Sunny, playful, and loyal. The pāku‘iku‘i fish, also known as the Achilles Tang, is known for its bright orange spot. It is a reef surgeonfish found throughout the Hawaiian islands and Western Pacific. Research shows it to be a monogamous species that can often be seen in pairs. The fish plays an important role in the coral reef ecosystem by grazing on algae that would otherwise overgrow the coral. Pāku‘iku‘i prefers the shallows of the reef. Here the ocean water moves through swiftly in pulses. Waves raise clouds of bubbles that the fish can be seen to dart through as they navigate the currents. For many decades the pāku‘iku‘i fish population has been declining in several communities, especially in West Hawai‘i Island. Its biggest threats are over fishing and collection for the aquarium trade.
– David Shepard