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Fish Identification
I used to make fun of birdwatchers, thinking when I’d overhear
“There’s a red-crested warbler!” or whatever that they were
pretty geeky. But in 2001, when I got introduced to Reef
Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) fish identification by a
friend, I was hooked. I quickly became one of those divers
who’d proudly tell anyone who’d listen that I found a Triplefin or a
Lancer Dragonet on the last dive. And if that’s being geeky, then
I guess that's what I am.
Fish identification, using REEF's simple protocols, is an excellent
way to keep up your interest in diving by giving each dive an actual
purpose. It’s fun, hones your observation skills and makes you
more aware of the reef environment. Finding a fish you’d never
seen before, or perhaps one that few people have seen, adds to
the enjoyment. Doing fish surveys also serves a useful purpose by
providing scientists and marine resource managers with valuable
information on fish species and abundance.
The following is an article I wrote for the September 2008 REEF
newsletter, REEF-in-Brief, about a mystery fish I had seen:
"REEF Surveyor Notes a Rare Find"
"REEF TWA Advanced Assessment Team member, Rob McCall, has
over 625 surveys under his belt and 281 fish species on his
lifelist. But earlier this summer, during a dive in the Florida Keys,
he found something that surprised him - the extremely rare
Pugjaw Wormfish (Cerdale floridana). Here is his story -- Last
June, while diving at Rock Key off Key West, I noticed a very
slender (about the diameter of thin drinking straw) white fish
about 6 cm long. I could see the fish had a rounded head but could
not see dorsal or tail fins. The fish swam with a sinuous
movement, much like an eel or worm, and dove into a burrow when
it saw me. It did not immediately reappear and I soon swam off in
search of other fish. That night I attempted to identify the
mystery fish in my reference books, but was unable to get even a
rough idea of what it might be.
I used to make fun of birdwatchers, thinking when I’d overhear
“There’s a red-crested warbler!” or whatever that they were
pretty geeky. But in 2001, when I got introduced to Reef
Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) fish identification by a
friend, I was hooked. I quickly became one of those divers
who’d proudly tell anyone who’d listen that I found a Triplefin or a
Lancer Dragonet on the last dive. And if that’s being geeky, then
I guess that's what I am.
Fish identification, using REEF's simple protocols, is an excellent
way to keep up your interest in diving by giving each dive an actual
purpose. It’s fun, hones your observation skills and makes you
more aware of the reef environment. Finding a fish you’d never
seen before, or perhaps one that few people have seen, adds to
the enjoyment. Doing fish surveys also serves a useful purpose by
providing scientists and marine resource managers with valuable
information on fish species and abundance.
The following is an article I wrote for the September 2008 REEF
newsletter, REEF-in-Brief, about a mystery fish I had seen:
"REEF Surveyor Notes a Rare Find"
"REEF TWA Advanced Assessment Team member, Rob McCall, has
over 625 surveys under his belt and 281 fish species on his
lifelist. But earlier this summer, during a dive in the Florida Keys,
he found something that surprised him - the extremely rare
Pugjaw Wormfish (Cerdale floridana). Here is his story -- Last
June, while diving at Rock Key off Key West, I noticed a very
slender (about the diameter of thin drinking straw) white fish
about 6 cm long. I could see the fish had a rounded head but could
not see dorsal or tail fins. The fish swam with a sinuous
movement, much like an eel or worm, and dove into a burrow when
it saw me. It did not immediately reappear and I soon swam off in
search of other fish. That night I attempted to identify the
mystery fish in my reference books, but was unable to get even a
rough idea of what it might be.
Subsequent to the first sighting, I saw a similar fish on two other occasions at Rock
Key. All sightings were within an area about 8 x 4 meters, with sand bottom bordered
by high profile reef. On the second sighting, the fish dove into a burrow and did not
reappear. On the third sighting, the fish immediately dove into a Yellowhead Jawfish
burrow (the normal occupant was a male Yellowhead Jawfish who happened to be mouth-
brooding eggs at the time; the jawfish was hovering above the burrow and did not seem
particularly upset that the mystery fish “borrowed” his home.) The mystery fish did not
reappear during the ten minutes or so I spent photographing the jawfish.
Key. All sightings were within an area about 8 x 4 meters, with sand bottom bordered
by high profile reef. On the second sighting, the fish dove into a burrow and did not
reappear. On the third sighting, the fish immediately dove into a Yellowhead Jawfish
burrow (the normal occupant was a male Yellowhead Jawfish who happened to be mouth-
brooding eggs at the time; the jawfish was hovering above the burrow and did not seem
particularly upset that the mystery fish “borrowed” his home.) The mystery fish did not
reappear during the ten minutes or so I spent photographing the jawfish.
A mystery fish, captured on film by REEF surveyor Rob McCall.
I stopped by REEF Headquarters in early August and asked Lad Akins, REEF Director
of Special Projects, if he had any ideas to help me identify the fish. Based on my
hazy description, Lad thought it might be a type of worm-eel. But when I researched
online, it did not seem to be a good fit.
On August 22, while diving at Nine Foot Stake off Key West (and armed with my being
in the right place at the right time. The fish was out in the open but dove into a
nearby burrow – I don’t know if it was his or a “borrowed” one – when he saw me. I
decided to wait a couple of minutes to see if it would reappear, and within a minute or
two, it stuck its head back out. Over the next ten minutes it made several darting
forays from the burrow, getting a little more used to me, or perhaps a little more
desperate to get home. This fish seemed longer than the one(s) at Rock Key – perhaps
8 cm or so. The four sightings shared some common features. All were at 20-24 ft.
depth with sand bottom. Three of the four burrows were within 5-10 cm of small
coral heads or rubble clumps. Dorsal and tail fins are visible in the photos; the fish is
not actually as slender as it appears to the naked eye.
of Special Projects, if he had any ideas to help me identify the fish. Based on my
hazy description, Lad thought it might be a type of worm-eel. But when I researched
online, it did not seem to be a good fit.
On August 22, while diving at Nine Foot Stake off Key West (and armed with my being
in the right place at the right time. The fish was out in the open but dove into a
nearby burrow – I don’t know if it was his or a “borrowed” one – when he saw me. I
decided to wait a couple of minutes to see if it would reappear, and within a minute or
two, it stuck its head back out. Over the next ten minutes it made several darting
forays from the burrow, getting a little more used to me, or perhaps a little more
desperate to get home. This fish seemed longer than the one(s) at Rock Key – perhaps
8 cm or so. The four sightings shared some common features. All were at 20-24 ft.
depth with sand bottom. Three of the four burrows were within 5-10 cm of small
coral heads or rubble clumps. Dorsal and tail fins are visible in the photos; the fish is
not actually as slender as it appears to the naked eye.
The mystery fish turned out to be the rarely seen Pugjaw Wormfish.
I was pretty well stumped over identifying what the fish was, even with photos, until
one night I was re-reading Ned DeLoach and Paul Humman’s Reef Fish Behavior and
under the article on Yellowhead Jawfish, I noticed a reference to Pugjaw Wormfish
sharing a burrow with the jawfish. The next morning I researched it online and found
a photo which appeared to be a very good match for my mystery fish.
We don’t know how rare the Pugjaw Wormfish might be, but according to the REEF
database, they have been reported only five other times: one in Florida, one in Cuba
and three in Bonaire. Convinced there are more Pugjaw’s waiting to make an
appearance here in Key West, I’ve got the other instructors on our dive boat keeping
their eyes open in the hopes that one of us will once again be in the right place at
the right time." .
one night I was re-reading Ned DeLoach and Paul Humman’s Reef Fish Behavior and
under the article on Yellowhead Jawfish, I noticed a reference to Pugjaw Wormfish
sharing a burrow with the jawfish. The next morning I researched it online and found
a photo which appeared to be a very good match for my mystery fish.
We don’t know how rare the Pugjaw Wormfish might be, but according to the REEF
database, they have been reported only five other times: one in Florida, one in Cuba
and three in Bonaire. Convinced there are more Pugjaw’s waiting to make an
appearance here in Key West, I’ve got the other instructors on our dive boat keeping
their eyes open in the hopes that one of us will once again be in the right place at
the right time." .
The swimming motion was sinuous, much like an eel
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