ID Central

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There is grass or algae growing on the beak of this midnight parrotfish.  I've never seen that before.  My assumption is it is just a sign of old age.  It was a remarkably large midnight parrotfish.  Is this growth common?  Is it a sign of age?

The photo was taken today (January 5, 2009) on Molasses Reef, Key Largo, Florida, at 29 feet.

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Hello all, 

I saw this shark while snorkeling off Glover's reef atoll in Belize.  I got a terrible picture unfortunately, but it's really all I have to go on at this point.  The guide I was with said it was a reef shark, but I'm not sure because of the very large second dorsal fin.  I know it's possible the picture isn't enough to go on, but I'm hoping  someone familiar with sharks might have a good idea.  Thanks!

Matt

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We spotted this fellow at about 18 feet in a sandy patch next to the rocky reef at Refugio  Beach.  I would guess snubnose but the nose is a little long, as is the tail.  The dorsal fin seems to begin pretty far back.  Suggestions?

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Can anyone please help with the I D of this fish,

Thank you,

Neil 

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I am pretty sure these are jacks.  And, I am leaning toward horse-eye jacks, but I cannot rule out crevalle jacks or even yellow jacks.  Do you know what species these are?

Thank You,

Marty

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Hi,

I took this picture from a butterflyfish, but I can't identify it.

Is it Foureye Butterflyfih, a Spotfin Butterflyfish or a mix of them?

There is two spots on the back (one of each butterflyfish).

I pictured it in Roatan-Honduras, last october.

Thank you,

Chantal

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On a survey dive in Howe Sound, BC I spotted a un-likey find amoungst a school of Yellowtail Rockfish (Sebastes flavidus) and a few Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops), which is a find in itself, a Blue Rockfish (Sebastes mystinus)!  I was able to get a quick photo and a confirmation from local expert Dr. Jeff Marliave.  Why a cool find?  Blue Rockfish are usually only found on the Outer Coast not in the protected waters of Georgia Strait!  So who knows how it got there?...

Hello.

My name is Val Kells. I am writing and illustrating a new book for Johns Hopkins University Press. It will be fully illustrated, in color, and will cover all the fishes of the western Atlantic from Maine to Texas to about 200 meters depth. I am in need of several photographs to use solely as reference. Any contributions will be gladly ackowledged in our book.

HI All!

REEF is working with NOAA and the USGS on a field guide to non-native species in Florida and we are having trouble finding good images for the brownbanded bambooshark (Chiloscyllium punctatutum).  These sharks are native to the Indo-Asian Pacific, but have been sighted in SE Florida.  We are looking for both adult and juvenile images as these lifestages look quite different.