Rarities underwater

[Luiz Rocha]

Here is an interesting one, Centropyge flavissima from Christmas Island:

Note the differences from the normal color morph below, especially the eye:

I am working on their genetics to see if they are really the same species... They have a very disjunct distribution, the "normal" flavissima occurs throughout the South and West Pacific, but is absent from Indonesia and the Philippines and this different morph occurs only in Cocos Keeling and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

 

[rachenbrazil]

For me these 2 C flavissima cannot be the same ... regular one have yellow eye and blue ring on epidermis the xmas morph have blue eyes ... Eyes genetics are very specific, so for me should be 2 different species...

 

[Luiz Rocha]

For me these 2 C flavissima cannot be the same ... regular one have yellow eye and blue ring on epidermis the xmas morph have blue eyes ... Eyes genetics are very specific, so for me should be 2 different species...

Not to mention their vastly different distributions! Problem is, most taxonomists are very conservative, and if somebody ever wrote a description based *only* on eye color difference it would certainly be rejected from any scientific journal...

More pics soon

 

[Mark]

Hey Luiz,

I hope you don't mind me adding these.

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Here we go, extremely rare, never saw it in any (public or private) aquarium , Carcharhinus galapagensis:

Yes, it is alive and well, we released it after we tagged her with a satellite tag and a radio transmitter.

 

[joetbs]

Great pictures Luiz.

i sent you a PM but you could post them here if you have any coral shots from Sao Tome. did you happen to photograph any Serranus sp. while there?

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Hey Luiz,

I hope you don't mind me adding these.

By all means, as I said, I am running out of rare fish pics Never saw the Zebrasoma before, where were those taken?

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Great pictures Luiz.

i sent you a PM but you could post them here if you have any coral shots from Sao Tome. did you happen to photograph any Serranus sp. while there?

Just answered your PM, and here you go, new species of Serranus:

I will send you the coral photos by e-mail...

 

[Mark]

By all means, as I said, I am running out of rare fish pics Never saw the Zebrasoma before, where were those taken?

Those are from Mozambique.

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Another rare clownfish, Amphiprion tricinctus, endemic to the Marshall Islands:

Adult:

Juvenile:

Both taken at Kwajalein Atoll.

 

[Underwood]

Luiz,
You may already know this, but I believe Copps has one of those Cocos Keeling Lemonpeels that you posted.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Luiz, Im starting to like you so much, that I hate you!

Beautiful. Sent you a PM.

 

[gasman059]

Again thx for your time and dedication! can I be your friend LOL.
Just kidding i will certainly keep an eye on this threads there's certainly another freak just like John in this parts of town now!

 

[sivert55]

that serranus photo is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing

 

[joetbs]

Just answered your PM, and here you go, new species of Serranus:

I will send you the coral photos by e-mail...

that is S. wirtzi. There's another not described. I have 1 specimen preserved tentatively named S. russoi =)

 

[Luiz Rocha]

that is S. wirtzi. There's another not described. I have 1 specimen preserved tentatively named S. russoi =)

I knew it was going to get Peter's name, wasn't sure if the publication was out yet. So, there is another one?! I never saw it... Got any photos?

 

[kirkaz]

Amazing pics. I certainly love the Masked Angels. I think that is the first juvi African Angel I have ever seen, they are quite stunning when young.

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Pseudanthias thompsoni endemic to Hawaii. Normally in deep waters, but goes up shallow in the northern atolls, this one I photographed in Pearl and Hermes:

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Here is a very nice blenny from Venezuela, Emblemariopsis ramirezi, I think it would do well in aquaria, but never saw it in the market:

 

[seahorsedreams]

Ever think about making these into a book?

Do you take pics of the commons as well?