More fish - N E Sulawesi

Help required again please with:

1 Damsel/Chromis

2 Pipefish

3 Sandperch

Thanks in advance

#3 is a Parapercis snyderi, #2 will be very hard, these guys have extremely variable color, do you have any shot showing the tail? #1 is hard too because it is a juvie, do you have any wider photos, maybe showing some adults?

#2 can either be Trachyrhamphus bioarctatus (Bend stick Pipefish) or trachyrhamphus longdirostris (Straight Stick Pipefish). The straight Stick Pipefish is distinguished by the lack of appendages on the trunk in the juveniles, head at no angle to the body, and color patterns. Yours seems to have white bands running across; hence I would go for the Bend stick Pipefish.

I would agree with Rocha that #3 is a female Parapercis snyderi (Snyder's grubfish or sandperch). It has been reported as widespread Indo-West Pacific, but comprises a species complex of several very similar species that share u-shed black markings over the back. The range of true P. snyderi is subtropical Japan to Korea and mainland China Seas. Probably not found in Indonesian water; hence as you photographed it in Indonesia I would say that it could be an undescribed species. The male pattern on the cheek and lower lip, is typical for the species and is different in the Indonesian species. Note that most Parapercis sp. in Indonesia are still undescribed.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Daniel

Many thanks to both of you. Sorry Luiz, that is the only pic of the pipefish - the other end was obscured in the coral.

I can see the sandperch is P. snyderi now - it was the yellowish front dorsal that put me off but I think I was getting a bit punch drunk at that stage with trying to i.d. everything from three weeks away. I have now found examples of several via Google that show a yellow/black front dorsal and wonder why I missed them before.

Got a few more to submit soon.

Any takers for the damsel?