Kauai bizarre fish gets eaten

[freakyfish]

Hello all,

I was in Kauai (north coast) last week and saw the most unusual fish.
Unfortunately no photo of this one. I have been snorkeling in about 50 countries and never saw this one before.
I would appreciate any help in trying to identify what it was...

It's mostly bright green colors and was swimming very close to shore and at first I thought it was a piece of floating seaweed due to it's swimming method (which seemed to mimic seaweed floating), and from the smooth green spikes which came out of it's body. It had 2 long thick antennae like spikes on it's head and maybe 10 or so off it's back- all of which were at least as long as it's body length. It's body and face were similar size and shape to a medium sized clown fish (thin/flat and oval, maybe 2" x 4"). It was all green color (striped like a clown fish), only exception was around it's eyes which did it have red lines (emanating out like rays of the sun).
My wife & I watched this fish for some time in shallow water and up close. At one point I looked away for just a second and wife said, "...look, it's eating a dead fish!". What appeared to be at first a rotten dead fish floating was a camouflaged stone fish and this unusual green sea monster was getting eaten before our eyes.

Thanks for your assistence.
eric & diana

PS: It was not a "Dragon Fish".

 

[maractwin]

My first guess was going to be a dragon wrasse (juvenile rockmover). But that's probably what you mean when you say it's not a "dragon fish". There are some likely razorfish as well, such as a juvenile peacock razorfish (these are related to the dragon wrasse).

Finally, it could be a juvenile lionfish of some sort. My ID books don't have juvenile pictures, but I seem to recall that the juvies have longer spines and brighter colors than the adults.

-Mark

 

[freakyfish]

Hello Mark,

Awesome, you got it! I just did a google image search for "rockmover" and from the photo I found, that's it. I said it wasn't a "Dragon Fish" because I found an image of those that was completely different (body was strange shape, not oval).
Thanks so much for your help!
-eric & diana

Here he is (Juvenile Rockmover Wrasse):
http://nisbet.net/images/underwater05.jpg

 

[maractwin]

In Fiji we found several of them that were only a half-inch long, moving with the surge in a shallow area. Makes them difficult to photograph. Here's the best shot I could get, and what they grow up to look like.

-Mark

 

[Chad_Ordelheide]

Freaky and Marac,
I still can't figure out to add pictures in the thread or have a thumbnail. I've tried it plenty of times in the advanced setting but it doesn't want to work!! Pleast share you wisdom!! The best I have figured out is to post a link!!

 

[justleesa]

Yeah, I was going to say juv. rockmover too...good call!

Good shot maractwin..them buggahs so fast!

Freaky and Marac,
I still can't figure out to add pictures in the thread or have a thumbnail. I've tried it plenty of times in the advanced setting but it doesn't want to work!! Pleast share you wisdom!! The best I have figured out is to post a link!!

Not Freaky or Marac, but I can help you with the attachments!

If you look below the "Reply to Thread" field there is an "Additional Options" field within that field there is a "manage attachments" button. If you click that a small, new window will pop up where you can browse your computer for the picture you would like to post. Once selected click upload and then after a bit you will see a small icon appear on the bottom part of that window showing you the picture is attached. Then close the window.

If you want to add a picture that alread is available on the net you have to right click that picture and then click on it's properties. The properties screen will appear where you will see a link. Copy and past that entire link. Back to the post page you will see a little yellow icon that looks like mountains with a sun/moon. Click that and a pop-up will appear. Incert your link into the available line and click ok - the link will then appear in your post with this on the one [img ] and this [/img ]on the other side. When you submit your post the picture will be there.

Hope this helps!

Aloha,
Lisa