Fish ID help

[schaffld]

I've been through my reef guides from cover to cover and can not pin down the identification of this fish.

I think it's a type of wrass but perhaps in a transitional stage that isn't documented in the guides.

I took this photo at Sinandigan Wall here in Puerto Galera.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.






http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=82031&stc=1&d=1283770622

 

[pancho_168]

i think its a red snapper, by the shape of the body its somewhat a snapper,

 

[pughio83]

Looks for like a wrasse or bass, possibly a juvenile transition phase but i honestly dont know or recognise it, you can submit your hoto to various online fish id databases.

 

[Quero]

??
Cheilinus trilobatus juvenile or intermediate phase
??

 

[schaffld]

??
Cheilinus trilobatus juvenile or intermediate phase
??

Thanks. Yes, I'm definitely thinking it's a transitional phase of some kind of wrasse. The markings on the face resemble C. trilobatus, but the body colouration is throwing me a real curve ball. I'm using Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific by Allen et. al. I'll do a bit more investigating on one of my favourite fish ID websites.

Marine Iconography of the Philippine Archipelago | Poppe-Images

Cheers

 

[pughio83]

its a very good shout, just checked it out.

 

[schaffld]

Looking at the pictures of C. trilobatus on the Poppe-Images website also lead me to their collection of Cheilinus chlorourus. The facial markings and the highly variable body colourations with white spotting on their examples are making me lean towards the Floral Wrasse.

My next question... why am I dwelling on this so much???