Life at the Edge of Reef

Rare but easily identified species, it has deep compressed body, concave snout profile, high eyes, smooth dorsal fin, extremely variable but almost uniform colour (from yellow to pink, to red, to brown). Few, flattened, unbranched skin flaps, those over the eyes are particularly long. 19 cm.

Rare but easily identified species, it has deep compressed body, concave snout profile, high eyes, deeply incised dorsal fin, extremely variable colour (from yellow to pink, to red, to brown) with nearly circular markings. Many branching skin flaps give the typical weedy look. 24 cm.

Normally living in sheltered areas, with a moderate current. In bay or along the external reef and deep reef.

Normally living in sheltered areas, with a moderate current. In bay or along the external reef and deep reef.

Compared with the other Rhinopias species, R. frondosa and R. aphanes, R. eschmeyeri is the only one with uniform colour pattern, dorsal fin little incised. It has less, flattened and unbranched skin flaps.

Amongst the other Rhinopias species, R. aphanes shows a complicate pattern of intersecating markings, R. eschmeyeri has an uniform colour pattern and dorsal fin little incised.