Spectacled Filefish (Cantherhines fronticinctus) is also known as the Spectacled Leatherjacket

Spectacled Filefish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
The Spectacled Filefish (Cantherhines fronticinctus) is also known as the Spectacled Leatherjacket.  They are very shy fishes that are difficult to approach closely and hardly ever stray far from shelter. ...
Bluestreak Goby (Valenciennea strigata) is also known as the Pennant Glider, Blueband Goby, Blueband Glider Goby and the Golden-head sleeper goby

Bluestreak Goby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
3
The Bluestreak Goby (Valenciennea strigata) is also known as the Pennant Glider, Blueband Goby, Blueband Glider Goby and the Golden-head sleeper goby.  They lack the sucker type pelvic fins common to many o...
Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) is also known as the Gold-striped Fusilier and the Scissor Tailed Fusilier

Blue and Gold Fusilier- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
1
The Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) is also known as the Gold-striped Fusilier and the Scissor Tailed Fusilier. They are fairly common on the East African coast and are often seen swimming with ...
Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish(Dendrochirus brachypterus) is also called the Shortfin Lionfish, the shortfin turkeyfish and the Dwarf Lionfish

Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
3
The Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish (Dendrochirus brachypterus) is also called the Shortfin Lionfish, the shortfin turkeyfish and the Dwarf Lionfish. As the name dwarf implies, they are one of the smaller Lionfish. Th...
Eyestripe Surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri) is also known as the Pencilled Surgeonfish, Dussumier's Surgeonfish, the Hawaiian Surgeonfish and the Ornate Surgeonfish.

Eyestripe Surgeonfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
1
The Eyestripe Surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri) is also known as the Pencilled Surgeonfish, Dussumier's Surgeonfish, the Hawaiian Surgeonfish and the Ornate Surgeonfish. Members of the Acanthuridae family...
Red Sea Walkman (Inimicus Filamentosus) Red Sea Walker (Inimicus filamentosus) is also known as the Filamented devilfish, Two-stick Stingfish, Sea Goblin and Demon Stinger.

Red Sea Walkman-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
6
The Red Sea Walkman (Inimicus Filamentosus)  is also known as the Filamented devilfish, Two-stick Stingfish, Sea Goblin and Demon Stinger. They are in the same family, Synanceiidae as the Stonefish  and ...
Twinstripe Fusilier (Pterocaesio marri) is also known as Marr's Fusilier, the Big-tail Fusilier, and the Black-tipped Fusilier

Twinstripe Fusilier- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
5
The Twinstripe Fusilier (Pterocaesio marri) is also known as Marr's Fusilier, the Big-tail Fusilier, and the Black-tipped Fusilier. They are fairly common on the East African coast and are often seen swimmi...
Ruddy Fusilier (Pterocaesio pisang) is also known as the Bleeker's Fusilier and the Banana Fusilier.

Ruddy Fusilier- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
4
The Ruddy Fusilier (Pterocaesio pisang) is also known as the Bleeker's Fusilier and the Banana Fusilier. They are fairly common on the East African coast and often swim with other species of Fusiliers.  AP...
Gold Sash Fusilier (Caesio xanthalytos) is also known as the Yellow Sash Fusilier

Gold Sash Fusilier- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
3
The Gold Sash Fusilier (Caesio xanthalytos) is also known as the Yellow Sash Fusilier. The species was only described in 2013. They are fairly common on the East African coast and often swim with other spec...
the Yellowback Anthias (Pseudanthias evansi)is alsoknown as the Goldback Anthias, Goldback Basslet and Purple Wreckfish.

Yellowback Anthias – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
8
The the Yellowback Anthias (Pseudanthias evansi) is also known as the Goldback Anthias, Goldback Basslet and the Purple Wreckfish. They are abundant on the East African coast in some areas and scarce in oth...
Red-breasted Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) is also known as the Banded maori wrasse, the Red-banded wrasse and the Scarlet-breasted wrasse

Red-breasted Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
9
The Red-breasted Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) is also known as the Banded maori wrasse, the Red-banded wrasse and the Scarlet-breasted wrasse.  APPEARANCE Unlike most wrasses there is no major variation b...
Redcheek Wrasse (Thalassoma genivittatum) is also known as the Dolphin wrasse

Redcheek Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
5
The Redcheek Wrasse (Thalassoma genivittatum) is also known as the Dolphin wrasse from the juveniles resemblance to a Dolphin.  This can be seen in the image below. They tend to favor the tops of semi prote...
Pastel Ring Wrasse (Hologymnosus doliatus) is also known as the Candy cane wrasse, Longface wrasse, Narrow-banded wrasse, Ringed rainbowfish and simply the Ringed wrasse

Pastel Ring Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
13
The Pastel Ring Wrasse (Hologymnosus doliatus) is also known as the Candy cane wrasse, Longface wrasse, Narrow-banded wrasse, Ringed rainbowfish and simply the Ringed wrasse. They are not a common wrasse on...
Blackbar Damselfish, Plectroglyphidodon dickii is also known as the Narrowbar Damselfish, the Blackbar Devil and Dicks Devil

Blackbar Damselfish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
4
The Blackbar Damselfish, Plectroglyphidodon dickii is also known as the Narrowbar Damselfish, the Blackbar Devil and Dicks Devil. Despite their small size and lack of bright coloration they have a lot of ch...
Bluelined Shrimp goby (Cryptocentrus bulbiceps) may be conspecific to Cryptocentrus fasciatus

Bluelined Shrimp Goby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
8
The Bluelined Shrimp goby (Cryptocentrus bulbiceps) may be conspecific to Cryptocentrus fasciatus as the two resemble each other. Possibly only DNA testing may confirm this. They are common in some areas of...
Queen wrasse (Coris Formosa) is also known as the Queen Coris and the Formosa wrasse

Queen Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
16
The Queen wrasse (Coris Formosa) is also known as the Queen Coris and the Formosa wrasse. They are not a common wrasse on Tanzanian reefs and the large adult males are quite rare. As with many wrasses the c...
Spot Tail Dartfish, Ptereleotris heteroptera, is also known as the Blacktail Dartfish, Indigo Dartfish and Blacktail Goby.

Spot Tail Dartfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
8
The Spot Tail Dartfish, Ptereleotris heteroptera, is also known as the Blacktail Dartfish, Indigo Dartfish, Blue Gudgeon Dartfish and Blacktail Goby. They are relatively shy fish and as their name suggests ...
Regal Demoiselle (Neopomacentrus cyanomos) is also known as the Regal Damselfish and the Cresecent Damselfish

Regal Demoiselle- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
5
The Regal Demoiselle (Neopomacentrus cyanomos) is also known as the Regal Damselfish and the Cresecent Damselfish. They are found in very few locations in Tanzanian waters but where they are found there ten...
robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus)

Robust Ghost Pipefish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
11
The Robust Ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) is also known as the Ghost pipefish and the Racek's Ghost pipefish.  Although they are called pipefish, they are not true Pipefish.  They fall  in the sa...
Spiny Spooner Reef Crab (Etisus dentatus) is also known as the Red Reef Crab

Spiny Spooner Reef Crab- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
13
The Spiny Spooner Reef Crab (Etisus dentatus) is also known as the Red Reef Crab. They obtain their name from the spoon shaped endings of their chelipeds and the spiny carapace. If one looks carefully at th...
Smooth Box Crab (Calappa calappa) is also known as the Giant Box Crab

Smooth Box Crab- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
8
The Smooth Box Crab (Calappa calappa) is also known as the Giant Box Crab. Because of their variable colouration they are sometimes also called the Red Spotted Box Crab. They are not often seen due to th...
Redspotted sandperch (Parapercis schauinslandii) also known as the Rosy Sandperch

Redspotted Sandperch – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
4
The Redspotted Sandperch (Parapercis schauinslandii) is also known as the Rosy Sandperch.  They are among the more attractive looking sand perches and are sometimes seen swimming above the bottom. They are ...
Tubelip wrasse (Labrichthys unilineatus)

Tubelip Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
6
The Tubelip wrasse (Labrichthys unilineatus) is also known as the Tube-mouth Wrasse and the One-lined Wrasse. They are not a common wrasse on Tanzanian reefs but neither are they that rare. They tend to ...
Smalltail Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus) is also known as the Smalltail Pencil Wrasse

Smalltail Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
4
The Smalltail Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus) is also known as the Smalltail Pencil Wrasse. While not a common wrasse on Tanzanian main reefs, neither are they that rare. They tend to favor mixed rubble a...
The Aurora Goby (Amblyeleotris aurora) is also known as the Aurora Shrimp Goby and the Pinkbar Goby

Aurora Goby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
36
The Aurora Goby (Amblyeleotris aurora) is also known as the Aurora Shrimp Goby and the Pinkbar Goby. As their name implies they have a symbiotic relationship with a species of alpheid shrimp, Alpheus randal...