This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 9:36 am and is filed under About, Adventure Cruises, History, Information, Sites, Snorkeling, Snuba. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall/K.S.Boyle, Fishbase.org
The Hawaiian name `alo’i lo’i means ‘one with little to say‘. This is very amusing since these little fish do make communicative sounds that snorkelers can listen to. It is almost like a purrrup, purrrrup. Researchers say the sounds are to tell the school of approaching danger. Research could not produce any information on whether or not this was an important food source for the ancient Hawaiians.
These fish are really small growing to a mere 5 inches in length. The young will hide in branching corals until they are large enough to safely venture out to deeper waters and hang with the adults. While in juvenile state, and even really new, these fish are seen hiding in sea anemones. They do not feel the sting of the tentacles as they have the capability of using the anemone mucus to coat their own skins, thereby protecting themselves. Although not endemic, the damselfish are seen throughout the Hawaiian Islands and down in Johnston Island reefs. Their favorite foods include zooplankton animals such as mysids, crab and shrimp larvae, copepods and algae. Sounds like a very balanced diet. If you are planning on a trip to Hawaii, please try to save time for a snorkel trip. These cute fish are quite easy to photograph providing one doesn’t try to get too close. If you hold very still while hovering over their reef you may even hear the cute warning calls of the Hawaiian Damselfish! PURRRRUP!
September 11th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Damsels Of The Reef | Maui Snorkeling Trips…
Maui rocks! It was one of the coolest vacations I have ever had! Thanks for booking my awesome trip! It made my much awaited vacay so unforgettable!…
September 11th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Damsels Of The Reef | Maui Snorkeling Trips…
You guys thought of everything! My vacation had no hitches whatsoever. It made me appreciate Maui even more! I will definitely be a regular tourist there….
September 11th, 2008 at 3:58 am
Damsels Of The Reef | Maui Snorkeling Trips…
Maui rocks! It was one of the coolest vacations I have ever had! Thanks for booking my awesome trip! It made my much awaited vacay so unforgettable!…