Marine life identification resources?

[Pedroinspain]

I was somewhat surprised not to find a section on this on this forum .... or am I just myopic?

During my 2 weeks at Brayka Bay (Marsa Alam Red Sea, Egypt) I used an Intova Sport Pro to assist my feeble memory as an aid to fish (and other) identification. It was a MOST helpful little video-corder for the price. However, even with the help of the Collins "Coral Reef Guide - Red Sea", I still have a short list of beasties which stubbornly resist ID. And I am not just talking about the rare skulker in the gloom. One of my issues involves a small blue and goldy-orange 'fusilier' that is very common around the reef tops.

So here are the questions:

# What web sites are friendly for this type of pseudo-science with well-arranged access to images?
# Are any of these particularly good for the Red Sea?

When I work out how to, I will upload an image or two.

Keep safe,
Pedro

 

[drbill]

Have you tried the Debelius Field Guide to the Red Sea? Don't know if many web sites will cover the majority of the fish since web sites are generally free and it does take a lot of dedication and time to put together a good one to ID "all" the species in a region.

 

[Pedroinspain]

Indeed, Dr Bill. I use the Collin's guide (2004) in conjunction with Debelius (2001). The (additional) small images of the latter are often very useful, but Collins strikes me as more comprehensive with better photos or at least better printing, and definitely with fewer mistakes. But I still have a stubborn 8 or so fish that have resisted both books.

 

[knotical]

When you start uploading pictures, you might want to do it in this forum: Name that Critter
Some pretty knowledgeable people hang out there.

 

[Pedroinspain]

Many thanks, Knotical. I did not spot that. It seems to be exactly what I wanted. WHooott!!

 

[underH2Oman]

Not sure how good these might be for the Red Sea but elsware they are nice.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has two good -- and free -- iPhone apps. "Fishes: East Pacific" is a guide to shore fishes of the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean, and was put together by Ross Robertson and Gerald Allen, two expert fish guys. Species can be browsed by common name, Latin name or family ( https://itunes.apple.com/…/fishes-east-pacific…/id494644648… ).
There's also "Greater Caribbean Fishes," which covers everything from the typically-seen queen angelfish and spotted drums to Florida's deepwater treasures Lipogramma regium and Plectranthias garrupellus. Nearly 1,600 species are covered in 5,500 pictures. (https://itunes.apple.com/…/fishes-greater-cari…/id570048678… )

 

[SenetUK]

Hi Dean

I hope you don't mind me dropping these in here as suggestions, we have recently put the first versions of our Pocket Guide Red Sea marine creature identification guides up onto the appstore and playstore.

iPhone
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pocket-guide-red-sea/id972364121?mt=8

Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.senet.pocketguideredsea

we do recognise that these are only a start and will be updating and improving them over the coming versions and would be keen to seek out any suggestions for improvements or creatures that should be included and if anyone wished to send us a comment here perhaps or on our discussion board it would be very much appreciated.

support@senet.co.uk
Senet Ltd - Mobile Apps
Senet Ltd - Mobile Apps

All the best
Martin
Senet Mobile UK

 

[Joel <°)))><]

I hope you don't mind me dropping these in here as suggestions, we have recently put the first versions of our Pocket Guide Red Sea marine creature identification guides up onto the appstore and playstore.

iPhone
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pocket-guide-red-sea/id972364121?mt=8

Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.senet.pocketguideredsea

we do recognise that these are only a start and will be updating and improving them over the coming versions and would be keen to seek out any suggestions for improvements or creatures that should be included and if anyone wished to send us a comment here perhaps or on our discussion board it would be very much appreciated.

Any plans to expand to other diving regions?