a fish and a worm in Caribbean

[scubasully]

Hi all,
Out for a snorkel yesterday on St. Kitts, and saw a fish and a worm I can't identify:

I see this fish all the time, but while I think of it as being a mottled mojarra, the silvery color in the Humann book doesn't match up to the reality of the fish's color, which is very accurate in photo. However, the behavior described in Humann book is spot on. They swim in the shallows over the sand or rocky bottom, and they hover. Looks kind of like a croaker, too, but the behavior of fish doesn't correlate with book. Also, the black mark on the eye makes me think mottled mojarra. Any ideas?

Here are two pics of the worm:

Pic One:

Pic two:


The yellow worm - I see them all the time diving in St. Kitts as well as snorkeling, but can't find anything similar in Humann creature book. It looks like a social feather duster who has turned anti-social, as they're always alone.
Sorry for the crap photos. Looked good in the viewfinder at the time.

Thanks for your help!
Maureen

 

[AdTravels]

Hi Maureen

I would agree with your Mottled Mejora... again the marking on the eye gives that the edge.

The worm however, is at an akward angle, but it does seem to resemble the Yellow Fanworm (Notaulax occidentalis).
Hope this helps.
Adam

 

[scubasully]

I thought the yellow fanworm had a dark band around it. I don't have my book with me now - darn.

this has no band, and it looks thicker than what I'm remembering the fanworm to be.



Ok - good. I'm glad it looks like a mottled mojarra to someone else.

 

[LeslieH]

AdTRavels is right about the worm. They're not always banded.