Enigmatic moray eel (Gymnothorax enigmaticus) is also known as the Banded Moray Eel

Enigmatic Moray Eel-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
2
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...
Ridged swimming crab (Charybdis natator) is also known as the wrinkled swimming crab or rock crab

Ridged Swimming Crab – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
2
The Ridged swimming crab (Charybdis natator) is also known as the wrinkled swimming crab or rock crab. Because of the ridges on their back they are relatively easy to identify. There are two subspecies, the...
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
8
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...
The Convex crab (Carpilius convexus)

Convex Reef Crab- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
21
The Convex reef crab (Carpilius convexus) is also known as the Round-back Coral Crab. They are fairly common at night in the waters off Dar es Salaam but are seldom seen out during the day. Large specimens ...
Kenyan chromis (Chromis nigroanalis)

Kenyan Chromis – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
9
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
21
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...
Cuttlefish using its arms as lures

Cuttlefish using its arms as lures

Alan Sutton
8
While on a shore dive across a sandy area on Mafia Island  diving with David from Mafia Island Diving, I spotted some movement on the sea floor on the edge of the visibility.  The visibility was low, around...
Many-banded Pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus)

Many-banded Pipefish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
10
The Many-banded Pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) is not commonly seen in Tanzanian waters, probably because they are mainly resident in small caves and are fairly shy. They were first described by R...
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
14
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
13
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
14
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...
Honeycomb Rabbitfish (Siganus stellatus) is also known as the Brown-spotted spinefoot

Honeycomb Rabbitfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
8
The Honeycomb Rabbitfish (Siganus stellatus) is also known as the Brown-spotted spinefoot. They were originally described by Peter Forsskål in 1775.  The genus has had somewhat of a history but the classifi...
Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) is also known as the Golden Blenny, the Lyretail blenny and the Persian blenny

Midas Blenny – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
35
The Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) is also known as the Golden Blenny, the Lyretail blenny and the Persian blenny. They are combtooth blennies that feed on plankton and are often seen swimming above the reef...
Initial phase Bluespotted wrasse (Anampses caeruleopunctatus)

Bluespotted Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
11
The Bluespotted wrasse (Anampses caeruleopunctatus) is also known as the Bluespotted Tamarin, the Diamond Wrasse and the Bluefreckled Wrasse. The juveniles are known as leaf wrasse in many areas from their ...
Banded snake eel (Myrichthys colubrinus) is also known as the Ringed snake eel or Harlequin snake eel .

Banded Snake Eel – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
18
The Banded snake eel (Myrichthys colubrinus) is also known as the Ringed snake eel or Harlequin snake eel . They are not common in Tanzania and we have only seen one specimen in several years of diving. AP...
Tyler's toby (Canthigaster tyleri)

Tyler’s toby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
14
The Tyler's toby (Canthigaster tyleri) is rarely seen in Tanzanian waters perhaps because it is found deeper than the other toby's. Fish in the Tetraodontidae family have the smallest genome of any verte...
Emperor shrimp (Periclimenes imperator)

Emperor Shrimp-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
61
The Emperor shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) is one of the more vividly colored shrimp around.  They form what are termed commensal relationships with various species of nudibranch and sea cucumbers (holothu...
Hairy Coral Crab (Cymo andreossyi) is also known as the Furry Coral Crab

Hairy Coral Crab- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
38
The Hairy Coral Crab (Cymo andreossyi) is also known as the Furry Coral Crab . Being small and well camouflaged they are difficult to spot and are probably best found at night when their eyes reflect light ...
Comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) is also known as the Marine Betta

Comet ( Fish) – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
40
The Comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) is also known as the Marine Betta because of their similarity to the Siamese Fighter. They are stunning looking fishes that are rarely seen in the open during the day in ...