Atlantic spadefish

Photo: Brian Gratwicke · CC BY

Atlantic spadefish form large, compact schools that hover in mid-water, their broad silver-and-black striped bodies catching the light dramatically. Juveniles mimic floating leaves to avoid predation. Adults feed on jellyfish, soft corals, and plankton. Schools often aggregate around structures — wrecks, buoy lines, and steep reef edges — making them a reliable encounter at Prickly Pear's drop-offs. Their willingness to approach divers closely and mill around in formation makes them one of the most photogenic Caribbean schooling fish.