coralreeffish.com presents my research on coral reef fishes. Since my first introduction to coral reefs, in the San Blas Islands of Panama (when I started graduate school way back in 1980), I have been particularly interested in the early stages of reef fishes: the pelagic larvae that disperse offshore into the open ocean and the newly-arrived juveniles starting life on the reef. Little is known about the process and much remains to be discovered about all aspects of their lives. More recently, I have used DNA sequencing to identify fish larvae and that opened a Pandora's box of amazing information on the genetic structure of fish populations- which led to my latest interest in fish taxonomy. Mostly as a result of DNA sequencing, I have discovered several new reef-fish species, with many more in the process.

I hope to keep this site updated on my latest research plans and progress and use it as a vehicle to disseminate my published papers and present my ever-changing opus on the larvae of coral reef fishes. I will also make my collection data visible and available to other scientists and hopefully stimulate some networking among reef fish biologists who wish to collaborate on interesting subjects.

Benjamin Victor

UPDATES: Summer 2011

My latest foray to Dominica, a volcanic island in the Windward chain of the Lesser Antilles. I am on the hunt for tiny fish with my trusty green aquarium net!