Rhinopias ID?

I'm just back from Lembeh and had the chance to photograph the well known pair of Rhinopias that have been there for a while.

What I find confusing is that the "pair" that clearly spend all their time together are apparently different species (these were the best ID style shots I had):

Being a classic R. frondosa type

Being a classic R. eschmeyeri type.

I have always presumed that Rhinopias must be very stinky - that is how these relatively rare fish are able to find each other in the big ocean - as they are often aggregated.

But what I find confusing is that two closely related species aggregate. Seemingly showing the same habitat preferences and responding to each others chemical signals. From an evolutionary stand point this makes one wonder how these two species differentiated in the first place, as sure this behavioural mechanism would promote hybridisation rather than speciation?

And I guess this makes me wonder about the validity of the different species? What are the main morphological differences between R. frondosa and R. eschmeyeri? And has anyone ever photographed individuals that clearly fall between the two types.

Alex

Yeah Alex, the R.frondosa and R.eschmeyeri seem to hang out together... Hey, if you can't find another species your closest cousin will do hey!

Seriously though I've seen this many times here in Bali and Alor, it also seems to be common in Lembeh that two different species will hang out for some time together.

Frogfish also do this. Frogfish of two different species have also been seen to hang out when the female is fully loaded with eggs. Carol Grant got some excellent shots of this while she was in Bali!

As for morphological differences - I'll post you the paper on the Rhinopias update! Look at the fins for a start, also colour pattern, though the R.eshmeyeri can actually look like a regular scorpionfish in colour pattern.

I've never seen photo's of anythign in between, it would be interesting to see if anyone has???

I took these about this time last year.

From the photos, it looks like they haven't moved in a year. Maybe someone placed plastic fish there as a joke and see how long it takes us to catch on.

Yes! I saw them together in the fall as well (November). They seemed just as chummy as if they were the same species...

Linda

I'm just back from Lembeh and had the chance to photograph the well known pair of Rhinopias that have been there for a while.

 

What I find confusing is that the "pair" that clearly spend all their time together are apparently different species (these were the best ID style shots I had):

 

Being a classic R. frondosa type

 

Being a classic R. eschmeyeri type.

 

I have always presumed that Rhinopias must be very stinky - that is how these relatively rare fish are able to find each other in the big ocean - as they are often aggregated.

 

But what I find confusing is that two closely related species aggregate. Seemingly showing the same habitat preferences and responding to each others chemical signals. From an evolutionary stand point this makes one wonder how these two species differentiated in the first place, as sure this behavioural mechanism would promote hybridisation rather than speciation?

 

And I guess this makes me wonder about the validity of the different species? What are the main morphological differences between R. frondosa and R. eschmeyeri? And has anyone ever photographed individuals that clearly fall between the two types.

 

Alex

Here's the pair in May 2007. The site name escapes me right now, but it was north of KBR on the mainland side.

Jerry

Here's the pair in May 2007. The site name escapes me right now, but it was north of KBR on the mainland side.

 

Jerry

Air Prang (or, if you prefer, Aer Prang or Ayer Prang).

I feel very sorry for those two critters, being moved around all the time for the sake of us photographers.

Richard.