Eyebar Goby – Facts and Photographs
The Eyebar Goby (Gnatholepis cauerensis) is also known as the Shoulderspot Goby, the Bridled Goby and the Cauer Eye-bar Goby. There is some disagreement as to the validity of this species and how they shoul...
Partridge Tun Shell-Facts and Photographs
The Partridge Tun shell (Tonna perdix) is a large fairly reclusive mollusk rarely encountered on shallow night dives in Tanzanian waters. They are marine snails in the super family Tonnoidea. They are unusu...
Lunar Fusilier- Facts and Photographs
The Lunar Fusilier (Caesio lunaris) is also known as the Blue Fusilier and the Moon Fusilier. They are not as common as the other Fusiliers on the East African coast and we have not seen them swimming with ...
Indian Ocean Blue-Spotted Stingray-Facts and Photographs
The Indian Ocean Blue-spotted Stingray ( Neotrygon indica sp. nov) is also known as the Indian Ocean Bluespotted Maskray. They are common inhabitants of the reefs on the Tanzanian coast but are extremely sk...
Coral Scallop-Facts and Photographs
The Coral Scallop (Pedum spondyloideum) is also known as the Iridescent Clam and the Blue Lipped coral Oyster. They are however scallops. They reside within several species of hard stony corals, but are mo...
Gorgeous Shrimp Goby – Facts and Photographs
The Gorgeous Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris wheeleri) is also known as the Gorgeous Prawn-goby, the Barred Shrimp goby, the Burgundy Shrimp goby and Wheeler's Shrimp-goby. They are fairly common on the Tanzania...
Senatorial Scallop-Facts and Photographs
The Senatorial Scallop (Mimachlamys sanguinea) seems to have been named scientifically several times in the past and was previously known as Chlamys senatoria, Chlamys porphyrea and Chlamys australis. They a...
Glossodoris pallida – Nudibranch Facts and Photographs
The Glossodoris pallida is a species of colorful sea slug that is also known by its common name of the Pallid Glossodoris. They are dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks. They were first described in...
Graceful Lizardfish- Facts and Photographs
The Graceful Lizardfish (Saurida gracilis) also called the Blotchy Lizardfish. Close up they are easily distinguished from other Lizardfish by the shape of the mouth and the protruding teeth as seen in the ...
Tambja olivaria – Nudibranch Facts and Photographs
Tambja olivaria also known as the Olive Tambja, is a dorid nudibranch and was described in 1994 by Nathalie Yonow from a specimen in the Maldives. To date we have only seen two specimens, both in Chole Bay ...
Sand Lizardfish- Facts and Photographs
The Sand lizardfish (Synodus dermatogenys) is also known as the Clearfin Lizzardfish and the Banded Lizzardfish. They are often confused with the Variegated Lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) but are notably d...
Mozambique Ghost Goby – Facts and Photographs
The Mozambique Ghost Goby (Pleurosicya mossambica) is also known as the Common Ghost Goby, the Toothy Goby and the Many-host Goby. As can be seen in the images in the post, they are found on numerous hosts....
One Spot Snapper- Facts and Photographs
The One-spot Snapper (Lutjanus monostigma) is also known as the Black Spot Snapper, One-spot Seaperch and Onespot Perch. They are not that common on the Tanzanian coast but in the protected Marine Parks the...
Yellow-edged Lyretail Grouper- Facts and Photographs
The Yellow-edged Lyretail Grouper (Variola louti) is also known as the the Lyretail Grouper, Common Lyre-tail Cod, Lunar-tail Cod and Lunar-tailed Rock-cod. They are reasonably common on the Tanzanian coast...
Black Damselfish – Facts and Photographs
The Black Damselfish ( Neoglyphidodon melas) is also known as the Bowtie Damselfish, the Bluefin Damselfish and in some areas as the Royal Damselfish. They undergo a fairly dramatic colour change from juv...
Swarthy Parrotfish-Facts and Photographs
The Swarthy Parrotfish (Scarus niger) is also known as the Dusky Parrotfish and the Black Parrotfish. As with all the Parrotfish which are part of the Labridae family there is considerable diverg...
Lattice Soldierfish – Facts and Photographs
The Lattice Soldierfish (Myripristis violacea) , is also known as the Australian Squirrelfish , Orangefin Soldierfish, Scarlet Soldierfish, Small-eyed Squirrelfish and Violet Soldierfish.
They are in the...
Spangled Emperor – Facts and Photographs
The Spangled Emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) is also known as the Yellow Emperor, North West Snapper, Bridled Pig face Bream, Sha'ri and the Yellow Sweetlip . They are generally only seen in any numbers in th...
Halloween Hermit Crab- Facts and Photographs
The Halloween Hermit Crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) is also known as the Cone Shell Hermit Crab, the Striped Hermit Crab and the Orange Legged Hermit Crab. They are one of the more colourful smaller hermit ...
Blacktail Snapper- Facts and Photographs
The Blacktail Snapper (Lutjanus fulvus) is also known as the Flametail Snapper, Redmargined Seaperch, Taiva, Waigeu Snapper and Yellowmargined Sea Perch.
APPEARANCE
Blacktail Snapper have a typical snappe...
Orange-striped Emperor – Facts and Photographs
The Orange-striped Emperor (Lethrinus obsoletus) is also known as the Yellow-banded Emperor and the Yellow stripe Emperor. They are fairly common inhabitants of rubble areas and reef sides on the Tanzanian ...
Longhorn Cowfish- Facts and Photographs
The Longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) also known as the Horned Boxfish. Their plate-like scales are fused together to form a solid box-like carapace and the fins, tail, eyes and mouth protrude from this. ...
Schultz’s Pipefish – Facts and Photographs
The Schultz's pipefish (Corythoichthys schultzi) is one of the more commonly seen species of pipefish on the Tanzanian coast. They are easily recognizable by their longer than normal pipette shaped mouth.
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Dory Snapper- Facts and Photographs
The Dory Snapper (Lutjanus fulviflamma) is also known as the Blackspot Snapper. They are reasonably common inhabitants of rubble areas and reef tops in Tanzania but are becoming less common.
APPEARANCE
Do...
Elongate Surgeonfish-Facts and Photographs
The Elongate Surgeonfish (Acanthurus mata) is also known as the Yellowmask Surgeonfish, Bleeker's Surgeonfish, the Mata Surgeonfish, the Pale Surgeonfish and the Striped Surgeonfish. Members of the Acanthur...
Decorated Goby – Facts and Photographs
The Decorated Goby (Istigobius decoratus) is also known as the Decorated Sand Goby, the Decorated Sand-Goby and the Decorated Sandgoby. In 1979 Istigobius was elevated to genus status and the differentiatin...
Gilded Triggerfish – Facts and Photographs
The Gilded Triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) is also known as the Blue Cheeked Triggerfish, the Blue Jaw Triggerfish and the Blue Throat Triggerfish. Triggerfish obtain their name from the locking m...