fish and invertebrate identification guides?

[mikedeco]

I've been looking online for guides to help me identify the fish and invertebrates I see while diving. Do any of you have a favorite identification guide that you use?

I do most of my diving in Monterey, CA, but I'm going diving in Cozumel next month. So I'd like recommendations for a book that covers both well, or different books that cover one of those well.

Also I'm interested in more than just the creatures common name and Genus species. I'd like to know more about how they interact with their ecosystem, and their behaviors.

Thanks in advance!
Mike DeCourcey

 

[H2Andy]

well.... the book Reef Fish Identification (Humann/DeLoach) covers the Caribbean,
and it's an excellent resource. but it's almost $40.00. not sure if worth it for just a
few dives. they have a number of books in that series, including corals, other reef
creatures, behavious, and Pacific fish.

here is their site: Fishid.com

 

[The Chairman]

I scored a poor %47 on their ID game.

 

[H2Andy]

lol...wow... i won't tell you what i scored then

(ok ok twist my arm.... i was somewhere between 80 and 90%, but i forget where)

 

[Mo2vation]

I scored a poor %47 on their ID game.

What kind of wack fish are those things? I got a zip, zero, nada, ziltch, goose egg. Like I've ever seen fish like that in So Cal. Please. So Cal fish wear SPF30.

Stoopid test.

K

 

[archman]

I missed two questions. One of my ichthyology pals only missed one. Bastard.

 

[SubMariner]

What kind of wack fish are those things? I got a zip, zero, nada, ziltch, goose egg. Like I've ever seen fish like that in So Cal. Please. So Cal fish wear SPF30.

Stoopid test.

K

Dude... getchyerself a Paul Humann Caribbean book! Afterall, that's where all the pictures came from.

BTW, I got 98% as a total score for all the quizzes. But then, that's my fav Specialty to teach.

 

[archman]

I thought this was a different quiz. This one's way harder. I only made a paltry 78%, although I could argue that the resolution on some of these shots could be improved. Can't make out detail on many shots.

I hate you submariner. You must have each photo memorized from the book. How the %^&GF did you get those bleeding squirrelfishes straight?

 

[The Chairman]

I had to ask myself, why they didn't have "Stinking squirrelfish" as one of the answers...

 

[SubMariner]

I thought this was a different quiz. This one's way harder. I only made a paltry 78%, although I could argue that the resolution on some of these shots could be improved. Can't make out detail on many shots.

I hate you submariner. You must have each photo memorized from the book. How the %^&GF did you get those bleeding squirrelfishes straight?

There are subtle colour differences on the foredorsals plus other telltales. If it's any consolation, my gobies were a tad weak.

BTW, I agree that some of those picture were of poor quality. Fortunately, I remembered them from the book & was able to put the right "name & face" together.

FYI, Humann now has a West Coast book out too.