silver pearlfish, Encheliophis homei

Silver Pearlfish- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
6
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
7
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
2
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
12
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
4
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
533
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
5
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
6
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
16
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
6
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
15
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
23
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
15
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
25
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
82
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
136
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
30
  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 (Myripristis violacea) is also known as the Violet Soldierfish , Orangefin Soldierfish and the Scarlet Soldierfish.

Lattice Soldierfish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
13
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 (Lethrinus nebulosus) is also known as the Yellow Emperor, North West Snapper and Yellow Sweetlip

Spangled Emperor – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
28
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...
Blacktail Snapper (Lutjanus fulvus) is also known as the Flametail Snapper, Redmargined Seaperch, Taiva, Waigeu Snapper and Yellowmargined Sea Perch.

Blacktail Snapper- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
51
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...
longhorn cowfish, Lactoria cornuta, also called the horned boxfish

Longhorn Cowfish- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
186
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. ...