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Fish

Male Triplespot wrasse (Halichoeres trispilus) is also known as the  White wrasse.

Triplespot wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
1
The Triplespot wrasse (Halichoeres trispilus) is also known as the  White wrasse. They are rarely seen in Tanzania and we have only seen them in one small cave on a wall at some 28 to 32 meters ( tide depen...

Top 10 Saltwater Aquarium Fishes

Seaunseen
19
The Most Recommended Fish for Saltwater Aquariums and Tips for Choosing Your Fish Marine fish are among the top 10 saltwater aquarium fishes, most colorful and beautiful creatures in the hobby, and with hu...
Saber squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum)is also known as the Giant squirrelfish and Spiny squirrelfish

Saber Squirrelfish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
9
The Saber squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum) is also known as the Giant squirrelfish and Spiny squirrelfish.  They are named after the large curved spine on the lower gill cover  which can be seen in th...
Tricolour parrotfish (Scarus tricolor) is also known as the Three color parrotfish

Tricolor Parrotfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
23
The Tricolour parrotfish (Scarus tricolor) is also known as the Three color parrotfish. Tricolor Parrotfish are relatively common in Tanzanian waters. Within the various species of  Parrotfish which are ...
Bluemoon parrotfish (Chlorurus atrilunula) also known as the Black Crescent Parrotfish

Bluemoon Parrotfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
12
The Bluemoon parrotfish (Chlorurus atrilunula) is also known as the Black Crescent Parrotfish. They were described in 1984 by Randall and Bruce. Parrotfish obtain their name from their teeth which are fused...
Tomato Grouper (Cephalopholis sonnerati) is also known as the Tomato Rockcod, the Tomato Hind and the Tomato Cod.

Tomato Grouper – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
23
The The Tomato Grouper (Cephalopholis sonnerati) is also known as the Tomato Rockcod, the Tomato Hind, the Red Coral Grouper and the Tomato Cod. All these specimens were photographed on the Tanzanian coast....
Celebes flathead (Thysanophrys celebica)

Celebes Flathead- Facts and Photographs

Seaunseen
12
The Celebes flathead (Thysanophrys celebica) is also known as the Quarterspined Flathead , the Manado Flathead and the Sulawesi Flathead. They were were first described by Bleeker in 1855.  The are fairly c...
Longsnout flathead (Thysanophrys chiltonae)

Longsnout Flathead- Facts and Photographs

Seaunseen
6
The Longsnout flathead (Thysanophrys chiltonae) was first described by Schultz in 1966 and they are probably the most common of the smaller flatheads in Tanzanian waters.  The specimens in the images were i...
Red Sea flathead (Thysanophrys springeri)

Red Sea Flathead- Facts and Photographs

Seaunseen
4
The Red Sea Flathead (Thysanophrys springeri) was only described by Knapp in 2013. They were named after Victor G. Springer, who collected the holotype off Massawa, Eritrea. They are fairly common in the sh...
Forktail Rabbitfish (Siganus argenteus) is also known as the Streamlined Spinefoot and Schooling Rabbit-fish

Forktail Rabbitfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
13
The Forktail Rabbitfish (Siganus argenteus) is also known as the Streamlined Spinefoot and Schooling Rabbit-fish. They were originally described by Quoy & Gaimard in 1825.  As their one common name allu...
Threadfin Anthias (Nemanthias carberryi)

Threadfin Anthias – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
20
The Threadfin Anthias (Nemanthias carberryi) is also known as the Threadfin Goldie and Carberryi Anthias. They are not at all common in Tanzanian waters and we have only found them in a few locations on wal...
Greenbubble dwarfgoby (Eviota prasina) also known as the Greenie, Midget Goby, Pepperfin Pygmy Goby and Rubble Eviota

Spotted Dwarf Goby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
4
The Spotted Dwarfgoby Eviota guttata is as its name suggests is a small fish. At the time of description they were  described as having the smallest vertebrae known but that honor these days goes either to ...
African Wrasse also known as the African Coris and False Clown wrasse (Coris cuvieri)

African Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
13
The African wrasse (Coris cuvieri) is also known as the African Coris and False Clown wrasse. They are not a common wrasse on Tanzanian reefs but neither are they uncommon. As with many wrasses the colourat...
Filefish teeth anchorage

Filefish Teeth Anchoring at night

Alan Sutton
9
Some species of Filefish teeth anchorage are known to wedge themselves  into corals at night and it is theorized that the corals assist in masking their smell from predators.  However as can be seen in the ...
Birdbeak Burrfish Cyclichthys orbicularis is also known as the Orbicular Burrfish

Birdbeak Burrfish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
11
The Birdbeak Burrfish Cyclichthys orbicularis is also known as the Orbicular Burrfish. Burrfish differ from the Porcupine fish in that they have rigid spines instead of movable spines.  They have the abilit...
Sea Urchin cardinalfish ( Siphamia mossambica)

Sea Urchin Cardinalfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
19
The Sea Urchin Cardinalfish ( Siphamia mossambica) is not an easy fish to spot as they spend most of their time hiding within the spines of an urchin. They are even more difficult to photograph. The images ...
Whitemargin moray or the white-edged moray, Gymnothorax albimarginatus

Whitemargin Moray Eel-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
7
The Whitemargin moray eel(Gymnothorax albimarginatus) is also known as the White-edged moray. They are not common in Tanzanian waters and one occasionally sees them out at night hunting for prey usually on ...
Indian mimic goatfish (Mulloidychtys ayliffe)

Indian Mimic Goatfish- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
16
The Indian mimic goatfish (Mulloidychtys ayliffe) is also known as the Blue striped goatfish. They are not common in Tanzanian coastal waters  and are only occasionally seen. This probably as a result of ex...
Enigmatic moray eel (Gymnothorax enigmaticus) is also known as the Banded Moray Eel

Enigmatic Moray Eel-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
11
The Enigmatic moray eel (Gymnothorax enigmaticus) is also known as the Banded Moray Eel. They are not common in Tanzanian waters and one occasionally sees them out at night hunting for prey on the shallow o...
Male Three-ribbon wrasse,(Stethojulis strigiventer) is also known as the Silverstreak wrasse, Silverbelly wrasse, Lined rainbowfish and Silver-streaked rainbowfish

Three-Ribbon Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
28
The Three-ribbon wrasse (Stethojulis strigiventer) is also known as the Silverstreak wrasse, Silverbelly wrasse, Lined rainbowfish and Silver-streaked rainbowfish. They are fairly common inhabitants of t...
Kenyan chromis (Chromis nigroanalis)

Kenyan Chromis – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
20
The Kenyan chromis (Chromis nigroanalis) was described by Allen in 1998. They are not common on the Tanzanian coast but in certain areas there are fair numbers of them. APPEARANCE The body has an oval dis...
Terminal Phase male Steephead parrotfish (Chlorurus strongylocephalus) also known as the Roundhead Parrotfish

Steephead Parrotfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
44
The Steephead parrotfish (Chlorurus strongylocephalus) is also known as the Roundhead Parrotfish. Parrotfish obtain their name from their teeth which are fused into a beak. This species is part of a complex...
Many-banded Pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus)

Many-banded Pipefish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
69
The Many-banded Pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) is not commonly seen in Tanzanian waters, probably because they are mainly resident in small caves which are deep and they are fairly shy. They were ...
Fully mature Initial Phase Ember Parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus)  is also known as the Redlip Parrotfish and Bicolor Parrotfish

Ember Parrotfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
30
The Ember Parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus)  is also known as the Redlip Parrotfish and Bicolor Parrotfish. Parrotfish obtain their name from their teeth which are fused into a beak. Within the various ...
Blue-barred Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) is also known as the Blue trim Parrotfish, Globe-headed Parrotfish, Green blotched Parrotfish and Bluechin parrotfish

Blue-barred Parrotfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
33
The Blue-barred Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) is also known as the Blue trim Parrotfish, Globe-headed Parrotfish, Green blotched Parrotfish and Bluechin parrotfish. Parrotfish obtain their name from their tee...
Dusky Rabbitfish (Siganus luridus)is also known as the Squaretail Rabbitfish and the Dusky Spinefoot

Dusky Rabbitfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
23
The Dusky Rabbitfish (Siganus luridus)is also known as the Squaretail Rabbitfish and the Dusky Spinefoot . They were originally described by Rüppell in 1829.  The Siganus genus has had somewhat of a history...