The Kahalu'u Dragon

       So often with wildlife photography, I find that what God gives me is the best.  For example, I remember a a few years ago out by the last swim buoy at the Kona pier,when a school of ordinarily frenetic opelu stopped at a cleaning station right in front of me.  Another time two male Pearl Wrasse, an unusual and skittish fish to say the least, appeared languidly by the Menehune breakwater.  You can't force these things...they just have to happen.

Running with the hounds.  Crocodile Needlefish, December 2020  K Bay

      Yesterday at Kahalu'u I enjoyed a trio of Crocodile Needlefish, aka Houndfish, were swimming by in clear water.   Both species of needlefish have become far more scarce than they ought to be.  The water was clear and I got the nice picture you see here. 

    A moment later something truly special occurred.  We see dragon wrasse every now and then.  Its a peculiar looking fish with a highly unusual behavior.   It flops in the water in a manner that many authors say imitates drifting seaweed.  You have undoubtedly grown tired of these descriptions.  Dragon wrasse is just unusual enough that I seem to mention every one I see.  Yesterday in relatively clear water I encountered a larger dragon wrasse, possibly between three and four inches.  I took a chance and started a video.  Surprisingly, he did his dance for the full twenty seconds that this medium allows.  Extraordinary!  So here is the clip and for those of you who have never seen a dragon wrasse, you now know what all the fuss is about.

 So what did you think?  Did she look like a piece of seaweed twirling in the current?

  Sandra thought it would be nice if we spoke just a bit about Rockmovers, in as much as the Dragon Wrasse is the juvenile of that species..  I suppose that if Barney Rubble kept a salt water aquarium he would definitely have a pair of Rockmovers and, nature is hard to deny, a Dragon Wrasse, as well. 

The adolescent Rockmover just being a kid.

    Adolescent Rockmovers are comical.  They have the houndstooth coat of the adults, but they can't quite stop behaving like a keiki.  They swim a little bit, maybe turn over a rock or two, then they stop for a flip flop.  At this stage they still have those two long antennae that are the first and second spines of their dorsal fin, and the dramatic radial face pattern

     In July of this year I was lucky enough to photograph a Rockmover super male.  As you can see, this old silverback is much different.  He has shed his houndstooth coat and no longer needs a face pattern.  He is all business.  If you don't swim at Kahalu'u, or some other place where Rockmovers are common, it is unlikely you will see one like this. 

The Supermale Rockmover.  July 2020  Kahalu'u

   Well,  do you have an irresistible urge to move some rocks?  Perhaps we can get Barney and Fred to put in a good word for you with Mr. Slate.  They might even make you an honorary Water Buffalo.  In the meantime, stay young and playful like a dragon wrasse.

jeff

Yubba Dubba Do!