I photographed this little guy on the reefs off Sasou, in the Dominican Republic, earlier this year.
I am using the book "Reef Fish Identification-- Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas" by Paul Humann and Ned Deloach. Unfortunately, the identifications in this book do not quite match the markings found on this fish. I have checked Fishbase.org and did not find it helpful as I was finding moray eels under listings for Hamlets.
As usual, any information all you Hamlet experts can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
My best guess is that it is a hybrid between the yellowbelly and shy hamlet. There is quite some variation in color patterns amongsts the hamlets and there is even ungoing debate on their status as a species because the different color forms are basically identical at the DNA level.
Bart
I have shots of hybrid spawning of yellowbelly and shy. So it could be.
I'd go for a yellowbelly and yellowtail cross because of the black dorsal fin.
Alex
"Yellow Belly and Shy Hamlet Hybrid" it is.
So, would it be correct to document it as a "Hypoplectrus aberrans/guttavarius hybrid"?
I'm just wondering, what is the protocol in cases such as this is, where the identification can be in doubt?
Thanks, I knew I could count on you guys here on Wetpixel.
In the literature common practise appears to be to name both parental species with a cross mark in between so in your case:
Hypoplectrus aberrans x Hypoplectrus guttavarius
Luiz Rocha could tell you if this is really the official standard and he is probably also the best person to confirm the hybrid status of this one. I went for the yellowbelly/shy cross because there appears to be a dark marking between the eye and tip of the snout that is typical for the shy hamlet, in contrast to the wiggly lines of the yellowbelly. I agree with Alex that the dorsal fin is rather dark but the yellowbelly's darker upper body color does normally extend into the dorsal fin and color (and especially intensity of the color) is often not a good criterium in fish ID.
