The Opportunistic Omnivores – 

There are Goatfish in all warm water oceans and some temperate waters as well. In the Caribbean we find the Spotted Goatfish, the Red Goatfish, the Dwarf Goatfish (seldom seen) and the Yellow Goatfish that we will be looking at today. Not unlike the barnyard animal that is their namesake, Yellow Goatfish will eat just about anything. This is always a good strategy when trying to survive, and while the sand flats may be where you tend to find Yellow Goatfish, they will often explore all areas of the reef in search of food. Typically, you see smaller schools of larger adults sifting through the sand with their barbels (chin whiskers), a single fish shadow feeding (two different species) or nuclear hunting (three or more species) with other kinds of fish. In Bonaire, where photos 1 & 2 were taken, there seems to be a preponderance of schooling juveniles exploring the upper part of the reef, and during my trip I never saw them feeding in the sand like their adult counterparts, which is unusual.

From the “neck” down Yellow Goatfish look exactly like Yellowtailed Snappers, but there is little room for confusion if you compare their faces. Yellowtailed Snapper have the typical fish face – pointed snout and a small eye. Yellow Goatfish on the other hand, have what can only be termed a schnozolla – a large, prominent nose, a much larger red eye and those unforgettable barbels on their chin. These chin whiskers are a major sensory organ of touch for the Yellow Goatfish and you will see them constantly wiggling them across the ground or through the sand in search of any type of food they can find. If you’re lucky, you may also see two of them approach each other head to head and wiggle their barbels together as if shaking hands Yellow Goatfish style!

Our last photo is fairly unusual. Here we see a Yellow Goatfish infiltrating a school of Tomtate Grunts. Notice also that it is wearing its night colors. Many fish will change color or pattern at night to aid in protective camouflage. Red is a particularly good color as it is almost invisible in the dark. That is why many nocturnal fish are red, including Squirrel, Soldier and Cardinalfish.  But back to our Goatfish. It’s swimming around in brightly sunlit water at midday, so why is this fish in the middle of a school of a different species wearing its pajamas? Does it think like a small child covering its face with its hands that it can’t be seen? Does it think it’s “making a hole in the water”? Only the Yellow Goatfish knows for sure.

When they are not feeding, which tends to be quite a quick activity, Goatfish will often drift around in large lazy schools or aggregations over the sand or nearby reefs. This gives the beginner or intermediate photographer a good opportunity to get some good shots. As always, start shooting on the approach but no farther away than four feet or so. In conclusion, the fish that you see on every dive during your liveaboard trip and perhaps take for granted or barely notice, can be one of the more interesting and charismatic fish swimming around your favorite Caribbean coral reef.

By: Jonathan Lavan

Jonathan Lavan: The owner/operator of Underpressure Diving & Nature Photography is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert and has been SCUBA Diving for thirty years and taking photographs both above and below the water for about 10. He was pleased to have been made Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As a SCUBA Diver he has been a photographer, teacher and research associate for many different organizations.He is a staunch environmentalist and educator of young people. Jonathan is committed to making a difference on this planet through his images and his message of good will to all creatures. www.underpressurephotog.com.

The post Caribbean Creature Feature: Yellow Goatfish first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Not What You Think They Are!

Some of the most visible, photogenic and beautiful creatures on the reef, Flamingo Tongues are snails (specifically Cyphona gibbosum in the phylum Mollusca (Mollusk) meaning “soft body” and the class Gastropoda (Gastropod) meaning “stomach foot”).

Most gastropods have the typical spiral-like shell we envision when we think of shells, while Flamingo Tongues and kin have a shell more reminiscent of a tongue being curled into a “c” shape. Many beginner shell collectors have taken the beautiful Flamingo Tongue shell only to find upon the death of the animal that the shell is a plain, uniform white color. The beautiful leopard-spotted pattern is the mantle, which is part of the animal’s foot and is extended out of the shell slit from both sides to cover the shell and act as camouflage. It can be extended and retracted at will. If you look carefully at the photo above you can clearly see both sides of the mantle where they have extended over the shell. You can also see the siphon at the top, used for breathing and the antennae, used for sensing food and predators. The end of the walking foot can be seen at the bottom of the shell.

Flamingo Tongues feed on gorgonians like Sea Fans and will be found in many different Caribbean habitats wherever gorgonians are present. In the second photo we find several Flamingo Tongues mating. During the breeding cycle you will find one or more males linking with the female in an attempt to mate. As you can see, the female must retract her mantle in order for the male to gain proper access. Once the eggs are fertilized the female will lay them on an exposed area of the gorgonian (photo 3) which has been made bare by the Flamingo Tongue’s radula (scraping tongue) while feeding. The eggs will hatch after approximately a week and half. The young are planktonic (feeding in the water column) for an undetermined amount of time and then will settle on the nearest gorgonian. Often, like many sea creatures, current and weather conditions may take planktonic Flamingo Tongues many miles from their birthplace.

For the beginning underwater photographer the Flamingo Tongue is the perfect subject. Stationary, colorful and almost always in ample light, it makes a great subject to spend some time shooting. Like many common names, it is not known why the Flamingo Tongue is called a Flamingo Tongue. It looks nothing like a flamingo or its tongue. Jaguar Snail would seem more appropriate as the spots are very reminiscent of a jaguar or leopard. It’s a cool name none the less, and yet another beautiful creature to be admired on a sunny day on the Caribbean coral reef.

By: Jonathan Lavan

Jonathan Lavan: The owner/operator of Underpressure Diving & Nature Photography is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert and has been SCUBA Diving for thirty years and taking photographs both above and below the water for about 10. He was pleased to have been made Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As a SCUBA Diver he has been a photographer, teacher and research associate for many different organizations.He is a staunch environmentalist and educator of young people. Jonathan is committed to making a difference on this planet through his images and his message of good will to all creatures. www.underpressurephotog.com.

The post Caribbean Creature Feature: Flamingo Tongues first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

So Slender you Might Miss Them!

Filefish are a regular feature of the Caribbean coral reef. Seen most often are the Whitespotted Filefish, the Orangespotted Filefish and the always fantastic, alien-looking Scrawled Filefish. One present on most dives, but seldom seen unless you know where to look is the Slender Filefish (Monacanthus tuckeri). All Filefish have an elongated, laterally compressed body, a proportionally very small mouth and a largish often broom-like tail. Their common name is taken from the texture of their skin, which was once used by fisherman and other tradesmen as sandpaper. Unlike their cousins, the triggerfish, they cannot lock their dorsal spine in place to prevent being removed from their hiding place in the reef.

Slender Filefish are the smallest of the Caribbean filefish, usually 2 to 31/2 in. with a maximum size of 4 in. An interesting feature of many filefish, but particularly the Slender Filefish, is the large dewlap (extendible belly appendage). This feature is used to appear larger to predators but also by males to attract females. Slenders can be found anywhere from 10- 60 ft. of depth. Since they are so small and their markings provide such great camouflage you really need to know where to look to find them. Slender Filefish are most often found floating nose down among gorgonians; specifically the soft coral gorgonian Plexaurella nutans, commonly known as the Giant Slit-pore Sea Rod, and Gorgonia ventalina, the Common Sea Fan. Both of these gorgonians like plenty of sunlight so are usually found in fairly shallow water, hence the depth range of the Slender Filefish. I have also found them among sea fans on top of well-lit shipwrecks.

Slender Filefish near a sea fan, taken with underwater strobes.

Finding Slender Filefish

As you are making your way to shallower water toward the end of the dive, start looking around for the gorgonians described above. Once you have located one, slowly and carefully look in and around its branches. Often there will be more than one Slender Filefish there for your photo documentation. They tend to be very shy and wary so make an effort to be as unobtrusive as possible, using expert buoyancy control and breathing as quietly as possible. Try to anticipate their next move so you can meet them on the other side of the gorgonian to get the best angle possible. It is great fun to watch them zooming around like bumble bees and curiously peeking out at you to see if the coast is clear.

Since there are fewer species in the Caribbean and therefore fewer macro opportunities you will find it pays to know what you’re looking for and where to look for it. An educated underwater photographer is a successful underwater photographer. Whether you are scuba diving Bonaire at Buddy Dive Resort, or on a dive liveaboard in Turks & Caicos, keep an eye out here for future Caribbean Creature Features; next time Flamingo Tongues!

A Slender Filefish swims near a sea fan and yellow tube sponge.

By: Jonathan Lavan

Jonathan Lavan: The owner/operator of Underpressure Diving & Nature Photography is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert and has been SCUBA Diving for thirty years and taking photographs both above and below the water for about 10. He was pleased to have been made Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As a SCUBA Diver he has been a photographer, teacher and research associate for many different organizations.He is a staunch environmentalist and educator of young people. Jonathan is committed to making a difference on this planet through his images and his message of good will to all creatures. www.underpressurephotog.com.

The post Caribbean Creature Feature: The Slender Filefish first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.