Help Identify Spotted Sea Snake/EEL

[Jifi]

Hi
Was in Aruba and saw this spotted snake/eel. In person it look tan and cream/white spotted. Never saw the head. I did an internet search, but haven't found what it is. Hoping for a little help.

Are there a lot of them? Or am I just incredibly lucky?

Thanks,
Jifi

[Keith & Sharon]

I believe it's a

[Warmwater Wank]

Lot's of them in Bonaire's waters, though that doesn't necessarily rule out your being lucky in Aruba. It's a Sharptail eel, often seeing hunting and tends to attract many hangers-on who wait for it to scare out some dinner that the scroungers then can grab. Huh, kinda reminds me of some friends I know... :eyebrow: // ww

[Walter]

Sharptail Eel.

[DeputyDan]

Lot's of them in Bonaire's waters, though that doesn't necessarily rule out your being lucky in Aruba. It's a Sharptail eel, often seeing hunting and tends to attract many hangers-on who wait for it to scare out some dinner that the scroungers then can grab. Huh, kinda reminds me of some friends I know... :eyebrow: // ww

All true.

A very common eel in Bonaire.......

[Jifi]

Thanks all! Is there any good sites I should use to identify critters I will be seeing underwater?

[robint]

Thanks all! Is there any good sites I should use to identify critters I will be seeing underwater?

best thing to do is the buy the Caribbean ID books by Paul Humann, you will learn so much and have photos of almost every fish in Caribbean.
get the Fish ID, Coral ID, Creature ID, and the Fish Behavior books.
Amazon.com: Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (9781878348302): Paul Humann, Ned DeLoach: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Reef-Fish-Identification-Florida-Caribbean/dp/1878348302/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249581832&sr=1-2)

we learned most of the fish by using these books. One trick we learned to help us was to look at the Fish ID book for example and pick out 5 new fish we have never seen before that we might see on our next trip (the books tell you what area of Carib they are found). Then we write them down on a slate, repeat with Creature book, then we go on the trip and mark them off as we find them. Also, we all take photos or videos, so when we get back from a trip, the books come out to identify everything. It is really the best way to learn...:D

[DeputyDan]

best thing to do is the buy the Caribbean ID books by Paul Humann, you will learn so much and have photos of almost every fish in Caribbean.
get the Fish ID, Coral ID, Creature ID, and the Fish Behavior books.
Amazon.com: Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (9781878348302): Paul Humann, Ned DeLoach: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Reef-Fish-Identification-Florida-Caribbean/dp/1878348302/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249581832&sr=1-2)

we learned most of the fish by using these books. One trick we learned to help us was to look at the Fish ID book for example and pick out 5 new fish we have never seen before that we might see on our next trip (the books tell you what area of Carib they are found). Then we write them down on a slate, repeat with Creature book, then we go on the trip and mark them off as we find them. Also, we all take photos or videos, so when we get back from a trip, the books come out to identify everything. It is really the best way to learn...:D

I agree with the books. I own all of them but have never purchased one.

Anytime a little birdie or Santa Claus wants Christmas or Birthday ideals I present the order page from Amazon for one of these books or something similiar - thus I get what I would prefer.

[lmorin]

ReefNet Inc. (http://reefnet.ca/) has, if I understand correctly, joined forces with Humann/DeLoach. The current version of Reefnet's DVD, "Reef Fish ID: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas - Interactive Edition" reflects that joint effort. It provides a lot of additional information (e.g., many more still photos, videos) not available in the book and has started to solve some issues related to differences of opinion and/or presentation that existed between the book and the original CD/DVD info. I find the book easiest to use because I know its layout pretty well. On the other hand, many ID issues are resolved by all the extra info in the DVD. The present DVD is the 4th edition.

[Warmwater Wank]

I would second the ReefNet software & DVD. If you take your laptop along, the software can be on it and the dvd is great for when you can't be wet or have a loooong surface interval. The software has a very user friendly organization to it and finding things is a breeze (do watch the intro video though--BIG help for using the software).

There are typically several images of each listing, often a short video clip. The software takes the Humann/deLoach mega-effort book series to another level. It allows for several ways to ID and find things, even if you can only recall one or two details. Nice to browse through also, even if you don't have something to look up. The dvd is almost worth it on it's own--amazing amounts of footage of critters along w/ nomenclature etc. A very worthwhile investment--we quit taking the books along on dive trips after we got this! // ww

[diver 85]

If it has yellow spots on the head and whitehttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GEAUXtiger/CZMUWNov07/IMG_0161089-copy_edited-1.jpg spots on the rest of the body, it's a sharptail eel---like this one......

[kdl]

I have a similar request. Just back from Curacao and need help identifying a yellow eel with black/brown markings. I don't think this eel is in my Reef ID book of the Caribbean, unless he's a juv Spotted Moray. Can anyone identify? I have 'tried' to attach the image.

[Walter]

That one is a type of moray, but I'm not familiar with those markings.

[jd950]

I am far from an expert on this, but I am guessing a reverse or inverted color Goldentail Moray.

[SkipperJohn]

I'm glad you posted this. Over the last 12+ years my GF has spotted these things and has gone hysterical. She is afraid of the water. Not so much the water but what swims in it. The first time I took her to Baby Beach, figuring it was like a pool, she was resting on the shore just in the water and put her hand down on one. She screamed and would have run all the way back home were it not for the Atlantic ocean. a few years later she took videos of one while I was snorkeling. A local said it was a "snake eel". I could find no other reference to this mysterious "snake eel" but several locals had heard of it.
I'll see if I can find the vid & post it.

[lmorin]

I am far from an expert on this, but I am guessing a reverse or inverted color Goldentail Moray.

That's what I guessed, too. Pretty much confirmed by images in the "Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas" (4th edition DVD). Compare image #11.

[amckelvie]

Hi
Was in Aruba and saw this spotted snake/eel. In person it look tan and cream/white spotted. Never saw the head. I did an internet search, but haven't found what it is. Hoping for a little help.

Are there a lot of them? Or am I just incredibly lucky?

Thanks,
Jifi

Sorry just joined so not sure when this thread was posted
This looks like a golden spotted snake eel or a sharptail. These seem quite common - at least in Dominica where I have seen several in the shallows
Try the reefguide.org

[tinao]

It is a sharp tail eel.. good pic with head in our March newsletter at Discover Diving photo gallery, event photos of dive students, staff and dive training (http://www.divefl.com/newsletter.html)