The Complete List of Fish of Polynesia

Polynesia, with its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs, is home to an incredible array of marine species. From tiny, colorful reef fish to powerful pelagics, the biodiversity here is a testament to the health and richness of its oceanic ecosystems, captivating divers and researchers alike.

This extensive guide delves into the remarkable marine life found across these islands. Here, you’ll discover 49 Fish of Polynesia, showcasing a wide variety from the commonly seen Bigeye scad to the impressive Yellowtail amberjack. For each entry, we’ve organized the details by Scientific Name, Max Length (cm), and Typical Habitat, providing a clear and comprehensive overview you’ll find below.

What makes the marine life in Polynesia so diverse?

Polynesia’s incredible marine diversity stems from a combination of factors, including its vast geographic spread across the Indo-Pacific, its warm, nutrient-rich waters, and the abundance of diverse habitats like coral reefs, lagoons, and deep-sea trenches. These elements create numerous ecological niches, fostering the evolution and coexistence of a wide array of fish species.

Are many of these Polynesian fish unique to the region?

Yes, due to its significant geographic isolation, Polynesia boasts a notable percentage of endemic fish species, meaning they are found exclusively in these waters and nowhere else in the world. This isolation has allowed distinct evolutionary pathways to develop, contributing to the unique character and biological importance of its marine fauna.

Fish of Polynesia

Images and Descriptions

Convict tang

A small, boldly striped surgeonfish common on shallow reef flats and lagoon patch reefs. Grazes algae in large schools, helping keep coral surfaces clean and playing a vital ecological role across Polynesian islands.

Blue tang

Bright blue plate-shaped surgeonfish that lives in small groups on coral reefs. Known for its striking color and role as a grazer, it’s familiar to snorkelers and plays an important part in reef algal control.

Yellowfin surgeonfish

A large, fast-moving surgeonfish found around reef drop-offs and lagoons. Omnivorous and powerful, it forages on algae and small animals; culturally and ecologically significant across many Polynesian islands.

Brown tang

A brown, laterally compressed tang that frequents sheltered reef slopes and seagrass areas. Feeds on algae, often seen singly or in small groups, and recognized for its graceful swimming and important grazing habits.

Yellow tang

Iconic bright yellow surgeonfish largely associated with Hawaiian reefs but part of Polynesia. Lives in shallow reefs where it grazes algae; culturally familiar and often seen by snorkelers and divers.

Bullethead parrotfish

Robust parrotfish that scrapes algae and coral, producing sand through digestion of coral substrate. Important for reef bioerosion and sediment production, commonly seen in shallow to mid-depth reefs across Polynesia.

Bridled parrotfish

A medium-sized parrotfish with vibrant bands and an important grazing role. Active during daylight, it sleeps in reef crevices at night and helps maintain coral–algae balance on reefs.

Napoleon wrasse

A charismatic, large wrasse famous for its bulbous forehead and longevity. Feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates and sometimes prized by fishers; vulnerable in many areas and often protected for ecological reasons.

Raccoon butterflyfish

Distinctive black-and-white masked butterflyfish that feeds on invertebrates and coral mucus. Agile and common on diverse reef slopes, often seen in pairs and recognized by its striking facial banding.

Threadfin butterflyfish

Oval-bodied butterflyfish with eye-catching diagonal bands and a trailing filament. Feeds on small invertebrates and coral polyps; a familiar sight on Polynesian reef flats and lagoon margins.

Moorish idol

A boldly patterned, laterally compressed reef fish with a long dorsal filament. Known for being difficult to keep in aquaria, it grazes sponges and small invertebrates on reefs and is visually iconic.

Clark’s anemonefish

A hardy, variable-colored anemonefish commonly found in shallow lagoons and reef crests. Lives symbiotically with sea anemones, is culturally familiar, and exhibits interesting social and breeding behaviors.

Blue-green chromis

Small, peaceful schooling damselfish that forms shimmering clouds above coral heads. Feeds on plankton, provides prey for larger species, and is a common sight in sheltered lagoon environments throughout Polynesia.

Whitetail dascyllus

A small, bold damselfish that shelters in branching corals and anemones. Often aggressive for its size, it defends territory and is a familiar character of shallow Polynesian reefs.

Honeycomb grouper

A small-to-medium grouper with a mottled honeycomb pattern. Ambush predator feeding on smaller reef fishes, it shelters in caves and overhangs; important in local subsistence fisheries.

Brown-marbled grouper

A larger, commercially valuable grouper inhabiting reef slopes and lagoon edges. Slow-growing and long-lived, it’s a sought-after species by fishers and an important predator on coral reefs.

Bluestripe snapper

A colorful schooling snapper often seen in large aggregations above reefs. Feeds on small fishes and invertebrates, important both ecologically and as a subsistence species for island communities.

Yellowstripe goatfish

A distinctive goatfish with a yellow lateral stripe that probes sand with a chin barbel for invertebrates. Often forms feeding groups around reef margins, contributing to benthic turnover.

Dash-and-dot goatfish

Larger goatfish notable for searching the sand with barbels. Feeds on worms and crustaceans, frequently seen leading cleaning fish and foraging in small groups close to reefs.

Moon wrasse

Colorful, active wrasse frequenting shallow, turbulent reef areas. Eats small invertebrates and fish, often seen darting among corals and cleaning stations; males and females show dramatic coloration differences.

Surge wrasse

A brightly colored wrasse common on shallow reefs, where it hunts small invertebrates. Displays rapid movements and complex social behaviors, playing a role in controlling reef invertebrate populations.

Squirrelfish (spiny)

Red, large-eyed nocturnal predator that shelters in caves and under ledges by day. Emerges at night to hunt crustaceans and small fish, producing a characteristic clicking sound.

Lionfish

Venomous, ambush predators with striking fin display. Native to the Indo-Pacific and common on reefs, they feed on small fish and invertebrates; visually dramatic and ecologically significant.

Flathead grey mullet

A robust coastal species often found in seagrass beds and estuaries. Feeds on detritus and microalgae; culturally important as a traditional food fish across Polynesian communities.

Giant moray

Imposing, toothy eel that hides in reef crevices and ambushes prey at night. Plays a top-predator role on reefs; frequently photographed by divers due to its large size and curious behavior.

Yellowtail amberjack

A large, fast, schooling pelagic predator found near islands and seamounts. Valued in sport and subsistence fisheries, it chases smaller fish and squid around reef margins.

Yellowfin tuna

An economically and culturally vital large tuna that inhabits warm tropical and subtropical waters. Fast-swimming and migratory, it’s central to Polynesian fisheries and offshore food traditions.

Skipjack tuna

A small, abundant tuna species that forms large schools. Highly important for local and commercial fisheries, it feeds on small fish and plankton near islands and floating debris.

Bigeye tuna

A deep-swimming tuna with large eyes adapted to low light. An important commercial species in Polynesia, it frequents deeper offshore waters and seamounts around island chains.

Wahoo

A streamlined, high-speed pelagic predator prized by anglers. Often found near fronts, floating debris, and island edges, it feeds on schooling fishes and displays spectacular bursts of speed.

Mahi-mahi

Vividly colored, fast-growing pelagic fish associated with floating objects and sargassum. Popular for sport and food, it’s known for rapid growth and spectacular leaping when hooked.

Blue marlin

Iconic large billfish central to sportfishing and ocean ecosystems around Polynesian islands. Powerful and migratory, it preys on large pelagic fishes and is a storied species in island fishing traditions.

Sailfish

A spectacular, sail-backed predator that cruises tropical oceans. Known for speed and acrobatic fighting ability, sailfish frequent currents and upwellings around Polynesian islands and seamounts.

Giant trevally

A powerful top predator common around rocky points and reef drop-offs. Feared and revered by fishers, it hunts fish and crustaceans and is a cultural icon in many island communities.

Bluefin trevally

Strikingly blue-finned predator that patrols reef edges and passes. Agile and highly sought by anglers, it feeds on fish and invertebrates and often hunts in ambush.

Great barracuda

An opportunistic, torpedo-shaped predator that stalks reefs and coastal waters. Known for speed and large size, barracuda are a dramatic sight and important mid-level predators in Polynesian seas.

Blacktip reef shark

A familiar small reef shark that frequents shallow waters and reef flats. Commonly seen by snorkelers and divers, it plays a key role in reef food webs while usually posing little threat to people.

Grey reef shark

A dominant predatory shark of outer reefs, commonly encountered at cleaning stations and along drop-offs. Important apex predator that influences reef community structure and behavior.

Oceanic manta ray

A giant, filter-feeding ray that glides over reef slopes and pelagic seas to feed on plankton. Often visits cleaning stations and is a major draw for eco-tourism and cultural reverence.

Spotted eagle ray

Graceful, long-winged ray found around reefs and sandbanks. Feeds on mollusks and crustaceans by crushing shells; valued by divers for its elegant swimming and frequent sightings near islands.

Flying fish

Small, streamlined fish that glide above the water on enlarged fins to escape predators. Common around islands and atolls, they are culturally important as forage for larger predators and for traditional fishing.

Bigeye scad

A schooling, silver carangid found near reefs and around lights at night. Important forage species for larger predators and commonly used as bait and food by local fishers across Polynesia.

Mackerel scad

A schooling mid-water fish that forms large aggregations around islands and seamounts. Serves as a critical link in food webs, feeding on plankton and feeding larger pelagic predators.

Leopard coral grouper

Beautiful, ambush-hunting grouper prized in fisheries. Prefers rock and coral ledges on reef slopes, where it feeds on smaller fishes. Highly valued both ecologically and commercially.

White-spotted rabbitfish

A schooling herbivorous fish that grazes algae in lagoons and seagrass meadows. Plays an important role in controlling algal growth and is a common, culturally recognized species.

Bluespine unicornfish

Large, laterally flattened surgeonfish with a distinctive forehead and tail spines. Feeds on macroalgae and zooplankton, often seen in small groups on outer reef slopes and passes.

Greenband parrotfish

A large, colorful parrotfish that scrapes algae and bioerodes coral, producing sand. Important for reef resilience and a frequent, charismatic species on Polynesian reefs.

Picasso triggerfish

Bold, patterned triggerfish common in shallow reef zones. Territorial and sometimes aggressive when nesting, it feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates and is easily recognized by snorkelers.

Spanish mackerel

A swift predatory mackerel that hunts schooling fish near reefs and islands. Valued by local fishers and anglers, it’s known for speed and strong fights when hooked.