Snowflake Moray, Sogod Bay, #Philippines

Unlike most morays that look somewhat fierce, for some reason this one looks rather friendly. Luckily no level of anthropomorphization would convince me to put my hand near its mouth.

#scuba #fishposting

Shortfin lionfish, Sogod Bay #Philippines

The reflections of the light in the eyes are very cool here. To the best of my knowledge this fish, while venomous, and an ambush predator, is not a killer robot.
I didn't make it fill out a captcha, so I guess I can't be sure.

#scuba #fishposting

Ornate Ghost pipe fish, Sogod Bay #Philippines

I don't know if "pregnant" is the right word, but this is another one with a full brood pouch. Maybe spring is when a not-so-young pipefish's mind turns to reproduction? Apparently [1] the pouch contains up to 300 fertilized eggs and larvae. So I guess they give live birth?

[1]: My usual source, Allen, Steen, Humann, DeLoach "Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific". It may not be new, but it is blessedly AI slop free.

#scuba #fishposting

Shortfin lionfish, Sogod Bay, #Philippines.

#scuba #fishposting.

Shout out to everyone rocking a mohawk and pink lipstick on a Wednesday night.

Gurnard lionfish, Sogod Bay #Philippines

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Ornate ghost pipe fish, Sogod Bay, #Philippines

Shown this picture on a small screen, a friend asked "Which are the fish and which are the flowers?" A fair question.

It seems to be a mom and two dads. One reference [1] claims mom was most likely previously a dad until she grew out of it. Wikipedia is silent on the matter.

#scuba #fishposting

[1]: Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific, Allen, Steen, Humann, Deloach

Painted frogfish, Sogod Bay #Philippines

These ambush hunters use a lure dangling from their forehead to attract smaller fish. If you zoom in you can see the "string", but it looks like the actual lure is lost or damaged.

#scuba #fishposting

Bluntsnout Scorpionfish, Sogod Bay, #Philippines

Either this small red fish has extremely shiny teeth, or a clutch of eggs in its mouth. Either way I did not notice until reviewing the photo. Jawfish (males?) are famous for incubating their eggs in their mouths, spitting them out to aerate them. Maybe something similar going on here?

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Zebra Lionfish, Sogod Bay, #Philippines

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Juvenile ringtail wrasse (I think), Sogod Bay, #Philippines

I always like it when a (still) photograph captures motion in way that is not (consciously) visible to the eye.

#scuba #fishposting