Richard Wurzbacher

[Red Lion Fish in the Waters of Manadao, Indonesia.]
[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PteroisvolitansManado.JPG]
[Author: Jens Petersen. Posted at Wikimedia Commons.]

Identifying Tropical Fish by Richard Wurzbacher

I am a longtime marine enthusiast and particularly enjoy snorkeling and identifying saltwater fish. One of the most common flounder fish found in the Caribbean coral reefs is the peacock flounder. This fish is identifiable through numerous muted, blue-ringed spots that dot its body, similar to the spots on a peacock`s tail. If the rings are brown, the fish is likely the similarly proportioned eyed flounder. Like many flounders, the peacock flounder is flat and blends in with its shallow-water environment through rapid color changes. The fish appears quite pale over sand, turning dark over coral. Sometimes the peacock flounder covers itself with an additional layer of sand, making it extremely difficult to spot.

A highly recognizable member of the angelfish family is the rock beauty. With a distinctive yellow head and tail, the rest of the rock beauty`s body is dominated by black edged in yellow. The mouth and eyes are often bright blue in color. The rock beauty is relatively small for an angelfish, ranging from 5 to 12 inches in length, and it has a squarish shape. The fish often inhabits fire coral stands that offer substantial protection from predators.

The blue angelfish, another member of the angelfish family, is almost entirely pale blue in color. The yellow color on the trailing edges of its fins is thin but distinctive. While the blue angelfish is sometimes mistaken for a queen angelfish, its colors are less vibrant and it lacks a crown on the top of its head. Queen angelfish and blue angelfish often interbreed, and the resulting fish is the townsend angelfish. Muted blue in color, the townsend angelfish features a muted crown as well.

The red lionfish is indigenous to Pacific tropical waters, but has recently become common in Florida, the Bahamas, and some parts of the Caribbean. As an invasive species, they were first noticed in Florida waters in the mid-1990s, and are now spreading southward. Red lionfish are hard to mistake for another species, as they have dark red, white, and maroon striped bodies. The long spines on their pectoral and dorsal fins have the appearance of feathers. Unlike the indigenous scorpion fish, to which it is related, the red lionfish has no natural predators in the Atlantic. As the red lionfish spines have a toxin in them, touching one is inadvisable.

The four tropical fish described represent just a few of the thousands found in shallow Caribbean waters. I find it very rewarding getting to know fish species by sight and learning their habits. Doing so truly makes snorkeling more than a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

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Richard Wurzbacher