Fish ID help

[gopbroek]

I was hoping for some help in identifying a fish. Last week we were dinking around on the flats between Paradise and the shore and I was shown a small Black fish that was intriguing. It was about 3” long and lives in discarded shells. It is elongated and almost looks like an eel but it has rather large, for its size, Pectoral fins. When it is in a defensive stance it has a Dorsal that springs up like a sail to a height of twice its body diameter. It looked like a Sea Monster in miniature. I got the feeling that if was a larger creature it would have eaten us.

 

[KeithG]

Sailfin Blenny. They generally hide in small holes. The males pop out and quickly raise their fin several times and then pop back in their hole.

 

[Mossman]

Sailfin blenny.

Don't forget that the Cozumel Marine Park rules forbid disturbing marine life, even the small stuff.

 

[gopbroek]

Thank you, that is it.

 

[cvchief]

Sailfin blenny.

Don't forget that the Cozumel Marine Park rules forbid disturbing marine life, even the small stuff.

You are quoting rules???

Wow....

 

[Mossman]

You are quoting rules???

Wow....

There are rules and then there are rules. For instance: I couldn't care less if he wore a knife, but if he stabbed a moray in the head with it, that would upset me a bit.

Sort of like the difference between misdemeanors and felonies.

 

[cvchief]

There are rules and then there are rules. For instance: I couldn't care less if he wore a knife, but if he stabbed a moray in the head with it, that would upset me a bit.

Sort of like the difference between misdemeanors and felonies.

I got it. I feel better knowing you still decide what rules are important and are perfectly willing to commit misdemeanors. That was scary for a minute there.