Anyone knnow these fish?

First two are from Fiji

Third one is from Yap

and the last two are the same fish in Palau

For the first one check out the twospot wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus). It has very variable colouration from reddish to lots of yellow and can have have a dark black blotch on its flank (very faint on yours if you know where to look). It has a rather unique diamond-shaped tail and in Anilao I normally found it in mucky dive sites. It is probably that one unless there is a close relative in Fiji.

check out: http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?Genus=Oxycheilinus&Species=bimaculatus

The second one is another Oxycheilinus, but a juvenile. There are a few that look like this with the little greenish circles towards the end. Check Oxycheilinus arenatus, O. rhodochrous, and perhaps O. mentalis although the latter probably doesn't occur in Fiji

The think the third one is a cardinalfish, but not one I have seen myself and perhaps not represented in the area West of Yap that I am more familiar with. The tiny dark spot on the tailbase would be key to its identification. Alternatively I maybe completely off and it is something else completely.

The fourth/fifth are quite early juvenile yellowbreasted wrasse (Anampses twistii) but there is more white, especially at the end of the dorsal then I am used to seeing.

Bart

Hi Bart,

Sorry for the delayed response, I forgot to follow my own topic.

Thanks for the info. I've been trying to look them all up on Fish Base, but they tell me the site is down temporarily, although your link worked just fine. Maybe later today.

Craig

Hi Bart,

I did find in the World Atlas of Marine Fishes a picture of Oxycheilinus rhodochrous with the same tail spot as in my picture although only one.

Craig

Here is juvenile O. mentalis from the Red Sea with the same general color pattern and spots. But that one is restricted to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Jim Greenfield took images like yours from O. arenatus which likely occurs in Fiji. You can see them on Fishbase.

Bart

Thanks Bart,

I am getting the message that the database is down again this morning. They direct me to try to use a mirror site, but both of them say they are down as well. I got it to work part of the time yesterday, but it was hit or miss. This is the first times I've used it. Looks like a great resource if it would just work. Does this happpen often?

Craig

OK got it work again and you are right again, arenatus it is.

Craig

I find fishbase.tw the most reliable mirror. fishbase.org is ok but slow when it is busy. Since I'm in Canada I also use fishbase.ca, works fast for me but they seem to have mysql database problems more often.

Bart