The 54 species of sea chubs have short heads, blunt snouts, and small mouths. They have strong, close-set teeth which are strangely shaped like hockey sticks and a single, continuous dorsal fin which can be folded into a scaly groove. They have a forked tail and are usually a drab colour and may have some bluish or yellowish stripes.
Sea chubs are largely herbivorous, feeding mainly on algae, with others being carnivorous, feeding on invertebrates found on the seafloor, rocks and corals. Very large schools of sea chubs can form in shallow rocky and coral reef areas for feeding.
Sea chubs also gather in large numbers for pelagic spawning.
The Topsail Drummer, Kyphosus cinerascens, is found in small to large schools in shallower reef areas where there is abundant algae growth. Their diet consists of invertebrates, algae and seaweed. When feeding as a large school, they can quickly overwhelm territorial damselfishes and surgeonfishes.
The Lowfin Drummer has two phases, the first having a silvery grey body with narrow bronze stripes, and the second phase with a darker body and numerous white spots. The Lowfin Drummer can rapidly change phase.
The rear dorsal fin is not elevated (as in the Topsail Drummer) and the outer edge of the anal fin is diagonal, aligning with the outer edge of the upper tail lobe.
The Lowfin Drummer grows to 45 cm and forms small to very large groups in rocky shore areas or above reef flats.
Spot Sea Chubs around Koh Lanta on one of our high season dive and snorkel trips.
Join our speedboat trips to some of the best dive sites in Thailand and enjoy small groups, great personal service and short journey times on our fast boats.
Not yet a diver? Discover a whole new world with our Discover Scuba Diving introduction experience, or get your PADI with us here on Koh Lanta.
If you're already a certified diver, take your diving knowledge and skills to the next level with the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.
Book online to save 10% on scuba diving trips and PADI courses.
×
Diving, Snorkeling & PADI Courses
Message sent successfully.
Thank You
We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
If you don't see a reply from us in the next 24 - 48 hours, please check your spam/junk folder.
