Reef Croaker and Ringed Blenny -Maybe
Posted February 18th, 2012 by islandbarb
Images:
Hi Louis,
Here's one more little fish. Surge area, sitting under a rock overhang in about 2-3 feet of water. Could it be a Ringed Blenny? I know the picture is bad. I didn't know I had him in the shot until I got home.
And here are a few more "Croaker?" Pictures. Looking closer at these, the brassy horizontal dashy lines on the fish's side, do make it look like the picture of the Reef Croaker.
Just a snorkeler...
Islandbarb
Hmm...
Hmm... It would be very unusual to find a Starksia sp. in such shallow water. I don't think the bars usually continue onto the head of most Starksia blennies either. My best guess now is a Lythrypnus goby.
Yes, those are definitely Reef Croaker. Looks like you've found a great place for them!
Louis
Does it have a common name?
Does Lythrypnus goby have a common name?
Just a snorkeler, islandbarb
Lythrypnus Goby Genus
No, Lythrypnus is a goby genus - it's a whole group of gobies. Honestly, even if you had a perfectly clear photo I don't think we could positively I.D. because I don't think your fish has been photographed before.
Do you see these fish often?
Louis
Rusty Goby
Hard to tell for sure from your photo, but I think it is a Rusty Goby. They can be in water as shallow as 2 feet, like hanging out in crevices, and can be found in the Floirda Keys.
Rusty Goby
I've seen the Rusty Goby a couple times and have a picture. I can't figure out how to load a picture in this reply. I always see them on the ceilings. His head looks a lot wider and taller (heavier) than the mystery fish's. But it may just be the angels of the pictures. The stipes match. Yes, too bad the picture's not better. Just a snorkeler, islandbarb
I think it is a rusty goby
I think it is a rusty goby (Priolepis) -perched like a goby.. and large, stocky, and big-headed (and out in the open)--less likely but possible for a Lythrypnus goby if it was less than an inch long, not a Starksia blenny, which additionally have a pointy face, sit in an S position, and don't like to be out in the open, especially in shallow water (only one species in shallow in most places).
Yes the others are reef croakers- very common in the continental Southern Caribbean.. maybe they like murkier waters.
ben
Murky-Yes
That could be about the Croakers. The only place I've seen them is in one of the murkier bays.
Thanks for all you guy's help.
Just a snorkeler, islandbarb