Diagonal butterflyfish and chromis swimming near bleached fire corals

Faded Underwater Coral Species.

A striking diagonal butterflyfish with vibrant yellow and black stripes swims gracefully past bleached fire coral, creating a vivid focal point in this underwater video footage. The fire coral, now white and faded, displays intricate, finger-like branches that stretch out against the deep blue backdrop, showcasing the delicate structure that has been impacted by bleaching. Alongside the butterflyfish, several tiny chromis fish dart around the coral, their small bodies moving quickly through the branches and adding subtle flashes of movement. In the background of the clip, clusters of other coral species in muted browns and greens with some appearing untouched by bleaching are seen clearly in the calm, clear water that enhances visibility.

Butterflyfish Swimming Near Bleached Branching Corals on Free Stock Footage.

Shot in stunning 4K (2160p) by professional videographers and made available in HD (1080p) resolutions, this free stock footage is available in both landscape (16:9 aspect ratio) and vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) formats, making it suitable for widescreen presentations and social media platforms like Instagram Reels, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. The detail and flexibility of this footage make it ideal for environmental campaigns, NGO projects, documentaries, and educational content that focuses on coral conservation and marine biodiversity.

Butterflyfish are closely tied to coral reefs and rely on healthy corals as a primary food source and habitat. With their narrow mouths, butterflyfish are specialized feeders, often nibbling directly on coral polyps or foraging in the small crevices of branching corals, like fire coral. Coral reefs provide butterflyfish with shelter, breeding grounds, and feeding habitats, making these fish highly dependent on coral health for survival. When coral reefs bleach, butterflyfish lose access to their main food sources and habitat structures, which disrupts their feeding behavior, reproductive patterns, and survival.