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The striking colors, strange shapes and patterns of many fish
and animals associated with coral reefs have long triggered the
imagination of people. One might suppose such brilliant coloration
would invite disaster where hungry predators are never far away,
while in fact just the opposite could be true. The coral reef
presents a unique area where some generalizations can be made
about the coloration of the fish and the special adaptations associated
with them.
The reefs offer a colorful background against which some of these
fish may not be as conspicuous as they appear in aquariums. Also,
a coral reef provides endless small channels, nooks and crannies
in which the fish can hide.
Sharply contrasting blotches and bars of color may also serve
to break up the outline of the fish so that it is easily recognized
by a predator. In some instances the color may serve as a warning,
advertising distasteful flesh or poisonous spines. The Four-eyed
Butterfly fish has a second set of "eyes" (black spots)
near the tail, which often confuses an attacker long enough to
allow the fish to escape.
Coloration can play an important role in species recognition,
in helping keep schools of fish together, in courtship, and perhaps
in other way of which we are not aware. It must be remembered
that these fish are observed through human eyes and brains. What
is seen does not necessarily appear the same to us as it does
to another fish or squid.
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