I know I have seen this one before I believe and despite my best efforts on Fishbase I cant seem to ID it. Also, I know the pics are horrible quality. My son and I were out snorkeling looking for seahorses and I had no weights on with a 3mm suit. All the shots are ambient as well while desperately holding onto a large rock with one hand to hold myself still, sorry for the crappy photos.
At first I thought it was a Gurand type of fish but I cant find a match for it.
P.S. Leslie, I have a photo somewhere from a night dive last week of a worm that was stretched out almost 10 feet long. As soon as I find it I will forward it to you.
Its a seamoth. Usually they are in pairs.
Alex
Its a seamoth. Usually they are in pairs.
Alex
Thanks alot Alex! I looked up the Seamoth and from the info I read it doesnt live up here in Okinawa. There was definately only one in the patch of sea grass where I found it and this one appeared to be injured.
That may just be a reporting error. They are quite widespread in my experience. I have seen them from the top of Red Sea, right across the Indian Ocean and into SE Asia. I would not be surprised to get them in Okinawa.
Alex
Thanks alot Alex! I looked up the Seamoth and from the info I read it doesnt live up here in Okinawa. There was definately only one in the patch of sea grass where I found it and this one appeared to be injured.
You might find it as a "Pegasus" species in your book. They don't swim like other fish, and actually crawl around on their fins, making them look injured...
FishBase lists 2 species - Eurypegasus draconis and Eurypegasus papillio. The second one is restricted to the Hawaiian islands while the first is very widespread. The distribution listed on FB is "Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa (Ref. 4264) to Marquesan and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island; throughout Micronesia." http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSum...esname=draconis
A 10-foot worm? Wow!
That may just be a reporting error. They are quite widespread in my experience. I have seen them from the top of Red Sea, right across the Indian Ocean and into SE Asia. I would not be surprised to get them in Okinawa.
Alex
Alex is right, distribution ranges in FishBase are not very accurate...
Thanks for the input. I was just surprised to see the fish after so many dives all over the island. My son and I both enjoyed watching it though as it walked through the sea grass.
