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Name that CritterSeen an interesting wee beastie or giant sea monster but don't know what it is? Describe it here (or post a photo) and let the vast experience on ScubaBoard help.
Over the holiday, I have been going through old pictures and I ran across this one. I am pretty sure it is a grouper, but the coloring made me wonder. The picture was taken in the Keys...
Is it a grouper, and if so, what kind?
As always, thank you all.
DamselDoc
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On the dive where you see a whale shark go by, with a manta ray circling and the turtle looks like it is laughing at you... you can bet that your camera has just malfunctioned
As I learned on the Underwater Photography forum... "Shoot till your finger bleeds" and make sure your buddy has a camera when the wildlife comes to investigate your bleeding finger
don't I feel silly. I guess context is everything. I had been editing my black groupers and I saw the different face and just didn't put it together. I have tons of pictures of Nassau groupers, but they are the classic profile (sea fan in the back) kind of shot. It is funny that seeing a fish from a slightly different angle could have such a drastic perceptual effect.
Since the grouper was so easy for everyone (except me), maybe we should move to round 2
Here is another one that I found...
Again, the photo was taken in the keys. I would guess that it is some type of basket star, but beyond that I just don't know.
ps sorry, I have to use a thumbnail, I am having some trouble uploading to the photo gallery.
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On the dive where you see a whale shark go by, with a manta ray circling and the turtle looks like it is laughing at you... you can bet that your camera has just malfunctioned
As I learned on the Underwater Photography forum... "Shoot till your finger bleeds" and make sure your buddy has a camera when the wildlife comes to investigate your bleeding finger
"Sticking with a moron will only subject you to a bucketful of ad hockery when they finally discover that they have issues and now you're both in the stank." - Doc Intrepid
Yes, the dive was during the day. Follow up question, I have photographed other basket stars in branching corals (as shown in the thumbnail). I notice that the color and locations seem very different (in the branches vs in a crevice). Are these two different types (species) or does it just represent the variety among the same species? (I am using "species" as the lay-term not the technical...)
The grouper in the first shot could also be a red, but it's either a red or nassau, no doubt.
Reds and Nassaus are often confused because they do look alike. In this case, I'm sure it is a Nassau, the dorsal and caudal fins don't match a Red's. A Red's marking are rarely that well defined.
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“'It’s the Instructor not the Agency' is a saying promulgated by the inadequate
to cover their shortcomings." - Thalassamania
"Walter....neither you nor I are very likeable anyway.." - Ana
I'll second the ID of Epinephelus striatus Nassau Grouper. No chance that it is a Epinephelus morio Red Grouper. Reds do not have the body bars running down the entire length, typically just an eye bar some patchy dark areas and white spots on the body
and make sure your buddy has a camera when the wildlife comes to investigate your bleeding finger 
don't I feel silly. I guess context is everything. I had been editing my black groupers and I saw the different face and just didn't put it together. I have tons of pictures of Nassau groupers, but they are the classic profile (sea fan in the back) kind of shot. It is funny that seeing a fish from a slightly different angle could have such a drastic perceptual effect.
a grouper???
So many worms, so little time!
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