Anybody know these fish?

Tyler Flynn · Mar 17, 2022

I have been researching snorkelling a nd diving in africa as of late, and came across these 2 fish....
Can anybody tell me anything about them? I have never seen a wrasse or blenny that looks like these before in the hobby.

Mikedawg · Mar 17, 2022

Top might be a Leopard Blenny; bottom could be a species/morph of a possum wrasse judging from body shape.

Captain Redbeard · Mar 17, 2022

x 2 on blenny. Short bodied blenny aka leopard blenny

i cant think · Mar 18, 2022

Tyler Flynn said:
I have been researching snorkelling a nd diving in africa as of late, and came across these 2 fish....
Can anybody tell me anything about them? I have never seen a wrasse or blenny that looks like these before in the hobby.

Bottom is a wetmorella, possibly W. albofasciata or W. tanakai (I think it’s a juvenile W. tanakai). Top looks like a leopard blenny.

Captain Redbeard · Mar 18, 2022

Mmm I’m almost inclined to say that second looks like a juvenile red Diana hogfish. I could totally be wrong. As it has bands that they don’t usually have. But it just doesn’t look like any Pygmy/possum wrasse I’ve seen. The bands are much thicker than a lined bar like a possum wrasse

i cant think · Mar 19, 2022

Captain Redbeard said:
Mmm I’m almost inclined to say that second looks like a juvenile red Diana hogfish. I could totally be wrong. As it has bands that they don’t usually have. But it just doesn’t look like any Pygmy/possum wrasse I’ve seen. The bands are much thicker than a lined bar like a possum wrasse

Definitely not a hog - it has the wrong pattern and body shape even for a juvenile.

Captain Redbeard · Mar 19, 2022

Like I said, could be totally wrong. Body type seems fairly similar just no banding for sure. It’s odd. I do agree the mouth and snout are possum wrasse like for sure, but the body structure and colors look like this Diana red hogfish. The Pygmy wrasses lines are much more define and no where near as wide. I’m super curious to find out what it actually is.

Captain Redbeard · Mar 19, 2022

I’ve tried searching for wrasse native to that area of Tanzania as well, no luck so far. That was just to closest looking color/shape I could find that appeared similar.

next best guess is some juvenile form of Oxycheilinus

i cant think · Mar 19, 2022

I’ve seen that juvenile wetmorella wrasse have thicker banding than the adults so that could show something.

Captain Redbeard · Mar 19, 2022

i cant think said:
I’ve seen that juvenile wetmorella wrasse have thicker banding than the adults so that could show something.

Yeah I’ve seen them wider as well on possum wrasse just nothing as wide or undefined at those. Totally possible. Just nothing I’ve ever seen. Maybe I can find a book on African wrasse and be lucky enough to find it. Very curious.