Why are coral reef fish more colorful than open water fish?

Question

is it for camouflage?

Answer 1

Coral reef fish are colorful so that they can blend in with the surrounding corals, sponges, algae.....etc, while open water species are dull in color so that they can blend in with the water. If a open water fish was very colorful it would be eatin or it wouldnt be able to catch prey because theres nothing to use as cover.



Its basically camouflage, to hide from a predator or there prey.