Flatfish Baseline around Mukilteo
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 4:07 pm
Flatfish Baseline around Mukilteo
Emilyrc opened a posting recently titled "funny colored sole at mukilteo".
I could have responded again directly to that posting but decided to make it into separate much wider posting.
I think for all new divers and the old ones who started an interest in who are "our neighbors" it would be first good to establish some BASELINE to determine what is expected /common /frequent and what is rare sighting.
It is really difficult to give any help just based on the written only description.
You know: “Picture tells more than a thousand words”.
I have been relatively frequently diving in Mukilteo: Geo Dome area, the Oil Dock and Lighthouse Park. With latest Lighthouse Park most frequently.
COLORATION & IDENTIFICATION:
What I have also learned from REEF Coach Laurel LaFever is that the coloration should never be a first determination of fish identification. It all started from my question about Sculpin coloration around Mukilteo. Some have white stripes or half white coloration along the body some across and some are totally white. Laurel told me that Sculpin can change their color and pattern from day to day so even the same fish can have different coloration pattern next day. Not as quick as Octopus but still.
Flatfish cannot hide in the crevices due to their large body therefore I would expect changes in the pattern even faster than Sculpins.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom. Please note that the Flatfish are some of the most difficult subjects to photograph as they not only blend in into the environment but often cover themselves or bury themselves in the sand or silt.
I am still learning therefore I would refer to the Experts to confirm further my classifications and identifications below.
At least you will "get the picture" to what is out there even if I have not classified it 100% accuretly.
BASELINE:
(again based on my photos and experience diving in Mukilteo)
Most common 2 Larger Flatfish with Right Eye around Mukilteo are English Sole and Rock Sole.
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish them at least for me when they are in motion and the rounded tail fin can actually look like straight cut off of an English Sole but still be a Rock Sole. Eye visibility in English Sole to the other side is not that obvious from the pictures. Rounder shape of Rock Sole is not that clear determination either.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom. Please note that juveniles of any flatfish can be a real challenge like a one here I am assuming is here next to the one much more mature.
Most common 2 smaller Flatfish with Left Eye around Mukilteo is Pacific Sanddab & Speckled Sanddab
These guys are also not always easy to distinguish. E.g. whether pectoral fin reaches the eye or not. I cannot see the ridge above the eye even in Andy Lamb Book “Coastal Fishes .of P. NW”. Based on this book I see that eyes of Pacific Sanddab are bigger in relation to its body and that the tail is more cut off like in English Sole.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom.
Less common are C-O Soles, Starry Flounders, Rock Soles with a Left Eye
I am only including pictures of more rare looks as you can easily spot Starry Flounder and more adult C-O Soles.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom. PUZZLE:How do you identify this one when it either has no tail fin or curled it under ?!
Fish Identity Crisis ;(
Or there is no tale to tell about the tail ! RRR...
"You cant be a pirate with all of your parts. RRR..."
Emilyrc opened a posting recently titled "funny colored sole at mukilteo".
I could have responded again directly to that posting but decided to make it into separate much wider posting.
I think for all new divers and the old ones who started an interest in who are "our neighbors" it would be first good to establish some BASELINE to determine what is expected /common /frequent and what is rare sighting.
It is really difficult to give any help just based on the written only description.
You know: “Picture tells more than a thousand words”.
I have been relatively frequently diving in Mukilteo: Geo Dome area, the Oil Dock and Lighthouse Park. With latest Lighthouse Park most frequently.
COLORATION & IDENTIFICATION:
What I have also learned from REEF Coach Laurel LaFever is that the coloration should never be a first determination of fish identification. It all started from my question about Sculpin coloration around Mukilteo. Some have white stripes or half white coloration along the body some across and some are totally white. Laurel told me that Sculpin can change their color and pattern from day to day so even the same fish can have different coloration pattern next day. Not as quick as Octopus but still.
Flatfish cannot hide in the crevices due to their large body therefore I would expect changes in the pattern even faster than Sculpins.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom. Please note that the Flatfish are some of the most difficult subjects to photograph as they not only blend in into the environment but often cover themselves or bury themselves in the sand or silt.
I am still learning therefore I would refer to the Experts to confirm further my classifications and identifications below.
At least you will "get the picture" to what is out there even if I have not classified it 100% accuretly.
BASELINE:
(again based on my photos and experience diving in Mukilteo)
Most common 2 Larger Flatfish with Right Eye around Mukilteo are English Sole and Rock Sole.
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish them at least for me when they are in motion and the rounded tail fin can actually look like straight cut off of an English Sole but still be a Rock Sole. Eye visibility in English Sole to the other side is not that obvious from the pictures. Rounder shape of Rock Sole is not that clear determination either.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom. Please note that juveniles of any flatfish can be a real challenge like a one here I am assuming is here next to the one much more mature.
Most common 2 smaller Flatfish with Left Eye around Mukilteo is Pacific Sanddab & Speckled Sanddab
These guys are also not always easy to distinguish. E.g. whether pectoral fin reaches the eye or not. I cannot see the ridge above the eye even in Andy Lamb Book “Coastal Fishes .of P. NW”. Based on this book I see that eyes of Pacific Sanddab are bigger in relation to its body and that the tail is more cut off like in English Sole.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom.
Less common are C-O Soles, Starry Flounders, Rock Soles with a Left Eye
I am only including pictures of more rare looks as you can easily spot Starry Flounder and more adult C-O Soles.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom. PUZZLE:How do you identify this one when it either has no tail fin or curled it under ?!
Fish Identity Crisis ;(
Or there is no tale to tell about the tail ! RRR...
"You cant be a pirate with all of your parts. RRR..."