Better, Biggest and Best Featuring Zebra Moray, Hawaiian Dascyllus and the Blood Crab

   Lots has transpired since the last blog, culminating with a delightful swim today with a few really good pictures.  We will apply the superlatives in a bit.

Pelagic Jellyfish and immature Unicorn Filefish.

    
   The good news is that I was completely full of bologna when I trumpeted the demise of the Pacific Trumpetfish.  Since then we have seen four at City of Refuge and a couple on each side of the pier.  Being the coward that I am, I'm blaming this faux pas on Aubre.  She's young and has broad shoulders.  (And she's not here and she doesn't read the blog.)

   Moving away from my frailties, I'm extremely proud to tell you that John Hoover is going to include our picture of the Pelagic Jellyfish,   Thysanostroma flagelattum, in his revised Sea Creatures book.  When I heard the good news,  I wrote him a glowing reply, commenting that his book presents the biology of these animals in such an understandable and concise fashion that it should be

Longtail Dragonet in the Waikoloa Hilton Lagoon

used as a high school text.  John replied that he wasn't aware that they taught invertebrate zoology in high school, but Hawai'i's Sea Creatures is used as a text by the University of Hawaii!  If he ever revises the Ultimate Guide perhaps he will include the immature Unicorn Filefish that you see cruising among the tentacles.

     In the process of finding those aforementioned trumpetfish, we had a chance to swim with our friends, Bob and Kim Hillis at City of Refuge.  We saw some good stuff, including a Paletail Unicornfish with a nose so long that it would vie with a prevaricating Pinocchio. 

    Bob Hillis has lots of good tales.  When asked about snorkeling Hapuna, he mentioned a dragonet just beyond tne surf line.  Referring to the texts back at the ranch, we were unable to find the fish to which he alluded, but we did find one that had eluded our diagnostic abilities.  After Aubre and Jackie cavorted at great expense with the Waikoloa dolphins (the shame of my association with that junket is almost more than I can bear) we took a dip in the man made lagoon, which is never stocked with fish.  In its own way it is sort of like a bird feeder.  Or perhaps a mist net.  There I saw a fish that I had a hell of a time putting a name on, finally and unhappily deciding it might be a Nebulous Lizardfish. 

Yellowmargin Moray Eel with Cleaner Wrasse,  Kailua Pier

(On numerous occasions, my rivals have stated that nebulous might well describe my taxonomic abilities.)   At any rate, in reviewing the Hawaiian dragonets, what should we find but that species that was peacefully basking on the sand of the Hilton lagoon...the Longtail Dragonet. So one fish off the 2014 list and one (correctly identified) fish onto the list.  Assuming that this unusual, bug-eyed fish is not on your list, it is very likely that it is still camping on the sand in the lagoon.

     This week we went snorkeling with our good friend Anita on consecutive mornings.  The first day we went on the Paul Allen side of the Kailua  pier.  The first part of the adventure did not yield any remarkable sightings.  However the experience was made a tad more interesting by Anita, who, as she goes through life, conducts a bubbling soliloquy about all she sees.  It turns out that when the water is choppy,  it is best not to go on and on about all the beautiful fish.  Such  exclamations may predispose to aspirating seawater.    
    Luckily, we got Anita back before she could drown.  On the way in, under a chunk of  rip rap just beside the heiau, we I saw the largest moray of my storied career.  This guy, which I assume was an enormous Yellowmargin, was as big around as my thigh and about the same color.  This may say more about my thigh than the enormity of the eel, but you get the idea.  The turbulent water was full of debris, not ideal for photography.  After my first effort, Anita noted that the eel had his mouth open.  Another  look revealed that this brute had opened his mouth so that a cleaner wrasse could enter and clean those dagger-like teeth!

The Jantzen Swimmer hovered above the Pool

     When Sandra and I made it back to Casa Ono, we discovered that Anita had left her equipment in our trunk.  She is such a good friend that we decided to rectify this small problem by asking if she would accompany us the following day.  As she had admired the picture of the Hawaiian Dascyllus on the poster at the pier, we suggested Kahalu'u, where I thought we might see the immature dascyllus and a Dragon Wrasse.   She was happy to go along and we saw some nice fish.  So dense was the throng of fellow swimmers, however, that it made observation difficult.  I thought I was back at Jantzen Beach in July.

    Jantzen Beach was an amusement park on Hayden Island on the Portland side of the Columbia River.  The park was somehow affiliated with the company that made swimsuits in Portland.  One of the Jantzen swim models graced the sign by the freeway advertising the park.  The park contained two large pools that spread out beneath the Jantzen Swimwear model on her sign.  In the summer those pools attracted a

Zebra Moray Eel,  Gymnomuraena zebra  Kailua Kona 2014

crowd, mostly over sexed teenagers, that could rival K Bay on a day in March.  The amusement park, with its wonderful wooden roller coaster, an authentic midway and the marvelous pools was closed in 1970, purchased, legend has it, by Judge Doom and his weasels.  By 1972 there were acres of box stores, which metropolitan Portland desperately needed.  The merry go round is preserved in the mall, but the rest is just memories...   But I digress. 

     Today my beloved took a break from all this snorkeling to visit the box stores of Kailua and I was dropped off at the pier.  Swimming on the Ironman side I had the chance to photograph several cooperative animals.  On the way out, I got a chance at the resident Bluestripe Butterfly.  As usual, he was a little too fast for me to get an excellent shot.

    Out in front of the Palace, I had a chance at a large, free swimming Zebra Moray.  Unklike Mr. Bluestripe, this guy was exceedingly cooperative, affording me several good shots, the best of which you see

Hawaiian Dascyllus, Kailua Pier 2014

 here.  This and the following shots were taken with the Canon D 10.  I would like to take complete credit for this work.  Cearly, one has to recognize the shot, get in the correct position and hold still during the exposure.  But isn't it incredible how crisp the camera will focus when given the opportunity?  The zebra moray is far from rare, but it is unusual to see one free swimming during the middle of the day.

    On the way back in I stopped for a chance at the Hawaiian Dascyllus that has been maturing by the first swim buoy.  I would say that he is now an adolescent.  I can not account for his brothers and sisters, but this remaining individual is certainly handsome.  I was able to hold onto a chunk of coral to gain stability and the little guy did his best to pose for me.  Again, a nice crisp focus from the D 10 and the best pic I have of this handsome adolescent dascyllus.  Note that the black eye is clearly seen in the black face, a result that I have not previously achieved.

Episcopal Miter on the coral, Kailua Pier

      And were not done yet.  Before heading to the barn, I took a spin over the coral near the pier on the far side of the swim buoys.  Oooh, am I bad?  On the way out, I didn't see anything, but on the way back my eye spotted this long miter on top of a coral head.  This shell was between five and six inches in length and I wondered, "How did I miss this?"
 
    When I am asked, "How do you find hermit crabs?"  I reply,  "Look for a shell that doesn't belong."  Often this is a rather small shell coated with corlaline algae.  This long Episcopal Miter represented the epitome in shells that don't belong; there had to be a hermit inside to account for this beautiful shell sitting on top of the coral.  Either that or the shell was placed there by aliens.  Or possibly, given the religious connotations of the shell's name, by the ghost of Henry the eighth.

Episcopal Miter and Blood Hermit Crab, Kailua Pier 2014

    Setting aside all those other possibilities, I was certain that there was a hermit inside.   I positioned the

 shell a bit differently on the coral, hoping that the crab would emerge to reposition the shell.  Five minutes of swimming in circles yielded nothing.   So I picked up the shell and soon out came a handsome Blood Crab.

   To get this picture I held the shell in one hand and the camera in the other about ten inches away.  As this was near the surface, the underwater setting on the D 10 over compensated for red.  In producing this wonderful picture, I took a bit of red away by adding a hint of turquoise and reducing the saturation, creating a pretty nice picture of one of our most handsome hermits, if I do say so myself. 

   I wanted to ask Mr. Blood why he chose such a large, colorful shell.  Certainly it makes getting around more difficult than a smaller shell, that would certainly have fit his torso.  We noticed this behavior (larger, ornate shell choosing) in smaller hermits when we kept the aquarium.  The only logical conclusion is that it makes the wearer of the larger, prettier shell a more attractive mate.  Sort of like a Texan with a big belt buckle down in the Long Branch Saloon.

    Well, that's our news from Kailua for the 25th of March, the year of our Lord 2014.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the stories and lots of good critters are in your future.

jeff
    

The Pacific Trumpetfish Disappears in Kona

    The Pacific Trumpetfish,  Aulostomus chinensis is one of the most endearing denizens of our reef . With its peculiar elongated body and comical mouth it is unmistakable, easily identified by the beginner.  Not only 

Large yellow trumpetfish at Kailua Pier, February 2013

that, but it comes in two different colors, a dark gray and a gorgeous lemon yellow.  There are few sights on the reef as singular as a two foot yellow trumpetfish skulking by a dark rock wall.

    Despite its odd appearance, or perhaps because of it, the trumpetfish is a cold killer.  It is perhaps the prime piscivore (an animal that eats fish) on the reef.  When observed from the side, the way us snorkelers see it,  the trumpetfish makes quite a sight.   Head on, the perspective of the prey, its profile may be almost negligible.  In one of the storied associations of  the reef, the trumpetfish will change color to match herbivores.  It will blend in with a school of yellow tangs, for example, and slurp up an unsuspecting prey.  This behavior is known in scientific circles as riding.  When a trumpetfish associates with a larger fish like a parrotfish, I see a strong analogy to a stalking horse.  In the picture below, taken at Kahalu'u seven months ago, a yellow trumpet is doing just that.  Look closely and note the odd mouth that can expand to accommodate a fish larger around as the trumpet!

     Now for the tale of woe.  Over the last month trumpetfish have all but disappeared from the reefs of

The Trumpetfish uses a Bullethead Parrot as a Stalking Horse

Kona.  My son James was with us exactly a month ago, affording us a chance to compile a list of reef fish during a quick five days of intense snorkeling.  Trumpetfish were common during that period.

     As you will recall,  ten days later we were visited by our friend Jackie and her grand daughter Aubre, who we attempted to train as an apprentice ichthyologist.   Our first day, we saw 21 species in the Inner Harbour in front of the King Kamehameha Hotel.  This number did not include a trumpetfish.  At the time, this didn't mean too much to me.  A couple days later, Sandra and I took Aubre to Ho'okena.  Say what you will about my lovely wife, but you would be foolish to think that she is not an adept finder of fishes.  With Aubre at our elbow, we saw some cool stuff,  including Heller's Barracuda.  But that night, as we were preparing for Aubre's last snorkeling outing, Sandra and I examined her list. No trumpetfish!   We decided that I would take her for a quick outing on the Ironman side of the pier.  Sandra commented that adding a trumpetfish would be easy.  Forty minutes of vigorous searching did not turn up a single trumpetfish!   

     At this point, we still regarded the missing trumpets as an unfortunate anomaly.  Since then we have swam at Kahalu'u and the pier and, although we weren't paying strict attention, we can not recall seeing any trumpets.

A gray trumpet examines the crevices of the Kailua pier

Two days ago, we put this to a test.  We chose Paul Allen's Reef, the best place we could think of for trumpetfish.  We swam for almost an hour, looking in all the spots we have known those big yellow trumpets to favor.  The number of fellow snorkelers we saw out on the PAR outnumbered trumpetfish ten to one. We got that one trumpet, a big gray fellow, on the way in.

     Yesterday I swam the Ironman side with the express purpose of finding a trumpetfish and saw none.  As I was putting my stuff away a friend came by all chirpy about seeing the dolphins from her paddle board.  I was downhearted but yet congratulated her on her sighting.

    And the bad news may get worse.  The four  hawkfish that we see commonly on our reef may also be decreasing in numbers.  Yesterday I saw only a few Freckled Hawkfish, Paracirrhites forsteri, and two had altered coloration.  Where they afflicted by the same fish borne illness as the trumpets?  

    These fish-eating fish may be concentrating a toxin absorbed by the herbivorous fish on which they prey.  Two examples come to mind.  The better known example involves tuna concentrating mercury from their prey, making them less palatable for our consumption.   A second example involves reef fish like groupers concentrating the toxin that causes ciguaterra.   In both cases, we are aware of this because we are affected in turn by the concentrated poison.  And what, I might ask, of the poke you purchased just yesterday at the local Costco?  Food, as it were, for thought.

     I hate to write a blog so negative. We are headed to City of Refuge tomorrow with friends.  I hope we see a heavenly choir of trumpets and a flight of hawks.

jeff

Alas, Poor Freckleface.  I knew him Horatio.  A hawkfish of infinite jest.

Kahalu'u and the Immature Wrasses

Orangespine Unicornfish with yellow pectoral fin

   As Sandra and I find ourselves in a period between company, we have taken advantage of our relative freedom to poke around the two local snorkeling venues.  At Kahalu'u last week I got a good look at the
Orangespine Uniconfish in its aggressive coloration, a dark black body, bright yellow forehead and the yellow pectoral fin.  That pectoral fin is the most remarkable feature; it returns to black as soon as the fish becomes less agitated.  This time I was prepared and took the picture you see here.  Sure enough, this fish bore its fancy yellow fin for only about a minute.

    We all know that fishes change colors.  In many instances its a little hard to tell why.  Black Durgons are a classic example.  They can turn on electric blue

Orangespine Unicornfish, Kahalu'u, March 2014

lines on their forehead as well as a bright orange cheek patch. But why are they doing this?   Are they excited by a food source?  Are they preparing for mating?

     In this instance, the reason is clear.  I actually see the fish that is the object of the aggression, invariably another orangespine unicornfish, being chased by the fish with the bright yellow pectoral.  Often the non-dominant fish is chased away.  In this
instance, the smaller orangespine did not leave the area, but must have produced some signal that satisfied the aggressive fish.  A dog, for example, might cower and put its tail between its legs.  In any event, the aggressor became less agitated and his pectoral fin returned in a couple seconds to black.

    On this tour of K Bay, I was pleased to see both of the immature wrasses that we think of in spring.  These are the immature of the Rockmover, the Dragon Wrasse (whose picture was featured in a recent blog)

Red Labrid Wrasse, Kahalu'u  March 2014

and the immature of the Yellowtail Coris, the Red Labrid Wrasse.  We don't have too many tulips or daffodils here in Kailua, so we have to be satisfied with these two special fish as a sign of spring.

    Immature wrasses are invariably delightful fish and Kahalu'u has its fair share.  Last summer we logged both the immature Hawaian Hogfish  (she of the fetching yellow bonnet) and the Blackstripe Coris.  We see very few adult hogfish at snorkeling depths in Kona and virtually no adult blackstripes.

   We do see the female of another wrasse, the Old Woman Wrasse (also called the Blacktail Wrasse) Thalassoma balleui, occasionally while snorkeling.  Over the past few years we have seen the immature at Kahalu'u.  She is a small but unmistakable bright green fish.  Unlike all the above wrasses, I have seen this immature in the winter, while our Canadian friends are down here snow birding.  As I thought about

Finescale Triggerfish, Kahalu'u March 2014

 about the dragon and red labrid, it occurred to me that we seem to have missed our chance for this small green wonder for this winter.

    Oh well.  There's always next year.

    On the outer reaches of my tour this day I saw a Finescale Triggerfish.  I don't believe that I have seen this fish in K Bay previously.  The finescale is now a resident at the pier and perhaps it will establish itself in more of our in shore waters.

jeff
    

Blacktail Wrasse immature November 2011  Kahalu'u

Its a Hawaiian Vacation!

    Sandra and I have slowly come to a realization.  When our friends and relatives come to visit us here in Kona, they are coming for a Hawaiian Vacation.  Many  take long journeys by themselves, seeking out

The reef fish would play second fiddle to Kona Shave Ice

our Polynesian culture and enjoying the physical beauty of the Big Island.  A few of our guests have been determined to take arduous hikes.  And all of them like to shop. 
 
      Recently we were visited by a good friend and her 13 year old granddaughter.  Five years ago, Aubre  gained our everlasting gratitude by babysitting our cat.  Knowing that she liked animals, I naturally presumed that she would be fascinated by our fish.  I engage in this particular transference fairly often. It goes without saying, that when one attempts to impose their monomaniacal obsessions on others, they are setting themselves up for a disappointment.  That this version of Hawaiian

Humu humu nuku nuku apua'a

Vacation involved dramatically more shopping than fish watching is probably not much of a surprise to any of you.

    Our guests arrived on Sunday, the morning when Casa Ono was pounded by rain of Biblical proportions. The day before the islands had been hit by a monster swell.  That Sunday afternoon,  we stood under umbrellas and watched the waves pound on the rocks.  

     By Monday, it was only cold and cloudy and drizzly.  Celebrating this improving meteorological trend, the four of us made our way down to the Kailua pier.  Amid the pattering raindrops, Aubre and I did her introductory snorkel in the Inner Harbour.  Despite familial worries, she swam like a fish, patiently holding position off my shoulder while we sought out additional species.  And in these chilly, dark and cloudy waters, we saw a fair number of fish.  Twenty one species in the 25 minutes relegated to us by the observers who took shelter under the eaves by

 the showers.  This included five butterflyfish, five wrasses and six surgeons.  And, of course, the redoubtable Humu humu nuku nuku apua'a.   While this may not be earth shaking news, I will now be more supportive when I see beginners limiting themselves to this peaceful inlet.

    Due to conditions beyond my control, we did not get a chance to don our snorkels in anger for three more days.  Finally, we arranged a day at the beach. Naturally,  Sandra and I chose the best beach, Ho'okena.  There were no dolphins, but the surf on shore was minimal and the three of us were soon swimming into the clear water.   Almost immediately,  we saw an aspricaudus.  Such is the rarity of the Yellowtail Filefish, that I'm pullin' a Jack Randall on ya.  This is a sighting worthy of some note.  I have only

The uncommon Pervagor aspricaudus at Honokohau

seen aspricaudus at the Dog Beach, which due to the presence of Tiger Sharks and rank cowardice on my part, I no longer visit.  Frankly, I did not think I would see that fish again in these Very Sandwich Islands.  Now it is on the list for 2014 with an exclamation mark!
     On the outer reef we were lucky to see a school of Heller's Barracuda.  aubre got right out to them and saw the blue stripe. Before 2014 I had seen Heller's only at the Dog Beach.  A couple weeks ago I saw a small school on the outer bank of the PAR.   With this sighting at Ho'okena, I am left with the conclusion that they are more common.  

    On the way back to the beach, we got a couple good looks at cleaning stations.   Aubre listened patiently while we discussed the hypnotic effect that the Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse has on a wide variety of reef fish.   A bit later, we had her identify another cleaning station.

The Gilded Triggefish is AWOL at Ho'okena.

     Before we got out, the three of us took a swim straight out for about 100 yards, hoping to see our old friend, the Gilded Triggerfish.  Just as happened with James and Tara a couple weeks earlier, we saw a pair of Flame Angelfish.   But try as we might, we did not see the Gilded Trigger.  for several years I have regarded this species as a sure thing at Ho'okena, which is the only place that I have seen it with some regularity.  I really like this fish and I hope that we will see it at Ho'okena the next time we are there.
 

     This was Aubre's only swim in clear water and I'm sure she enjoyed herself.  It was a lot of fun having her here and I'm glad to say that she really enjoyed the fish and the shopping.  And at the end of the day, Having fun is what a Hawaiian Vacation is all about!

jeff