‘ELEGANTLY WEIRD’ – SPOTTED DRUMFISH JUVENILES: BAHAMAS REEF FISH 20
I’ve posted before about the rather extraordinary SPOTTED DRUMFISH, one of those reef fish which in juvenile form is very different from the adult. This species was first up in the Bahamas Reef Fish series – click above link. Here are a few recent images, courtesy of Melinda Riger. The first three show the juvenile form (note the piscine photobomb in the first one). The last shows a group of adults hanging out on the reef with (I think) some soldierfish. You can see how the juvenile drumfish becomes the adult, but those little stripy bullet-heads with their two long elegantly trailing appendages differ considerably from the rather solid-looking spotty / stripy adults with their dramatic punko-rockabilly quiffs.
ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO 
Wonderful impressions from a world beneath the surface unbeknown to me…
Thanks for sharing this, RH.
Wishing you a great weekend,
Dina
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Thanks Dina, and yes, it was a great weekend! Hope yours was too. Are you back in Norfolk yet? I love these reef fish, and just wish I could swim properly so I could scuba – but yes, it is too late to learn! RH
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I really like seeing the juvenile and adult stages in these great photos. This disparity is what makes fish identification so challenging and fun.
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Hi Jet – and it gets even more complicated when the juveniles are skinny and bright yellow, and the adults are plump and bright blue… shape AND colour variations mean a trip to the nearest reef fish reference guide! RH
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