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Fishes by night

Many reef fishes sleep at night and the reef becomes much quieter than in the day. Parrotfish typically spin a protective cocoon around themselves when they sleep which alerts them when predators are near. At Tenggol, many of the parrotfishes were sleeping in and amongst staghorn coral for protection instead of within a cocoon.

sleeping parrotfish

Sleeping steephead parrotfish, night dive at Rajawali Reef, July 2005

sleeping parrotfish

Sleeping parrotfish, night dive at Rajawali Reef, July 2005

sleeping butterflyfish

Sleeping butterflyfish, night dive at Rajawali Reef, July 2005

sleeping parrotfish

Sleeping turquoise-capped parrotfish, night dive at Rajawali Reef, July 2005

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