Need Help Identifying This Fish Pictured On A Recent Dive In Cuba

[massologik]

hello everyone

I'm new here seeking help identifying a fish I took a picture of near the Bay of Pigs, Cuba in January of this year. The fish was about 2 and a half to 3 feet long (allowing for visual underwater augmentation, things look 1/6 th bigger underwater) and was in a coral formation in about 20 to 30 feet of water. I believe it is a puffer fish but not sure what sort. Here is the link for the picture (I couldn't figure out how to post it directly) so if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Nicolas

http/pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/massologik/d...jpg&.src=ph

 

[Darkerwhite2]

Looks a little like a puffer but i didnt know they got so big. a Different species must grom that big but it def has some puffer traits to it. Beauty of a fish if i might add

 

[Josiah]

Definitely some kind of saltwater puffer but not sure which .

 

[keith00]

Hi,

Its a Starry Puffer, Arothron stellatus. Grows to about 1 metre. Uusualyy in sandt stretches of deep lagoons and seaward reefs 2 to 52m according to Lieske & Myers.

 

[massologik]

Hi,

Its a Starry Puffer, Arothron stellatus. Grows to about 1 metre. Uusualyy in sandt stretches of deep lagoons and seaward reefs 2 to 52m according to Lieske & Myers.

Dear keith

Thanks for responding to my question. Last night as I was burning the midnight oil, I found picture of a fish that are identical to mine whoose common name is Spotfin Burrfish. Can this another name for the Starry Puffer ?

Thank you

Nicolas

 

[andywg]

A burrfish would normally be in a different family (Diodontidae) to that of a puffer (Tetraodontidae).

Sadly work won't open the picture image so I can't see it.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

pic for you andy

dunno what it is but it's gorgeous

 

[keith00]

No Nicolas,

Spotfin Burrfish is another name for a Porcupine Fish.

This link will show you.

http/www.julianrocks.net/fish/fancyfish/...Reticulatus.htm

You can also see pictures of Porcupine Fish on my diving website on the Shagra 2006 page.

 

[Darkehorse]

Does Arothron stellatus have spines? The latter two pictures in the series clearly shows spines on the underside of the puffer's body.

-Darke

 

[andywg]

Many puffers do have spines that show when inflated, I am not sure on when non inflated though. I assume it is possible.

One of the main differences between the family of puffers and tobies (Family Tetradontidae) and the family of procupinefish and burrfish (Family Diodontidae) is that the former has the appearance of 4 teeth and the latter has the appearance of two.

Neither of the groups actually has true dental teeth at all, but rather a modified fused growth from the jaw bone itself.

It is not easy to tell from the pic how the "beak" appears, so a better id is more difficult, though Keith00 seems to know their stuff, so I would go with their identification.

 

[massologik]

Hello Everyone

First off I wanted to say I'm delighted and grateful for all of your imputs on helping me Identify this fish. With respect to what Keith has said, I'm not convinced that this is the Starry Puffer fish also known as the Starry Toadfish. The main reasons are 1) that the spots on the fish in my pictures are very circular and not in a crocodile like patern 2) the spots are dark and not white like the pictures ive seen of Starry Puffers 3) if you look closely to the picture I sent the link for and Miss Wiggle graciously posted you can see the short immovable spines on the head and body. I'm adding the rest of the photos to help with the process. I hope more of you can add to the debate.

http/pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/massologik/d...jpg&.src=ph[/img]

http/pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/massologik/d...jpg&.src=ph[/img]

http/pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/massologik/d...jpg&.src=ph[/img]

http/pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/massologik/d...jpg&.src=ph[/img]

http/pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/massologik/d...jpg&.src=ph[/img]

Thanks

Nicolas

btw Miss Wiggles

Can you or anyone tell me how to post my pictures directly on the page ?

Thanks

Nicolas

PS: forgot to add that I'm really leaning towards thinking that this is a Spotfin Burrfish

Nicolas