Little Fishie, Little Fishie, Come Out and Play!

dwashbur · Post by **dwashbur** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:56 pm

This guy was at Wharf 2 in Monterey, same place as the little pink fish and the cusk-eel. We haven't the foggiest notion what he is, and can't seem to locate him in any of our books. He was 2-3 inches long and seemed to hang out on the bottom as though he didn't have an air bladder, but that part is probably negotiable. The pix aren't too good, we were having some motion troubles (read, he wouldn't hold still). You can click on a pic to get the full-size version as needed (thanks for the code, spat), but it may or may not give more detail:

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<img src="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... _fish1.jpg" width="800">
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<a href="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... _fish2.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... _fish2.jpg" width="800">
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<a href="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... _fish3.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... _fish3.jpg" width="800">
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Fishstiq · Post by **Fishstiq** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:39 pm

We haven't the foggiest notion what he is

...... He's a fish.

You're welcome.

LCF · Post by **LCF** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:50 pm

Dave, I have a friend who's involved in the ReefCheck program in California -- I'll forward her the link, and see if she has any ideas.

LCF · Post by **LCF** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:12 pm

Claudette's best guess was an eelpout: http://www.uwfishcollection.org/FishKey/zoarc.html

But she said she hadn't seen one in Monterey, so I don't know that she's really convinced.

Chenari · Post by **Chenari** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:03 pm

Claudette's best guess was an eelpout

I don't think he was an eelpout. According to the drawing, their fins come to a rounded point, if you look closely, this guy's tail fans out. It's most visible if you look at the one of him next to the starfish in full size.

Greg Jensen · Post by **Greg Jensen** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:35 am

Looks like a onespot fringehead. I shot one of these down in Monterey and had a hard time id'ing it, finally sent the picture to Gotshall. The fringe didn't show up in my picture either- maybe they lay it down.

dwashbur · Post by **dwashbur** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:17 am

I'm not sure about the coloring for a one-spot fringehead, especially considering this guy, which we found close to the same place on the same dive. Unless the black one is a juvenile or something? </a>