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Family Kyphosidae
Chubs
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Chubs are herbivores that
often form aggregations in
shallow water. Most are dull-colored but there are exceptions.
Experience is needed to distinguish most species. They have soft flesh that
is not highly valued as food but can be delicious if prepared
correctly. |
HAWAII
Kyphosus cinerascens
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Water Barge, Midway, 15 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 3 feet |
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HIGHFIN CHUB
NENUE Tenjikuisaki
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Uncommon in Hawaii on reefs with surge and abundant
algae to 80 feet. Up to 15 inches. Distinguished by high
posterior ends of the soft dorsal & anal fin. Indo-Pacific and
Hawaii. |
Kyphosus
hawaiiensis 
Pitt Stop, Midway Atoll
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Pitt Stop, Midway Atoll
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Dark phase, Pitt Stop, Midway Atoll
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Juvenile, Cargo Pier, Midway Atoll
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 4 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 4 feet |
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HAWAIIAN CHUB
NENUE
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Endemic to Hawaii. Rare on reefs exposed to surge
to 80 feet except in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Up to 20
inches. Dark gray with lighter midbody band or nearly black with light blue
speckles. Tip of pelvic fins
nearly reach anus, 18 pectoral rays, 12 soft dorsal rays. |
Kyphosus
sandwicensis
Peek-a-boo, Midway Atoll |
Phoenix, Midway Atoll
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Dominant male color pattern, Fish Hole, Midway
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Sharks Cove, Oahu, 20 feet |
Sharks Cove, Oahu, 25 feet |
Yellow form, Phoenix, Midway Atoll
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Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 20 feet
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Yellow belly, Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 5 feet
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Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 30 feet |
Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 40 feet
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PACIFIC CHUB
NENUE
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Endemic to Hawaii. Locally common in the surge zone of hard reefs.
Forms large aggregations especially where fed by divers. Yellow form is rare except in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands,
dominant males display spotted pattern when active. More slender than K. hawaiiensis; tip of pelvic fins well short of
anus, 19-20 pectoral rays, 12 soft dorsal rays.
Formerly confused with Kyphosus bigibbus of the Indo-Pacific and K.
pacificus of Japan's Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. Up to 30
inches. |
Kyphosus vaigiensis
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 3 feet
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Midway Harbor, 6 feet |
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 3 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 3 feet |
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LOWFIN CHUB
NENUE Isuzumi
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Fairly common in the surge zone of reefs to 80
feet. Up to 27 inches. Brown mark at edge of gill
opening. Distinct alternating light/dark stripes sometimes including brown, 14 soft dorsal
rays. Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, and South Africa. |
EASTERN PACIFIC
Hermosilla
azurea
Rock Quarry, Catalina Island, California, 5 feet |
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ZEBRAPERCH
Chopa azul
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Fairly common on shallow rocky reefs to 25 feet.
A skittish species that attains 18 inches. Monterey Bay south to Baja California & Sea of Cortez. |
Medialuna californiensis
HALFMOON
| Common on rocky reefs and in kelp forests from Vancouver Island to the
Sea of Cortez. Attains 19 inches. |
Family Girellidae
Nibblers
| Temperate relatives of chubs. Common where they occur.
Only one species recorded from the Hawaiian Islands. |
MIDWAY & JAPAN
Girella leonina
Keoki's Ledge, Midway Atoll, 25 feet |
Keoki's Ledge, Midway Atoll, 25 feet |
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| Common name |
BLACKEDGE NIBBLER |
| Japanese name |
Kuro-mejina |
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| Habitat |
High above the reef |
| Depth |
10 to 60 feet |
| Diet |
Algae & zooplankton |
| Size |
20 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon, very rare at Midway |
| Distribution |
Midway, Japan, Taiwan, and China |
| Notes |
The first report of this fish in Hawaii was reported by Randall &
Stender in 2002
Skittish and does not seem to remain in the same area
for long |
| Similar species |
Girella melanichthys |
EASTERN PACIFIC
Girella nigricans
OPALEYE
| Common in kelp forests from San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas. Up
to 26 inches. |
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