Palefin Unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) also known as the Shortnose Unicornfish, and the Spotted Unicornfish

Palefin Unicornfish -Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
1
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
1
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
2
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
2
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
11
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
10
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
6
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
14
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
39
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
67
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
19
  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
8
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
11
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
31
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
100
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 (Corythoichthys schultzi)

Schultz’s Pipefish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
7
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. ...
Dory Snapper (Lutjanus fulviflamma) is also known as the Blackspot Snapper

Dory Snapper- Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
17
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 (Acanthurus mata) is also known as the Yellowmask Surgeonfish, Bleeker's Surgeonfish, the Mata Surgeonfish, the Pale Surgeonfish and the Striped Surgeonfish

Elongate Surgeonfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
21
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 (Istigobius decoratus) is also known as the Decorated Sand Goby, the Decorated Sand-Goby and the Decorated Sandgoby

Decorated Goby – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
17
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 (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) is also known as the Blue Cheeked Triggerfish, the Blue Jaw Triggerfish and the Blue Throat Triggerfish

Gilded Triggerfish – Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
14
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...
Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) is also known as the Blackspot Surgeonfish, Dusky Surgeonfish, Lavender Tang and Spot-cheeked Surgeonfish.

Brown Surgeonfish-Facts and Photographs

Alan Sutton
18
The Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) is also known as the Blackspot Surgeonfish, Dusky Surgeonfish, Lavender Tang and Spot-cheeked Surgeonfish. They are  common on the Tanzanian coast. Members ...