Ok, so those others were easy...try this!

[Puffer Fish]

This was taken yesterday off of Destin Florida, in about 70 ft of water.

I have been looking for things with bands on them to explain a picture I took several months ago... so at the end of the dive, I see a small (maybe 4 inches long).. banded "arm" sticking out from a small piece of coral... so I carefully reach down and pull it out...


First I thought worm of some kind, but when I pulled it out, it got very, very upset at me... no worm I have ever seen acted like that...so I put it down and took it's picture.

I could not see the head (way too small)... so what is it?

Not any eel I have ever seen.. almost has a head like a seahorse...

Anyone know what this is?

 

[Puffer Fish]

Another view of the guy:

 

[ptyx]

It's a pipefish - cousin of seahorses - but it will take someone better at marine biology than I am to tell the exact specie.

I love the little buggers, they're cute and not too shy - easy subjects for macro shots!

 

[Kukuisa]

Have you thought of a pipefish (Cosmocampus sp.) ?

K.

 

[scubaren]

It looks like a pipe fish to me......a really ticked off pipe fish.

 

[Puffer Fish]

Well, I think you are correct... in general...thanks.

This guy was hiding, and wanted nothing but to get back into hiding..

Not sure if they come in the above colors, but just going thru the various species..

Micrognathus crinitus, or something close would seem to be the guy..

I have pictures of lots of Pipefish, none look and act like a small eel...did not know there were any like this in this area... interesting.

 

[Puffer Fish]

It looks like a pipe fish to me......a really ticked off pipe fish.

Ren, you would be correct, it did not like being dragged out into the open...thankfully it did not have teeth.. or rather teeth big enough to bite me. I have never seen one like this up here.

 

[ptyx]

Not sure if they come in the above colors, but just going thru the various species..

I'm not sure the color would be a good indicator, they might adapt to their environment.

 

[Puffer Fish]

I'm not sure the color would be a good indicator, they might adapt to their environment.

Seems you are correct on that..as everything matches, just the color is way different... rather pretty color by the way..

 

[Sully3]

its a shortfin pipefish