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General Science => General Science => Topic started by: imatfaal on 09/10/2012 16:17:45

Title: What is this fish?
Post by: imatfaal on 09/10/2012 16:17:45
Hello Everyone

Took a few pictures a couple of days ago of a fish swimming around the harbour just beside the taverna I was seeking refreshment from.  It was a strange looking thing and I wondered if anyone knew what it was - it might be frightfully common, but I thought it was a just a bit odd!

Any ideas?

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Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: imatfaal on 09/10/2012 16:23:38
and a different photo

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Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: imatfaal on 09/10/2012 16:31:44
And a bit more detail.  This was in about 2 foot of water, in a very sheltered harbour on the island of Naxos in the Kyklades, in Hellas. 

The colour has reproduced fairly accurately although the clever clever camera/windows live import settings has seemed to enhance the actual solidity of the fish.  It was about 12-15 inches long and moved fairly quickly.  I could not get close - When I tried to scramble down the the rocks it disappeared for a good 10 minutes.  These photos were taken from a good 10 feet away with a zoom lens and then cropped and quality reduced to fit in 128kb limit
Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: Mazurka on 09/10/2012 16:32:55
have you tried http://www.ispot.org.uk/ (http://www.ispot.org.uk/)

it is fantastic for this sort of thing!
Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: imatfaal on 09/10/2012 16:41:08
Quote from: Mazurka on 09/10/2012 16:32:55
have you tried http://www.ispot.org.uk/ (http://www.ispot.org.uk/)

it is fantastic for this sort of thing!

No I hadn't - never seen it before.  It looks great and I will definitely give it a whirl.  I will hope that the regulars here get the fish before I get around to posting at Ispot
Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: RD on 09/10/2012 16:46:16
looks quite like the unimaginatively named "needle nose fish" ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenentodon_cancila
Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: imatfaal on 10/10/2012 18:34:57
I think you put me on the right track RD - the wikipage you mentioned had links to the European Garfish which I reckon is the candidate of choice at present
Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: RD on 11/10/2012 16:44:45
A higher contrast version of the above photo (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=45911.msg398920#msg398920) ...

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Title: Re: What's my Fish?
Post by: Don_1 on 16/10/2012 11:24:32
Quote from: Mazurka on 09/10/2012 16:32:55
have you tried http://www.ispot.org.uk/ (http://www.ispot.org.uk/)

it is fantastic for this sort of thing!

I think that site is only for species spotted in the UK.

I agree with RD, this is a Garfish.
Title: Re: What is this fish?
Post by: Lab Rat on 24/10/2012 15:39:20
I agree, too.  It is some type of gar.  I have seen them swimming in the river before-actually, right by the shore, same as you.