divepix - Eric H. Biass

Wednesday, 28 November 2012 18:07

Sergeant Major

Aspect:	All Damselfishes have similar outlines, but with more or less deeply pronounced "chin-pectoral" area and dorsal fin tips of various shape.
Population:	Abundant.
Notable feature:	Silver body with five dark vertical bars, the last one straight on the root of the tail fin. Yellow patch on dorsal area spreads between the bars but fades with age. Most importantly, male's silvery area turns dull grey during courtship and while, as seen here, protecting and ventilating eggs layed straight against against rock surfaces.
Environment:	Rocky areas, coral boulders.
Behaviour:	Can be approached, curious, but constantly moves (especially when guarding eggs), hence difficult to photograph.

Published in Damselfishes

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Wednesday, 28 November 2012 17:44

Longfin Damselfish

Aspect:	All Damselfishes have similar outlines, but with more or less deeply pronounced "chin-pectoral" area and dorsal fin tips of various shapes.
Population:	Abundant.
Notable feature:	Stegates diencaeus distinguishes itself from its brown counterparts in having round tipped dorsal and anal fins that extend well beyond the root of the tail. It also has a bluefringe around its anal fin. Juvenile is yellow with purple/blue dots, then striped forehead, from where it darkens with age, losing its dorsal black spot in the process.
Environment:	Rocky areas, coral boulders.
Behaviour:	Can be approached (except juvenile), curious, but constantly moves.

Published in Damselfishes

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Tuesday, 27 November 2012 19:19

Butter Hamlet

Aspect:	Somewhat flattened triangular outline with upper corner in the centre of the dorsal spine, silver body with pale yellow to yellow lower half body with distinctive black blotch on tail base and in the nasal opening region just ahead of the eyes.
Population:	Somewhat scarcer than barred Hamlet.
Notable feature:	Vertical blue fluo spots from nasal openings to gill area.
Environment:	Close to bottom, around rocks and coral boulders that offer quick shelter.
Behaviour:	Shy.

Published in Hamlets

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Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:56

Brown Chromis

Aspect:	Light brown oval body with deep-cut tail fin. Massive grey-brown body.
Population:	Abundant.
Notable feature:	Except juveniles, features gilt-tipped dorsal and tail fins, golden spot at base of tail fin, dark spot at root of pectoral fin. As similar Blue Chromis (q.v.) mouth line distinctively raises from sides to nasal opening.
Environment:	Shallow waters, often in groups around rocks.
Behaviour:	Can be approached, but constantly moves, and photographing diver often needs to be aware of urchins around which it often swims for protection.

Published in Chromis

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Tuesday, 27 November 2012 17:23

Blue Chromis

Aspect:	Silver blue oval body with deep V- cut tail fin. Darker dorsal area stretches to upper part of tail fin, which the lower fin replicates.
Population:	Abundant.
Notable feature:	Mouth line distinctively raises from sides to snout .
Environment:	Shallow waters, often in groups around rocks.
Behaviour:	Can be approached, but constantly moves, and photographing diver often needs to be aware of urchins around which it often swims for protection.

Published in Chromis

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Monday, 26 November 2012 22:59

Bicolour Damselfish

Aspect:	All Damselfishes have similar outlines, but with more or less deeply pronounced "chin-pectoral" area and dorsal fin tips of various shape.
Population:	Common.
Notable feature:	The distribution between the front dark area and yellow patch over the white after part can vary from vertical to almost horizontal. The yellow patch would tend to fade with age.
Environment:	Rocky areas, coral boulders.
Behaviour:	Can be approached, curious, but constantly moves.

Published in Damselfishes

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Monday, 26 November 2012 19:37

Cocoa Damselfish

Aspect:	All Damselfishes have similar outlines, but with more or less deeply pronounced "chin-pectoral" area and dorsal fin tips of various shape.
Population:	Not abundant (or probably more correctly remains hidden).
Notable feature:	Very difficult to distinguish from other brown-coloured damselfishes, but the Cocoa Damselfish appears to feature a more "straight pointed" nose particularly when compared with the Beaugregory. As exemplified by this specimen, does not necessarily carry a very pronounced darker stain on its upper tail root (very faint in this ocurrence). A number of descriptions mention a slightly more orangy belly.
Environment:	Rocky areas, coral boulders.
Behaviour:	Can be approached when spotted, curious, but constantly moves.

Published in Damselfishes

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Monday, 26 November 2012 19:14

Barred Hamlet

Aspect:	Somewhat triangular fish with summet in dorsal spine, cream body with six main vertical bars, the first across the eyes, followed by a lighter one, the darker third very wide is mid-body, followed by another three with the last on tail base.
Population:	Common.
Notable feature:	Typical almond shaped eyes a la grouper (q.v.), fluo blue lines around eyes and gills, blue fluo spots in nasal opening area. Is much smaller than suggested by photos.
Environment:	Close to bottom around rocks and coral boulders offering quick shelter.
Behaviour:	Shy.

Published in Hamlets

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Saturday, 24 November 2012 20:44

Cero

Aspect:	Sleek and elegant silver body, with matching elongated head. Serrated spine and rear "keel" aft dorsal and anal fins
Population:	Abundant.
Notable feature:	Long line of dense dark dots, accompanied by other randomly scattered dots, runs from gills along mid-body, and fades towards deep-V and pointed tail. Dorsal fin is dark with white tip. Displays nice array of needle teeth when opens mouth.
Environment:	Usually found in open waters, solitary or in pairs
Behaviour:	Ignores divers.

Published in Mackerels

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Saturday, 24 November 2012 20:12

Yellowtail Snapper

Aspect:	Distinctive streamlined silver body crossed from eye to tail by a bright expanding stripe that eventually spreads its golden hue over the entire caudal fin surface.
Population:	Abundant, solitary or in schools.
Notable feature:	Rarely deployed, the dorsal fin is also bright yellow; upper half of silver boddy generally studded with yellow dots.
Environment:	Often seen rubbing shoulders with similarly-sized Goatfishes (q.v.) in search of food on sandy bottom.
Behaviour:	Like Goatfishes, will fearlessly approch a diver's hand digging the sand.

Published in Snappers

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