velvet or scorpionfish?

[aquashik]

First, this is my first time attaching a photo...so if your don't see it, then i'm experiencing some technological problems.

anyway i shot these 2 photos in Davao, Philippines and it is the first time that i can recall seeing something like this. this is in sandy, rubble area around 20M. the brown one is around 4 inches long and the black one maybe 3 inches. they were both in opposite sides of a small rock. now i'm wondering if this is in the family of the velvet fish or is this just another scorpionfish? need some serious fish id-yers!

cheers!

 

[Jim Greenfield]

I've looked at this a few times and feel pretty sure the second pic. is a velvet. My guess would be a phantom velvet, Paraploactis kagoshimensis but I emphasize it is a guess. You will never no for sure. Don't have a view about the first one.

 

[ocdiver1]

I'm not a fish expert, but have seem velvet fish on a couple of occasions. I'd agree with Jim on the second being a velvet..the body shape being what most makes me say so