The Priacanthidae, the bigeyes, are a family of 18 species of marine ray-finned fishes. "Catalufa" is an alternate common name for some members of the Priacanthidae. The etymology of the scientific name refers to the family's very rough, spined scales. The common name of "bigeye" refers to the member species' unusually large eyes, suited to their carnivorous and nocturnal lifestyles. Priacanthidae are typically colored bright red, but some have patterns in silver, dusky brown, or black. Most species reach a maximum total length of about 30 cm (12 in), although in a few species lengths of over 50 cm (20 in) are known.
The emperor angelfish is a species of marine angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Austral Islands. This species is generally associated with stable populations and faces no major threats of extinction. It is a favorite of photographers, artists, and aquarists because of its unique, brilliant pattern of coloration.
Psenes pellucidus, the bluefin driftfish, is a species of driftfish native to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans where it is found in deep waters to a depth of 1000 m. ). It is also present in low abundance since the mid-20th century in the western Mediterranean Sea which it most likely entered via the Strait of Gibraltar. It can reach a length of 80 cm TL.
The blacktail butterflyfish, also known as black-tailed butterflyfish or exquisite butterflyfish, is a species marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is native to the western Indian Ocean but has reached the Mediterranean Sea as a Lessepsian migrant through the Suez Canal.
Chrysiptera cyanea is a species of damselfish found in the wide Indo-West Pacific but not known in the Red Sea. A few individuals were observed in the Mediterranean Sea in 2013 off Slovenia, a likely aquarium release.
Cephalopholis taeniops, the African hind, bluespotted sea bass or spotted grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. This species occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade and is a target for local fisheries. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Platax teira, also known as the teira batfish, longfin batfish, longfin spadefish, or round faced batfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes and batfishes. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific.
Acanthurus monroviae, the Monrovia doctorfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The tasseled blenny is a species of combtooth blenny native to the Indo-West Pacific. A single specimen was reported in 2013 in the Mediterranean Sea off Antalya, Turkey. This species reaches a length of 6.2 centimetres (2.4 in) TL.
Petroscirtes ancylodon, the Arabian fangblenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian Ocean, and since 1989 recorded on occasion in the Levantine waters of the Mediterranean Sea, a likely entry from the Suez Canal. Males of this species reach a length of 11.5 cm TL while females reach a maximum length of 7.9 cm SL.
Holocentrus adscensionis is a squirrelfish of the family Holocentridae found in the Atlantic Ocean. Its range extends from North Carolina, USA to Brazil and throughout the Caribbean Sea in the Western Atlantic and from Gabon to Ascension Island in the Eastern Atlantic. A sighting was reported in 2016 from the central Mediterranean Sea off Malta and in 2023 from the Mediterranean Sea near Northern Cyprus.
Priacanthus hamrur, the lunar-tailed bigeye, goggle eye, or moontail bullseye, is a species of marine fishes belonging to the family Priacanthidae.
Priacanthus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Priacanthidae, the bigeyes. As of 2012 there are 12 species in the genus.
Priacanthus blochii, the paeony bulleye, is a species of marine ray finned fish, a bigeye in the family Priacanthidae. Other common names for this species include Bloch's bigeye, blotched bigeye, glass-eyebigeye, shortfin bigeye, silver big-eye and goggle eye.
Lutjanus fulviflamma, the dory snapper, blackspot snapper, black-spot sea perch, finger-mark bream, long-spot snapper, Moses perch or red bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lutjanidae, the snappers. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.
Chaetodon larvatus, commonly known as the hooded butterflyfish or orangeface butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and has been recorded twice recently in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Palestine and Syria.
Coryogalops ocheticus is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Gobiidae from the Red Sea. It has been reported twice in the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt in 1924 and 1969, but not since. It is found in shallow water, in the proximity of crevices and holes, on sand and mud flats, where there is algal growth, and in stony areas. It attains a total length of 6.2 centimetres (2.4 in). In preserved specimens it is pale fawn in colour and is marked with lateral blotches and mottling on the cheeks.
Priacanthus arenatus, the toro or Atlantic bigeye, is a species of marine ray finned fish, a bigeye in the family Priacanthidae. Some anglers refer to this fish as "toro snapper", but it is not a snapper, and only distantly related to the fish of the snapper family. It is found across much of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cephalopholis hemistiktos, the yellowfin hind, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a member of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. This species is found from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf and the coast of Pakistan. A single specimen was filmed in 2009 in the Mediterranean Sea, off Malta.
