That's what this guy did. During our final dive at Monterey, under Wharf #2, we encountered this little guy, about 3-4 inches long. As we watched, he stood on his tail, dug a hole with it, worked his way down and vanished. Malinda and I just stared, astonished, while Kathy snapped pictures with the Canon as quickly as the flash would recharge. First, the pictures, then the conundrum:
After that last one, he not only disappeared beneath the sand, but did some wiggling under it until even the little mound left behind settled and was no more. Curious, I dug a little with my finger where we had seen him go down. He wasn't there. Where he went, I have no clue. But that's not the problem. The problem is one of ID.
Humann p. 79 lists two species that do this tail-burrowing thing. We initially identified this guy as the Catalina Conger, Gnathophis catalinensis, based on its appearance and the burrowing thing. But today we happened to be looking at this site:
metridium.com/monterey/fish/fish.html
and noticed that his picture of the Spotted Cusk-Eel, Chilara taylori, looks just like our guy. We hadn't considered that critter, because one of Humann's boldface ID features is the dark brown spots all over the body. Our guy doesn't have that. And from our pictures (and our memory) we're not sure whether he actually has the whisker-like dingfods under his chin, though it sure looks like it in a couple of our shots. The range on the Conger is a little iffy, depending on one's definition of "southern California," so I'm not sure. Either way, it was mesmerising to watch. We actually came upon a second one, but he did his burrowing thing before we could even think about getting the cameras into play.
Thoughts?
Going, Going, Gone!
Going, Going, Gone!
Dave
"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
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- Grateful Diver
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 5322
- Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 7:52 pm
Did he make little beeping noises as he backed into that hole?
Very nice sequence ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Very nice sequence ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Threats and ultimatums are never the best answer. Public humiliation via Photoshop is always better - airsix
Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/
Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/
- nwscubamom
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 2315
- Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:13 am
Dave, how cool!!!
I've never seen one of these guys - that must have been a real treat to watch him backing into the ground like that.
Anyway, my vote is for the Spotted Cusk-Eel. (are we voting?)
Your guy clearly has the whisker-like ventral fins (how totally weird!), which the Catalina Conger lacks. PLUS, Gotshall's Pacific Coast Inshore Fishes (another recommended book to keep on hand that covers California) explains that young Spotted Cusk-Eels (under 4 inches) lack spots!!
So, ta daaaaaa! There you have it!
Spotted Cusk-Eel it is indeed!
No more conundrum. You can get some sleep now.
- Janna
I've never seen one of these guys - that must have been a real treat to watch him backing into the ground like that.
Anyway, my vote is for the Spotted Cusk-Eel. (are we voting?)
Your guy clearly has the whisker-like ventral fins (how totally weird!), which the Catalina Conger lacks. PLUS, Gotshall's Pacific Coast Inshore Fishes (another recommended book to keep on hand that covers California) explains that young Spotted Cusk-Eels (under 4 inches) lack spots!!
So, ta daaaaaa! There you have it!
Spotted Cusk-Eel it is indeed!
No more conundrum. You can get some sleep now.
- Janna
Janna Nichols
My underwater photo galleries
REEF Citizen Science Program Manager
Seen any cool critters lately?
><((((°>
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My underwater photo galleries
REEF Citizen Science Program Manager
Seen any cool critters lately?
><((((°>
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