Sweepers - Pempheridae
SWEEPERS - PEMPHERIDAE
This fish family has around twenty five different species that all live in the tropical seas of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic areas. Sweepers have big eyes and a short head and some of the species have light-organs around the intestine. They hide around holes, caves, overhangs, shipwrecks or shallow reefs during the day. They are night feeders and after sunset come out their hiding places to feed on plankton in open water. The most known sweepers are the Parapriacanthus family, better known as "glassfish". Not much is known about their reproduction, but I presume they also mate before or after sunset like most fish. Length: 20 cm.
Distribution: from the Red Sea to Samoa and Philippines.
Black tip on dorsal and anal fin, black edge on tailfin.
Fine line from the gills over the shoulder to the end of the tailfin.
During day time in large schools under ledges and among holes of rock and coral
reefs. Common. Length: 10 cm.
Distribution: from the Red Sea to South Africa and Thailand.
These fish are also nicknamed “glassfish”. Yellow head, almost transparent body.
Swims in dense schools in holes and overhangs.
In lagoons and seaward reefs down to -40 m.
They feed solitary on zooplankton during night time. Length: 20 cm.
Distribution: from the Red Sea to French Polynesia, S.W- Japan and Lord Howe.
Small dark line on top of dorsal fin, similar to P. vanicolensis but this one has a black
tip on dorsal fin. During day time in large schools among holes of lagoons and
seaward reefs, from 1 to -36 m.