Redang riddles

[Traminer]

Hi guys.. can't seem to find the id of these ones anywhere!

Location : Redang Malaysia
Coral reef/sea bed approx 15 m deep.

 

[Quero]

Hi guys.. can't seem to find the id of these ones anywhere!

Location : Redang Malaysia
Coral reef/sea bed approx 15 m deep.

The first one appears to be a peacock grouper, Cephalopholis argus, in its dark phase.

I believe the second one is a white-eyed moray, Sideria thysoidea

These are both pretty common in local waters and should be included in any decent fish book. If you need a recommendation of a book to buy, let me know.

 

[isurus]

agree with quero but while 2 is a white eye I believe its now known as Gymnothorax thysoidea.

 

[Quero]

agree with quero but while 2 is a white eye I believe its now known as Gymnothorax thysoidea.

You know your stuff! :yelclap:

Here's one confirming link, in case anybody's interested
http://fishdb.sinica.edu.tw/2001new/english/synonyms_list.asp?id=073_042

Q.

 

[isurus]

You know your stuff! :yelclap:

Here's one confirming link, in case anybody's interested
http://fishdb.sinica.edu.tw/2001new/english/synonyms_list.asp?id=073_042

Q.

Thanks: I also know what I don't know (which is more than I know!) so on the subject of morays from Redang - anyone care to put a name on this chap from nearby Perhentian? Sorry its so poor - I can't find the original just this downsized edit. For scale thats a coral catshark to the left so big eel.

 

[Quero]

Thanks: I also know what I don't know (which is more than I know!) so on the subject of morays from Redang - anyone care to put a name on this chap from nearby Perhentian? Sorry its so poor - I can't find the original just this downsized edit. For scale thats a coral catshark to the left so big eel.

Do you suppose it could be Gymnothorax monochrous? (Common name "Drab moray.") They are native to Malaysia....

 

[isurus]

Do you suppose it could be Gymnothorax monochrous? (Common name "Drab moray.") They are native to Malaysia....

I hadn't previously considered this species but I'd be surprised. My understanding is that this species is a fan of inshore reef lagoons whereas this was taken in 30+m well offshore (although it was in the murky water and battered reef habitat its supposed to like). I think its too big though?

I think this is G. monochrous (taken in 12 inches of water on a house reef in the red sea).

 

[Quero]

I hadn't previously considered this species but I'd be surprised. My understanding is that this species is a fan of inshore reef lagoons whereas this was taken in 30+m well offshore (although it was in the murky water and battered reef habitat its supposed to like). I think its too big though?

I think this is G. monochrous (taken in 12 inches of water on a house reef in the red sea).

Oh, well. Of course it wasn't obvious from the photo what the habitat was, and since the Perhentian group has an abundance of shallow, sheltered dive sites, the possiblity seemed plausible at least.

You say that photo was taken in the Red Sea? In what country? Fishbase doesn't list G. monochrous as being found there.
http://www.fishbase.org/Country/CountryList.cfm?ID=7285&GenusName=Gymnothorax&SpeciesName=monochrous

I've looked fruitlessly for a good online photo of G. monochrous among research orgs, but only came up with this from a commercial site:
http://www.divingsoft.com/gallery/photos/fish/gymnothorax-monochrous.htm

I don't know whether this is a reliable source of info, but the shot looks a lot like your moray, don't you think?

My only other thought would be that it's a juvenile of something that hasn't taken on adult coloration yet; but then you say it was large.

Unless somebody else has a useful idea, I suppose your moray will remain an enigma.

 

[isurus]

Oh, well. Of course it wasn't obvious from the photo what the habitat was, and since Perhentian has an abundance of shallow dive sites, the possiblity seemed plausible at least.

You say that photo was taken in the Red Sea? In what country? Fishbase doesn't list G. monochrous as being found there.
http://www.fishbase.org/Country/CountryList.cfm?ID=7285&GenusName=Gymnothorax&SpeciesName=monochrous

I've looked fruitlessly for a good online photo of G. monochrous among research orgs, but only came up with this from a commercial site:
http://www.divingsoft.com/gallery/photos/fish/gymnothorax-monochrous.htm

I don't know whether this is a reliable source of info, but the shot looks a lot like your moray, don't you think?

My only other thought would be that it's a juvenile of something that hasn't taken on adult coloration yet; but then you say it was large.

Unless somebody else has a useful idea, I suppose your moray will remain an enigma.

I didn't say and should have since this was on (to my knowledge) the only regualry done offshore, deeper dive there - mystery reef (also one of the best IMO).
The other shot was in Egypt - I based the id on the Debelius red sea book. I'm leaning a bit more towards G. monochrous now having seen that other picture. I remember the little shark being about 2 feet (suggesting a very big eel) but I suppose that could be a deceptively small shark.

G. enigma it is methinks.

 

[Quero]

G. enigma it is methinks.

:biggrin: