Dragon Moray Eel, Enchelycore pardalis is also known as the Dragon Moray Eel

Dragon Moray Eel-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
The Dragon Moray Eel, Enchelycore pardalis is also known as the Dragon Eel and the Leopard Moray Eel.  The reference to Leopard comes from their scientific name, with paradalis meaning leopard. They are ver...
Gelatinous cardinalfish (Pseudamia gelatinosa)

Gelatinous cardinalfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
3
The Gelatinous cardinalfish (Pseudamia gelatinosa) is rare in Tanzanian waters and is remarkably cryptic, hiding at the first sign of light. In several years of diving we have seen very few specimens and have m...
Blue-spotted Toby (Canthigaster cyanospilota)

Blue-spotted Toby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
7
The Blue-spotted Toby (Canthigaster cyanospilota) is also known as the Blue-spotted Pufferfish.  They were previously known as Canthigaster Coronata but in a study done by Randall, J. E.; Williams, J. T.; Rocha...
Barred Cardinalfish Fowleria marmorata

Barred Cardinalfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
5
The Barred Cardinalfish (Fowleria marmorata) is not common in Tanzanian waters and in several years of diving we have seen very few specimens. APPEARANCE The body shape is similar to other Cardinalfish, w...
Pemba chromis (Chromis pembae)

Pemba Chromis – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
4
The Pemba chromis (Chromis pembae) is not a common fish on the Tanzanian coast and we have only seen them in three areas. They were only described by Allen in 2010, perhaps because they are generally found ...
silver pearlfish, Encheliophis homei

Silver Pearlfish- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
31
The Silver Pearlfish (Encheliophis homei) is a very unusual fish with an out the ordinary lifestyle. They are not commonly seen, perhaps for several reasons. The specimens below were photographed on night d...
The Bigeye Snapper, Lutjanus lutjanus is also kmown as the Bigeye Seaperch, the Golden Striped Snapper, the Red Sea Lined Snapper,and the Yellow Snapper

Bigeye Snapper- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
24
The The Bigeye Snapper, Lutjanus lutjanus is also kmown as the Bigeye Seaperch, the Golden Striped Snapper, the Red Sea Lined Snapper,and the Yellow Snapper. They are not that common on the Tanzanian mainland c...
Sleek unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) is also known as the Blacktongue unicornfish

Sleek Unicornfish -Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
5
The Sleek unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) is also known as the Blacktongue unicornfish. In terms of numbers they are probably the most numerous Unicornfish in Tanzanian waters. Fishes within the Acanthuri...
Cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) is also known as the Sharp-nosed Rainbowfish, Pêche madame, Julia Larguirucha and Kamasubera

Cigar Wrasse- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
34
The Cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) is also known as the Sharp-nosed Rainbowfish, Pêche madame, Julia Larguirucha and Kamasubera. They are not a common wrasse on Tanzanian reefs but neither are they uncommon...
rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), also known as the Prodigal Son, Spanish jack and Hawaiian salmon

Rainbow Runner – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
42
The Rainbow Runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), also known as the Prodigal Son, Spanish jack and Hawaiian salmon. It is a member of the horse mackrel or jack family. They are fairly common on the Tanzanian coast...
White-Mouth Moray eel (Gymnothorax Meleagris)

Unusual Moray Eel

Alan Sutton
553
While diving on Octopus Reef off Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I noticed a strange looking Moray Eel with its head protruding from a hole. It seemed unlike any other Moray Eel that I had seen before. A clo...
Palefin Unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) also known as the Shortnose Unicornfish, and the Spotted Unicornfish

Palefin Unicornfish -Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
15
The Palefin Unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) is also known as the Shortnose Unicornfish,  and the Spotted Unicornfish. They are the most common Unicornfish in Tanzania. Fishes within the Acanthuridae fami...
Yelloweye Sweeper (Pempheris flavicycla)

Yelloweye Sweeper-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
10
The Yelloweye Sweeper (Pempheris flavicycla) has two subspecies. One  is Pempheris flavicycla flavicycla which is found across the Indian Ocean from East Africa to Sri Lanka but not in the Red Sea.  The oth...
Granite Moray Eel (Uropterygius sp. ) appears to be an undescribed Moray Eel found on the Tanzanian mainland coast

Granite Moray Eel – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
69
The Granite Moray Eel (Uropterygius sp.) appears to be an undescribed Moray Eel found on the Tanzanian mainland coast which is probably in the Uropterygius  genus.  To date no one has been able to identify ...
Eyebar Goby (Gnatholepis cauerensis) is also known as the Shoulderspot Goby, the Bridled Goby and the Cauer Eye-bar Goby

Eyebar Goby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
10
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...
Lunar Fusilier (Caesio lunaris) is also known as the Blue Fusilier and the Moon Fusilier.

Lunar Fusilier- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
22
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 ...
Gorgeous Shrimpgoby Amblyeleotris wheeleri also known as the Gorgeous Prawn-goby, the Barred Shrimpgoby and Wheeler's Shrimp-goby

Gorgeous Shrimp Goby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
41
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...
Graceful lizardfish (Saurida gracilis) also called the Blotchy lizardfish and Slender Lizardfish

Graceful Lizardfish- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
26
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 ...
Sand lizardfish is also known as the Clearfin Lizzardfish

Sand Lizardfish- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
45
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...
One-spot Snapper (Lutjanus monostigma) is also known as the Black Spot Snapper, One-spot Seaperch and Onespot Perch.

One Spot Snapper- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
159
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...
Black Damselfish ( Neoglyphidodon melas) is also known as the Bowtie Damselfish, the Bluefin Damselfish and in some areas as the Royal Damselfish

Black Damselfish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
241
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 (Scarus niger) is also known as the Dusky Parrotfish and the Black Parrotfish

Swarthy Parrotfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
43
  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...