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The principal Hawaiian Islands vie with few other places in the world for degree of endemism of species. Fully a quarter of its near shore/shallow water species of fishes and twenty percent of invertebrates are found only here. Due to their isolation in space and current patterns, not many new species have invaded Hawaiian waters and reciprocally not many have made it off to elsewhere. One can imagine the effects of being no closer than 1,000 miles to the nearest island/population and how few planktonic larval forms might reach Hawaiis shores, not be eaten, manage to find space and food, reproductive partners Coupled with the abundance of only found here species is Hawaiis differences in abundance and appearance of those animals that are found about the U.S. 50th State. Some are much larger (e.g. the Tiger Cowry, Cypraea tigris), others outright relics like the Blue-Line Butterflyfish, Chaetodon fremblii, others appear in large aggregations nowhere else (e.g. the Millet-seed Butterfly, C. miliaris). All adds to the mystery and enjoyment of making a particularly Hawaiian biotope more interesting. And a challenge. Live rock and sand are sanctioned against collection and use here, though there are at times cultured sources So it is up to you to adapt/adopt other sources of these hard substrates to your use. Though there are some sandy flats areas on some of the older islands (those increasingly further northwest) most habitats here are decidedly steep and volcanic. The latter rock may be available or not in forms that are non-toxic to use and all should be tested for suitability before use. Happily, LR and LS from elsewhere is entirely suitable for mixing and matching with invertebrates and fishes found in Hawaii. Hawaii's northwestern shores are at times (often) battered by large surf, therefore, most all livestock is collected from the calmer, leeward (Kona) sides of her islands. The surrounding waters can be cool, so temperatures ranging in the low to upper 70s suffice here. Water movement can vary from relatively calm to brisk, and aquarists may suit themselves in regards to water movement, providing aeration, circulation as necessary. What is shown here encompasses all species commonly offered from the region, a few that might be, and the same species that occur here that occasionally are available from elsewhere. Of course you should keep your eyes open for the rare miscellaneous specimen that shows from the region. The best sources of information re what occurs in Hawaii are listed in the bibliography/further reading section at the end. Tidepools: <To do: Look up algae, add other species or delete biotope category> A surgy, sparsely populated Hawaiian tidepool habitat can be a source of endless observation and study. For those fortunate enough to visit here and spend a while floating, watching in these regions, there are many fishes, juvenile transients of wrasses, butterflies and more, to permanent resident species to enjoy. A Rough and Tough
Damselfish:
Blennies, Some Intertidal, Some
Amphibious!
Sand and Rubble Shallow Reef
Flats: Worms:
Sharks: Two of the species of sharks found here make their way into our hobby from time to time, the Blacktip and Whitetip Reef Sharks, and are most often found in relatively shallow water, the Whitetip very often resting below ledges. Neither are suitable as aquarium specimens as they grow quite large, requiring HUGE volumes of water to survive.
Goatfishes, Family Mullidae: These prodigious sand sifters use their chemosensory barbells to hunt food amongst sand and muddy substrates. Useful as scavengers as such in systems that can accommodate their size.
Shallow Rocky
Shores: Unless youre amongst the fortunate to have a growth of native sponges and cnidarians arise from your cultured Hawaiian live rock, you will either have to be satisfied with a similar-appearing barren rock wall or use of non-native sedentary invertebrates in your Hawaiian biotope. Some areas of Hawaiis shores re nearly covered in their few species of stony corals, but most have spotty coverage. Often, rocky slopes are pock-marked with overhangs and lava tubes of various sizes. The insides of the latter can be incredibly rich habitats for exploration and emulation. Sponges: The simplest of living animal groups, with their specialized cells operating as advanced animals tissues and organs, sponges are mainly out of sight in Hawaii found under rocks, in caves.
Stinging Celled Animals: As previously stated, no cnidarian life can be legally collected for pet-fish use out of HawaiI. However, the same or similar species of hard, soft corals, et al. can be had from elsewhere in the tropical Indo-Pacific. HawaiI does not have many species of scleractinians and alcyonaceans, but what few do exist can densely cover a space at times. Family Acroporidae: The genus Acropora, so important in reef-building elsewhere, is all but absent on present-day Hawaiian reefs. The genus Montipora is represented by seven species that are dominant at times.
Family Pocilloporidae:
Family Poritidae: This is the most common and important
reef-building coral family in Hawaii. Nine poritid species occur here.
To: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, |
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