Groupers and coral trout appear to be especially curious, a trait generally considered a sign of smarts, but circumstance has likely guided the evolution of complex intelligence in some other species.

Coral trout are torpedo-shaped and about 21in (50cm) long. They have speed to chase down a fish out in the open, while the moray eel boasts a sinuous body to find prey in hard-to-reach places.

Hope. The consistent nature of the coral trout’s population rise is extremely encouraging, especially since it’s happening over 1,700 km of ocean.

Surveys carried out by Russ’s team now show that coral trout numbers have increased by over 60% in no-take areas around two groups of inshore islands – Palm Island and the Whitsundays – 18 ...

Coral trout collaborate with octopuses, which are also better at fitting into tight spaces. This latter pair lives in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In the study, ...

Coral trout make a similar sign, the researchers found. [Image Gallery: The Freakiest Fish] You may like Cuttlefish appear to wave at each other in what researchers think could be a form of ...

It’s possible that the protected fishes eat starfish, but the coral trout, whose populations have boomed in the no-take reserves, specialise in hunting fish not starfish.