Mullets are easily recognizable due to their elon- gate body and a pair of long barbels located under the lower jaw. These contain chemical sense organs and are used to search for food, "rooting" ln the sand. When they are not being used the barbels are withdrawn and held against the "throat" of the fish, whilst during courtship the male shakes them showily.
	Mullets are all carnivorous and feed mainly on small invertebrates, even though some species do not spurn small fish.
This is the most numerous fish family, numbering over 800 species spread out throughout the world. The particular elongate form of the body and the small size, no bigger than 10 cm, make them par~ ticularly suited to life near small crevices and holes where they can take refuge at the first sign of danger. Some species prefer to live in small groups among the branches of the madrepores, Some Gobiidae live in symbiosis with a type of shrimp (Alpheidae family), sharing the same shelter with them: the crustaceans make a hole in the sand and busily work to keep it free of sediment and the fish stand guard over it.
	Small fish of an elongate form with a long and continuous dorsal fin, which live in the shallow waters of the reef. Despite their seemingly peaceable apearance, they are aggressive animals, ready to p defend their territory bravely even against much larger beings. They can often be seen inside little holes in the madrepores into which they slip tail first, leaving only their agreeable little head with its two large eyes sticking out.
These fish take their name from the venomous spines positioned on the dorsal fin, which are characteristic of many species. They are typically sedentary animals and are famous for their poisonousness.
	They are all voracious predators. The more striking, like the Pterois, that with their colours remind potential predators of their venomous nature, hunt at night, feeding above all on crustaceans and small fish. Others, on the other hand, like the large Scorpaenopsis diabolus and S barbatus and the terrible Stonefish, use incredible camouflage to ambush their prey. So well do they blend into their environment that they are often un~ recognizable even on careful and close up scrutiny of the reef. They prevalently live in shallow waters and are thus a great danger for bathers who may step on them and be stung by the venomous spines. Excruciating pain is followed by swelling, breathing difficulties and in some cases even death.
Masters in the art of camouflage, the Fkogfish become virtually invisible on whatever type of sea bed they find themselves. Their appearance is very strange: a spherical body covered with appendages pectoral fins which can be used to "walk" on the seabottom, and the first ray of the dorsal fm metamorphosed into a "fishing rod" with a lure on the end of it. These animals spend most of their time lying motionless on the seabottom, moving the filiform appengage and waiting for a fish to be attracted by it and come near. The great elasticity of the Fkogfish's mouth allows it to swallow prey longer than itself. Despite their disturbing appearance, these fish are completely harmless for man.
	Flatheads are encountered fairly frequently in the northern Red Sea, especially at the tip of Sinai,where they lie concealed on the bottom, partially covered with sand, ready to anibush fish who pass nearby Their whole body is quite compressed and the head in particular is flat, with the lower jaw prominent, emphasising the aggressive air of this fish. In reality this fish is completely harrriless for man, apart from a few pre-operclaar spines which can cause painful stings if the fish is taken hold of. I7latheads live alone or in couples, sometimes lazily lying on top of one another. They seem to be particularly attracted to old sunken hulls and it is not rare to encounter them inside.
The name comes from the particular form of the head which resembles that of a reptile, with a large mouth provided with sharp teeth. Lizardfish live mainly on the sandy or muddy seabottom, burying themselves to the point that orfly their eyes are visible. When a shrimp or a little fish passes by, they suddenly dart out of their hiding place, capturing their prey. Their perfect hmobility makes them an easy subject for underwater photography.

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