Black crocodilefish?

[tonyN]

I was diving the Pier at Dumaguete in the Philippines 'bout a week ago and was shown a fish by one of the local dive guides. He later told me that he never before had seen an adult crocodilefish with this coloration. Since I got back home I've tried to find info on black crocodiles but have so far failed. Can anyone enlighten me as to what speices it actually is?

Forgot to mention that the fish is around 20 centimeters, that would be some 8 inches.

 

[donnyb]

I've seen (Palau, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, PNG) quite a few that color, especially juveniles. There is a "black color phase" described in the literature for Cymbacephalus beauforti, the common "crocodilefish".

 

[Vie]

He later told me that he never before had seen an adult crocodilefish with this coloration. Since I got back home I've tried to find info on black crocodiles but have so far failed. Can anyone enlighten me as to what speices it actually is?

Allen, Steene, Humann and DeLooach. Reef Fish Identificatio: Tropical Pacific. Jacksonville, 2003. p. 383.

"Although Crocodile Flatheads (Cymbacephalus beauforti) typically depend on camouflaged patterns to match the bottom, they are commonly sighted in a black phase"

 

[tonyN]

Sorry for the late reply guys, but thanks. I guess it had its "black phase" and never really came out of it.