cm-long marine fish found not only on Ishigaki Island but also on Honshu Island. The dorsal and anal fins that grow out of the lateral flattened body have sharp, poisonous spines that cause severe pain when they sting.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (2) Blue Starfish

Blue starfish live in shallow subtropical and tropical waters south of the Nansei Islands and are starfish that feed on organic matter and microorganisms on the seafloor. They are known as natural enemies because they are sometimes preyed upon by frigate shrimp predators. They are large starfish, 20-25 cm in diameter, and most are blue in color, but some are greenish or brownish.

Fish of Ishigaki Island ③Aoriika

The bluefin squid is a squid that can be found in many parts of Japan, as it inhabits the coasts of southern Hokkaido and southward. They mainly inhabit reefs and areas with seaweed at depths ranging from several meters to 50 meters. They hatch in the summer, and mature individuals can be caught between April and June. Some of the larger ones have a body length of 40-50 cm and weigh more than 2 kg. They basically live in deep water, but during the spring and summer seasons, the parents come up to shallower water to spawn.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (4)

The Amami spiny dogfish is a species of spiny dogfish that inhabits the waters around coral reefs and rocky shores at depths of 30 m or shallower. They are about 15 cm long and are omnivorous, feeding on zooplankton and attached algae. The anterior portion of the body is dark, while the dorsal and posterior portions of the anal fins are light, with the anterior and posterior portions of the body separated by two colors.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (5) Amami snapper

The amami snapper is a member of the snappers family that inhabits warm waters from shallow water to offshore. As juveniles, they may enter fresh to brackish water, and as they grow, they spend more time in marine waters. They have a flattened body with scales or anterior gill covers and canine-like teeth. It is famous for its delicious taste and is considered a food fish.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (6) Ibarakanzashi

Ibarakanzashi is a marine fish that inhabits rocky and coral reef areas in warm waters south of central Honshu. It is especially common on rocks and beach corals, and selectively settles in habitats during its larval stage. Once the larvae have settled on rocks and beach spawn, they grow by forming calcareous habitats, and the coral clusters that surround the habitats also grow with them. As the coral continues to grow, the canals become embedded within the coral skeleton.
The brightly colored spiral gill crowns are the only part of the gill tube that is exposed to the outside, and the Ibarakanzashi use the cilia on these gill tubes to generate water currents while breathing and feeding on plankton and other organisms. When touched or exposed to light or other stimuli, the Ibarakanzashi instantly retreats into the gill ducts and covers itself with a lid. The lid of the Ibarakanzashi has four protrusions, and this lid looks like a pinprick inserted into the gill crown, hence the name "Ibarakanzashi. The coral is not easily targeted by crown-of-thorns starfish, which makes it a good cover for the Ibarakanzashi.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (7) Iwaoogi Crab

The iwaoogigani is a medium-sized crab with a carapace width of about 5 cm that can often be found in the ino of Okinawa. It is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and is widely distributed in Japan in coral reef areas south of Amami-Oshima Island. It does not look that large, but it is characterized by its red eyes and its strong pinching power. It is a relatively slow-moving crab, so you can catch it if you want to, but be careful with its scissors.
The lateral edges of the carapace are lined with granules and are otherwise smooth. The size of the scissors differs from left to right, with the larger scissors being very strong. They are easy to spot as they often hide on reefs and in rocky hollows.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (8) Erabuidae

The elabid sea snake is found at depths of 20 meters or shallower and is a blue venomous clawed snake. The target is brightly colored in its juvenile stages, but as it grows, it takes on a brownish tinge. The venom possessed by the elapid sea snake is a type of neurotoxin called elapid toxin, which is known to be 70 to 80 times stronger than habu venom. Once bitten, the neurotoxin travels throughout the body, resulting in numbness throughout the body, difficulty breathing, and cardiopulmonary arrest. The bite becomes more severe as time passes, so immediate medical attention is needed as soon as the bite is known.
The elabid sea snake itself is basically docile and rarely bites due to its small mouth, but it may attack if caught or touched unintentionally. At present, there is no serum available, so the only treatment for a bite is to bind the affected area and remove the venom.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (9) Giant Icari Sea Cucumber

The giant giant sea cucumber is said to be one of the world's longest sea cucumbers, comparable to the 2- to 3-meter-long crenate giant sea cucumber, which is widely distributed in the tropics from the Indo-Pacific region. It is often seen in the shallows of coral reefs, but it is so long, slender, and blubbery that at first glance one might mistake it for an unidentified creature. The strange-looking giant sea cucumber belongs to the order Amphipoda and is available in gray, black, and brownish body colors. The "anchor" of the giant sea cucumber refers to the anchor of a ship, and the name is derived from the shape of the bone fragments scattered throughout the body of this species.

Fish of Ishigaki Island 10.

The giant baldie is a species of algae-feeding snapper that inhabits coral reefs and rocky reefs from the Ryukyu Archipelago to the western Pacific Ocean. It is about 30 cm long and has two rows of scales on its cheeks. It is difficult to distinguish this species from other members of the same family, but the sexes of this species are clearly distinguishable. The male specimen has a bright green body color and a large orange patch behind the eye. Females, on the other hand, have a brownish-brown body color.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (11) Okinawa Sparrowhawk

The Okinawa sparrowhawk, as the name suggests, is a species of sparrowhawk that can be observed year-round around coral reefs and rocky areas in the waters of Okinawa. They are known to form small schools. The body color of the Okinawa sparrowhawk is dark green, and the scale pattern can be clearly seen. There are black lines on the upper and lower edges of the caudal fin.

Fish of Ishigaki Island ⑫Oguro Toragigi

The oguro tragis is a marine fish about 20 cm long found in Japan on sandy bottoms around coral reefs in Hachijojima, Ehime, and Kochi prefectures, as well as in the Ryukyu Islands. It is one of the most common species of marine fish frequently seen in Okinawa. It is a carnivore that preys on small fish as well as benthic animals such as crustaceans and polychaetes.
The white body color of the Oglongi tigerfish is the base color, and it has a large black spot on its caudal fin. A similar species, the wanuke toragis, can be distinguished by the absence of a small white spot behind the caudal fin. Male specimens of the P. ogurotoragis have a brown or dark semi-circular band of coloration on the lower cheek. On the other hand, female specimens of the P. tigrinus have numerous small black spots on the head and three rows of small eye-like spots on the abdomen.

Fish of Ishigaki Island⑬ Osan

It is surprising that its name is "uncle. However, it is a marine fish. It has two long whiskers growing out from under its chin, which is why it was named "uncle" in a friendly way. It lives in shallow waters such as coral reefs, rocky reefs, and seaweed beds in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and is about 20-25 cm in length. It is also used as an edible fish and is mainly eaten fried, boiled, or as surimi.

Ishigaki Island Fish⑭Oyabitcha

The oyabicha is a marine fish that lives in shallow waters where corals grow in colonies, with some individuals exceeding 15 cm in length. As juveniles, they sometimes live attached to floating debris, such as algae. They have an omnivorous diet that preys on both animals and plants. Many Matara oyabitchers exceed 15 cm in length and are characterized by five broad transverse bands on the body and a yellowish back.

Fish of Ishigaki Island (15) Clownfish

The clownfish became famous as the main character in the Disney movie Finding Nemo. The small marine species with white and black bands running on an orange background is very cute. It lives in the shallows of warm waters and lives in symbiosis with anemones. As a common species of fish, you have a high probability of encountering them while snorkeling. In fact, there is a theory that Nemo's model fish is the orange clownfish, a close relative of the clownfish, so please look up these two species and try to find them in the ocean of Ishigaki Island.

Ishigaki Island Fish ⑯Kanmon Grouper

The common gag grouper is abundant in Japan south of the Ryukyu Islands, but can also be found on Hachijojima Island, the Pacific coast south of Sagami Bay, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Ogasawara Islands. They inhabit the shallows of coral reefs and can frequently be seen around lagoon areas. When in juvenile stage, they can often be seen in tide pools. They are carnivorous, feeding on small fish and crustaceans that live around coral reefs. The common grouper has brownish-brown spots on its body and each fin. Only the dorsal portion of the body has no black spots. Visually similar species, such as the ishigaki grouper and the smithy grouper with one black spot, can be distinguished by the number of spots on their dorsal surfaces. It is a small, common marine fish of the grouper family with a body length of about 25 cm.

Ishigaki Island Fish ⑰Gichiji Bara (Bodianus ⑰Gichiji Bara)

The Gichi wrasse is a slightly taller member of the family Morinidae that inhabits coral reefs and rocky reefs in Wakayama Prefecture, Amami-Oshima Island, and southward. They are carnivorous, feeding on small fish and crustaceans in their habitat. Although it resembles other members of the family, the giti wrasse can be easily distinguished from the other members of the family by its remarkably long mouth. Its body color ranges from yellow to brown, with some variation such as darker colors. Body length is around 30 cm.

Ishigaki Island's ⑱ fish, Kiriminomino

Kirin mino is a species of minnow that inhabits the reefs and coral reefs of South Japan in Japan and the South Pacific, the east coast of Africa, and the Red Sea overseas. In southern Japan, it is found on reefs in southern Honshu and the Kuroshio region of Shikoku, but is especially abundant in the Ryukyu Islands. It is a carnivorous marine fish that preys on small fish, shrimp, and other crustaceans, and is about 18 cm long. The upper pectoral fins are branched, and the 13 dorsal fin spines are highly venomous, making them extremely dangerous when they sting.

The fish of Ishigaki Island (⑲Kurakakemonogara)

Krakamonara can be found on Ishigaki Island, but they are also found on the Pacific coast south of Chiba Prefecture, as well as in Kozumi, Hyogo Prefecture, and the Ogasawara Islands. They inhabit shallow coral reefs in warmer waters and can be seen in highly turbid, muddy waters. Most juveniles appear in tide pools, but they can also be found in rock pits. When threatened, they instantly hide in rock pits, behind rocks, or in coral, and secure themselves with their spines to protect themselves.

The crakemon moth is an omnivorous marine fish that also inhabits attached algae and small organisms. There are three rows of small spines on the caudal peduncle and a black transverse band below the eye that runs down to the pectoral fin. The area around the mouth is blue, and there is a red line running from the rostrum to the lower pectoral fin base.
The Murasame Monogara and the Tusk Monogara are two species that look very similar, but can be distinguished by the large oval black spots on the abdomen.

Ishigakijima fish⑳(⑳)

Gomamongara is a marine fish that inhabits the shallows of the Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands on the Pacific coast south of the Miura Peninsula. It is well known that juvenile fish are especially abundant on the Pacific coast south of the Miura Peninsula. It is found in shallow-water coral reef areas, and is widely distributed because juveniles can be found attached to drifting debris, driftweed, and other organisms, or in tide pools. They are known to be omnivorous, feeding on crustaceans, shellfish, small fish, and attached algae. The sessile species has a dark band that runs from the head to the anterior portion of the gills. The rostrum is covered with scales, and there are no scales behind the corners of the mouth. It is a large marine fish reaching up to 50 cm in length with black margins on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins.

in the end

We introduced the fish of Ishigaki Island. How was it? From the popular clownfish that represent Ishigaki Island, to fish that can be found throughout Japan, and some that have very dangerous neurotoxins. If you know about fish, it will be one of the factors to enjoy the sea of Ishigaki Island more! Please try to find various fish in Ishigaki Island. Thank you for reading to the end.