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African spadefish have flat, deep bodies and long, sloping foreheads. Their bodies are silver-grey, with a series of dark, vertical bands that fade with age. Sometimes faded yellow colouration is present on their caudal and dorsal fins and their bellies.Spadefish feed on both free-swimming and bottom-dwelling crustaceans.African spadefish inhabit inshore reefs on the African east coast, from Somalia to South Africa's Eastern Cape.

The galjoen is the national fish of South Africa. It is a distinct-looking fish, it belongs to a family of fish which are endemic to our coastline and so we’re proud of it!Sadly, our national fish is fast disappearing – it has been overfished and is now listed as Red by SASSI (Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative).Recreational anglers may only catch two galjoen (minimum size = 35cm) per day between 1 March and 14 October each year. They are not allowed to sell their catch.

Black-saddle goatfish inhabit the Indo-West Pacific region - this includes the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, south to South Africa and Reunion Island. Goatfish are so named because of the ‘barbels’ which hang from their chins similar to a goat’s beard. Goatfish use the barbels to search for food on the seabed.They are found singly or in groups foraging for food such as worms, brittle stars and crustaceans, they do this by extending the two barbels from their chin and stirring up the sediment. They often have other fish in tow which hoover up any creatures left behind.Adults grow up to 23 cm long and inhabit reefs, sand flats, slopes and seagrass beds at depths between 2 -75m.Black-saddle goatfish also appear to use their barbels in courtship displays and will eagerly entwine barbels with prospective mates.

Kelp lice are marine isopods of the genus Paridotea that live and feed on various seaweeds. Kelp lice have a specially developed digestive mechanism to combat the anti-herbivorous chemicals the kelp uses to defend the spore areas on which the lice preferentially feed.

The dusky cherub inhabits rubble bottoms near coral reefs at depths from 1 to 40 m. It is also found around corals in lagoons and on outer reefs. Some rare colour variations of yellow-orange markings on the body have been recorded.It feeds in small groups mainly on algae. These fish are very approachable underwater.

Chaetodon means ‘hair-like teeth’. Common on coral and rocky reefs in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Occurs singly or in groups as it browses the reef for food items such as soft corals, zooplankton, small crabs, worms and seaweed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, but it has been known to crossbreed with the teardrop butterflyfish.

Bottom-dwelling endemic species found in the cool water of tidal pools and subtidal gullies off the southern African coast. Feeds on small invertebrates. Has enlarged pectoral fins which act as tactile sensors and also stabilize the fish when it is ‘lying’ on the bottom. Attains 30 cm in length.

The piggy is a small silver-olive coloured fish with a notable dark black-brown blotch on its gill covers, and the top of its body is noticeably pinker than the bottom. Its fins are usually transparent but can take on a yellow tint. It is elongated and has a short snout compared to other grunters.It inhabits the Indian Ocean, particularly the African coast where it dwells in sandy and reef habitats to a depth of 90m. It occurs in large shoals in these waters where it serves as a vitally important prey animal of a number of large predators, such as sharks and cetaceans. These large shoals are often juveniles who will migrate to deeper waters when they mature.The piggy is one of the smallest fish in the grunter family, but is still a proficient predator, feeding on shrimp, octopusses and flatworms.

The white sea catfish is a robust fish with a dark dorsal surface and sides, but with a notably pale white belly. Its body is completely scaleless and is slimy to the touch - it is covered in a protective layer of mucus. Their heads are wedge-shaped, with six barbels on the end of its lower jaw.Its dorsal and pectoral fins each conceal a large serrated spine. As with many species of fish in this family, the dorsal fin spines of the white catfish are venomous. It is advised to promptly seek medical attention if injured by one of these fish.It lives in the coastal waters and estuaries from Namibia to South Africa and is particularly common in the waters of the Eastern Cape. It lives in areas where the sea floor is muddy and can be found at depths of between 1 and 120 metres, often gathering in large shoals. Some sightings have also been recorded in Madagascar and Mozambique in Africa, and the United States of America and Mexico in North America, but these are questionable.The white barbel or white sea catfish is a mouth brooder. The female lays approximately 50 relatively large (15–16 mm diameter) eggs. The male carries them in his mouth for three to four months. During this time he does not feed and can lose nearly a quarter of his body weight.The white sea catfish is commonly caught in South African waters and is regarded as a pest by many anglers. This unfortunately leads to many white sea catfish being killed unnecessarily.

Compared to the generic "jellyfish-shape" most are familiar with, the crystal jelly is flattened and saucer-shaped. It can grow up to 60cm wide.Its bell is transparent, thin at the edge and thickening towards the central portion. Up to 80 distinct white channels can be seen running from the edge of the bell to this central portion.The crystal jelly has a multitude of short, fine tentacles. Its oral arms, or manubria, are short and do not extend far beyond the bell.The crystal jelly often has bioluminescent algae growing on the edge of its bell, and can thus be seen "glowing in the dark." It is able to control this bioluminescence to an extent, and many are able to display alternating flashes of blue and green light.The crystal jelly is a hydrozoan jelly and has the largest medusa stage of any jellyfish of this type. Although relatively rare, it can occur in huge swarms when conditions are favourable.