This image was taken on a night dive with the intended subject being a Cook's cardinalfish (cropped out to highlight the 2-3cm fish of interest here). I only now, two years later, spotted this pale goby-like fish but was puzzled by its wedge-shaped head. I have only seen that in jawfish but according to my book (Lieske & Meyers) there is only one jawfish in the Red Sea, the blotched jawfish (Stalix davidsheni), and it is listed as Gulf of Aqaba only while the image is from the Marsa Alam area. Is there an alternative ID or is a juvenile jawfish the only one with this head shape.
Bart
Sure looks strange, could it perhaps be some sort of goby thats yawning and therefore opening its gills?
At the angle the photo is taken I guess one wouldn't be able to see it if it did actually have its mouth open..
Anyways, I'm no expert on marine life of the red sea, so I might just be wrong!
Good luck with the I.D
-Morten
Thanks Morten, it may be a puzzle that never gets solved but there are some real fish experts on wet-pixel so perhaps they can at least say if there are any fish beyond jawfish that have, or make, such a head shape. It seems too extreme to be a yawn to me but who knows.
Bart
Hi Bart
My first reaction when I saw your pic was the same as Morten's. Having chuffed about with it a bit in PS, I am still of that opinion
All the best
Jim
Thanks Jim, so it is a yawn(ing) fish instead of a jawfish. More Red Sea mysteries coming up as I am preparing for my next trip and sorting out uncompleted ID problems from last time
