divepix - Eric H. Biass

Tuesday, 20 November 2012 19:43

Aspect:	Silvery (but sometimes golden/brass) trim body with dark line at base of dorsal fin that ends in trailing edge of lower tail fin. The black line is generally doubled by a shiny blue line, from head to tail base. In the scientific name the word "ruber", which means red, refers to the colour of the flesh.
Population:	Regularly abundant.
Notable feature:	Can turn totally black when courting, playing with other species as seen here, or when under stress.
Environment:	Usually found in open waters, solitary or in groups.
Behaviour:	Ignores divers, always looks busy if not aggressive towards other, smaller species.

Published in Jacks

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Tuesday, 20 November 2012 18:25

Aspect:	Silhouette similar to larger angelfish with long rear-swept dorsal and anal fins. Usually silver with vertical black, brown or grey bars of variable intensity, but depending on lighting, can appear grey with brown bars.
Population:	Abundant.
Notable feature:	Usually part of large schools that swims in one direction and without notice all fish in the school will flip 180° offering an impressive sight.
Environment:	Usually found in open waters, at Ilets Pigeon at a depth of between 20 and 30 metres in an arc between the East Jardin de Corail and South of Pointe des Carangues.
Behaviour:	Seemingly unaffected by divers.

Published in Spadefishes

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Tuesday, 20 November 2012 00:25

Aspect:	Silver-white mid-body, fading into a yellow upper rear body and dorsal fin, and into black rear lower body. Tail fin is almost transparent. Large black bar across head and eyes.
Population:	Not rare, but not as abundant as the other butterfly fishes seen here.
Notable feature:	-
Environment:	Usually found in shallow, quiet waters, but can also be met, as seen on one of the photos below, on well-covered wrecks down to 40 metres.
Behaviour:	Will usually swim away when approached closer than two metres.

Published in Butterflyfishes

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Tuesday, 20 November 2012 00:10

Aspect:	Bright yellow head and tail with black mid-body, orange-edged dorsal and anal fin, blue to purple lips. Traces of blue on forehead and light blue-rimmed eyes.
Population:	Not abundant, but not rare.
Notable feature:	Shy, often hides away
Environment:	Usually found under rock or coral ovehangs
Behaviour:	Difficult to approach and photograph, keeps moving away, seemingly playing hide-and-seek

Published in Angelfishes

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Monday, 19 November 2012 20:16

Aspect:	Overall golden appearance with fluo blue edges and fin trailing edges, but boasts a very distinctive dark blue crown "stamped" on forehead.
Population:	Rare specimens seen around Ilets Pigeon now seem to have disappeared, but can still accasionally be found along Basse Terre coast like the nearby Jardin Japonais site, but always a regular presence around the famous Sec Paté diving site.
Notable feature:	Dark blue crown "stamped" on forehead.
Environment:	Usually found in around reefs with sheltering terrain features such as rock fractures and large sea fans.
Behaviour:	Very shy, difficult to approach, keeps moving away.

Published in Angelfishes

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Monday, 19 November 2012 19:56

Aspect:	Generally Grey-brown with darker dotted mid-body. Snout is white/light blue, but oddly has bright yellow pectoral fins (pelvis fins remaining grey-brown).
Population:	Not as widespread and similarly sized French Angelfish, but not rare.
Notable feature:	Bright yellow pectoral fins.
Environment:	Usually found at depths of 20 metres or more; a wreck aficionado and a regular inhabitant of sheltered shades of exposed ridges.
Behaviour:	Tolerates the presence of a quiet diver.

Published in Angelfishes

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