Queen Angelfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern This tiny two-inch-long fish will grow into a dinner plate sized fish! This tiny two-inch-long fish will grow into a dinner plate sized fish! This juvenile queen angelfish will maintain the same coloration as it grows to adulthood, however their pattern will change. Only juvenile queen angelfish […]
Honeycomb Cowfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The body plan of the honeycomb cowfish is unique This unique looking fish gets its name from the honeycomb pattern that covers its body, as well as its horns! The photo below showcases the hexagonal honeycomb pattern which is used for camouflage. If you notice in the […]
Royal Tern – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Some of the species of shorebirds that could be seen there, included skimmers, willets, ibis, cranes, gulls, terns, sandpipers, and more I had never seen so many birds in my life when I took the photo of this royal tern. My wife and I were staying on […]
Spotted Scorpionfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern You can generally get very close because this fish trusts its camouflage Scorpionfish are masters of camouflage. They have numerous cirri covering their body (mainly head). Cirri are the fleshy appendages that are used for sensing and camouflage. This scorpionfish is facing to the right. The red eye in the top […]
Porkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern With the proper exposure and lighting, a photograph can reveal interesting details Porkfish is a funny name for a fish, especially for a fish that humans generally don’t eat. Porkfish are a member of the grunt family. Like other grunts, porkfish can grind their teeth to make a pig-like grunting […]
Bandtail Searobin – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern With the proper exposure and lighting, a photograph can reveal interesting details This month we are highlighting “close up” photography, also referred to as “macro” photography. This is my favorite type of photography when it comes to shooting underwater. I enjoy this because as a diver you often can’t […]
Barred Hamlet – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Barred hamlets have a continuous dorsal fin that has ten spines This beautiful tropical fish is called a barred hamlet. There are several other species of hamlet in the waters of the tropical western Atlantic, including the indigo hamlet, butter hamlet, shy hamlet, golden hamlet, yellowbelly hamlet, yellowtail […]
Striated Frogfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The striated frogfish then closes its esophagus trapping the prey This strange looking creature is called a striated frogfish. These fish are masters of camouflage. They only grow to about seven inches long. Striated frogfish do not swim around much. Rather, they rest on the seafloor and remain motionless. All of these […]
Redbreast Sunfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern These fish were fearless Dropping under the water at Alexander Springs in Altoona, Florida, I was not expecting the water to be as crystal clear as it was. The visibility was easily one hundred feet, and the water was a crisp 72 degrees. Although this is a […]
Gray Triggerfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable If you depress the second spine, this will release the first spine This unique looking fish is called a gray triggerfish. It is a medium sized fish which will grow to be around nine inches long. Their coloration and pattern are hard to appreciate in the water, especially if it […]