Help identifying a fish

[t-mac]

I recently took this picture on a reef off of Grand Cayman and haven't been able to identify it. It was just sitting on the top of a coral head. Is it a blenny of some sort? Some kind of immature fish? Thanks.

 

[PatW]

My first guess is a Blenny. It might be a saddled blenny, Malacoctenus triangulatus. I am not at all confident in the ID.

 

[t-mac]

Yes, a lot of blenny-like features, but the snout is odd to me and so is the fluorescent orange. Coloration is similar to a saddled blenny, though. Bizarre looking creature.

 

[herbdb]

Don't think it is a blenny. They have a single full length dorsal fin. Its hard to tell for sure, but I think this fish has two.

 

[t-mac]

Don't think it is a blenny. They have a single full length dorsal fin. Its hard to tell for sure, but I think this fish has two.

Agree -- I can't tell for sure, but it doesn't look like a single continuous dorsal fin.

 

[Karibelle]

Looks to me like a Redspotted Hawkfish.

 

[t-mac]

Looks to me like a Redspotted Hawkfish.

Yes, I believe you are correct!

 

[herbdb]

Yep, found it in the back of my book under odd shaped swimmers. Didn't think to look there. Nice find t-mac.

 

[t-mac]

Yep, found it in the back of my book under odd shaped swimmers. Didn't think to look there. Nice find t-mac.

Thanks. Can't wait to read up on this beast. Never encountered one before.

 

[herbdb]

This video (once you get past the ad) has some interesting info on them.
Video: Fish Identification: Red Spotted Hawkfish | eHow.com