The Blue Line, Rippled Triggerfish ("Yellow-Spotted Triggerfish" to science), Pseudobalistes fuscus (Bloch & Schneider 1801). Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, East African coast to South Africa. To... https://t.co/cUBTpuuMAX
Pseudochromis splendens, the Splendid Dottyback. Eastern Indonesia and Northwest Australian waters. To three inches in length. A commonly cultured, and for the group, very peaceful Dottyback species. One in in a LFS in New Jersey, another in Wakatobi, S. Sulawesi, Indo.
Scarus iseri <formerly S. croicensis)(Bloch 1789), the Striped Parrotfish. To 35 cm. Tropical West Atlantic. Feeds on plants; often Thalassia. Initial and terminal/male specimens in Bonaire 2019.
Carangoides bajad (Forsskal 1775), the Orangespotted Trevally. Indo-West Pacific; Red Sea to the Philippines. To twenty two inches in length. Two color varieties in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.
Yeah, I like to say it too; here's a terminal phase, male Halichoeres bivittatus (Bloch 1791), the Slippery Dick Wrasse (2), is a standard item offered out of the tropical western Atlantic... https://t.co/hcnBfvkCO3
Another fave, though common organism of shallow TWA islands, Equetus punctatus (Bloch & Schneider 1801), the Spotted Drum. To 27 cm. Tropical West Atlantic. A juv. and adult ayer in Bonaire.
Stenopus pyrsonotus Goy & Devaney 1980, the Ghost Boxing Shrimp. Indo-Pacific, including Hawai'i. A pair here in Kona last week (well, off Kona, Big Is. HI); the male looking like he's missing a claw. No worries; will regenerate next molt likely.
Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis (Chevron Tang); All Ctenochaetus species change color with age but the chevron is most striking. Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis young are unforgettable; bold orange bodied... https://t.co/MG3lohwia2
Clavelina picta, the Painted Tunicate. Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean. Frequently found in clusters of hundreds of individuals hanging on to gorgonians, black coral, sponges. Translucent bodies... https://t.co/J1KgyMgGqP
Pseudojuloides cerasinus (Snyder 1904), the Smalltail Pencil Wrasse is the only member of the genus to be offered in any number in the ornamental trade. Even out of Hawai'i, specimens are difficult to keep alive. Aquarium pic of a male, and female off Kona.
Myrichthys colubrinus (Boddaert 1781), the Banded or Harlequin Snake Eel. Indo-Pacific. To nearly three feet in length. Similar in care, finickiness to its TWA congener (see above). Fine... https://t.co/WOBanHrqNf
Heteroconger hassi (Klausewitz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt 1959), the Spotted Garden Eel. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa, over to Australia, up to the Ogasawaras to Micronesia. Sandy reef slopes, generally below 15 meters. Wholesaler/LA and Thailand National Aquarium pix.
Limaria fragilis Gmelin 1791, the Fragile File Shell. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to Japan, Australia. Takes a beating if stocked with many types of fishes, crustaceans. Needs to be inserted in rock cover. A thumbnail size one in Fr. Polynesia 2018
Halichoeres ornatissimus (Garrett 1863) is (one of) the three " Christmas Wrasses" (2), aka the Ornate Wrasse to science. This can be a very hardy fish should you secure an initially healthy... https://t.co/yziNyeqnZI
One of the more annoying biting (divers) fishes in the Indo-Pacific. Sabertooth blennies: Plagiotemus tapeinosoma (Bleeker 1857), the Piano Fangblenny. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to the Line Islands. To five and a half inches in length. Fr. Polynesia 2018
Labroides rubrolabiatus Randall 1958, the Red Lip Cleaner Wrasse, of the Pacific's Oceania ought to be left in the sea as well. To four inches in length. A young/er and older one out in French Polynesia 2018.