Please ID Tangs in Maui while Scuba Diving

nuxx

nuxx

.Registered Member
Hey guys,

Not sure what these tangs are in this picture:


tang_ID.jpg



Was taken while scuba diving off of Black Rock in Maui. This was a picture from my wife's GoPro. I have video of the whole dive on mine, but haven't had a chance to review it yet.

Was thinking either adult Chevrons or Bluelined (Acanthurus nigroris) Tangs. Ignore the Orange Shoulder.

I'm not too sure...
 
I saw plenty of those in October when I went to Maui. I wasn't really sure what they were and the locals have no idea either and by locals, I mean mostly transplanted west coast people.
 
SDguy said:
For more info, Fenner likes to group fish by location on WWM. Here is his list of tangs from HI: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tangshi.htm
Click to expand...

Good reference, although it's missing a couple of species from genus Naso (N. caesius and N. annulatus). John Hoover's Hawaiian Reef Fishes is my go-to guide for Hawaiian fish ID. Hoover also lists A. lineatus with a note that only one individual has been observed near Hanauma Bay on O'ahu.
 
Thanks so much guys :)

Saw pretty much every fish I was looking for minus Chevrons and Crosshatches, but can see those in my tank...

Our dive guide pulled out a massive Zebra Eel too. Had a 6 foot Whitetip swim by my face as well :)
 
nuxx said:
Thanks so much guys :)

Saw pretty much every fish I was looking for minus Chevrons and Crosshatches, but can see those in my tank...

Our dive guide pulled out a massive Zebra Eel too. Had a 6 foot Whitetip swim by my face as well :)
Click to expand...

Sadly, Crosshatches are not seen at recreational diving depths in the main HI islands. Supposedly they are common in the NWHI, but that area is a protected marine sanctuary.

On a side note, I hate it when dive guides handle marine life. Take only photos and leave only bubbles.
 
Deinonych said:
Sadly, Crosshatches are not seen at recreational diving depths in the main HI islands. Supposedly they are common in the NWHI, but that area is a protected marine sanctuary.
Click to expand...

Yeah I wasn't really expecting it... I know they are commonly found past 200 feet. Deepest we went was around 60.

We saw a few Blue Throats, so close enough ;)

I was pretty shocked how rare Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasses were. Only saw 3 or 4 the whole trip. While I was filming a pair of Achilles, there was a cleaner about 10 feet away cleaning a bunch of large Triggers that had lined up. They were a little too close to the waves breaking on the rocks to get a good video. I filmed it, but pretty far out...
 
I didn't see any Achilles tangs the entire time I was there. I did see a pair of cross hatches though at Molakini, also saw a pair of potters angels there as well. Blue throats were everywhere at Molakini along with the Humu Humu and white striped triggers. I did see one very large aberent yellow tang though.
 
pinnatus said:
Achilles normally hang out in the surf zone, where the waves crash on the reef.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I only ever saw a couple of smaller ones off Kaui, and I couldn't even get close, because they were in shallow, wave crashing, boulder type areas.
 
Deinonych said:
Good reference, although it's missing a couple of species from genus Naso (N. caesius and N. annulatus)
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's not a complete list, good point.

He does comment regarding "suitable for aquariums" or specifically about Naso, "Here I'll expand only on the five that are principally available in the hobby worldwide..."
 
nuxx said:
Yeah I wasn't really expecting it... I know they are commonly found past 200 feet. Deepest we went was around 60.

We saw a few Blue Throats, so close enough ;)

I was pretty shocked how rare Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasses were. Only saw 3 or 4 the whole trip. While I was filming a pair of Achilles, there was a cleaner about 10 feet away cleaning a bunch of large Triggers that had lined up. They were a little too close to the waves breaking on the rocks to get a good video. I filmed it, but pretty far out...
Click to expand...

They are not as common on Maui. You see them everywhere on the Big Island. Same goes for Ornate Butterflies (C. ornatissimus). On the other hand, Bicolor Anthias are relatively common on Maui and pretty much nonexistent on BI. It's interesting to dive the different islands and note the differences in fish distribution.

Dammit, now I'm pining to get back there. :D

SDguy said:
Yeah, it's not a complete list, good point.

He does comment regarding "suitable for aquariums" or specifically about Naso, "Here I'll expand only on the five that are principally available in the hobby worldwide..."
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
jaa1456 said:
I didn't see any Achilles tangs the entire time I was there. I did see a pair of cross hatches though at Molakini, also saw a pair of potters angels there as well. Blue throats were everywhere at Molakini along with the Humu Humu and white striped triggers. I did see one very large aberent yellow tang though.
Click to expand...

Nice! Last year, there was a lone Hawaiian Longfin Anthias hanging out at Molokini. Was a real treat to see, as they almost never venture to recreational diving depths. This one was around 80 FSW.

P1040707_zpsfbd60463.jpg
 
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