FISH id

[dale]

out yesterday scrambling around the rocks fishing for pollack and wrasse.

 

caught a wrasse yesterday which i have never seen before.

 

it was the usual orange/red colour but had a VERY distinct white lateral line on both sides, it also was shedding scales which i have never seen before either.

it was about 8-10oz.

 

it wasn't a ballan as the shape was slightly elongated.

 

as we were rock hopping the kit was a minimum hence it was chucked back without a camera blinking at it.

my mate had no ideas either and he like me has been at this a while.

 

any ideas

 

thanks

[Holmesy]

Have a look here http://www.glaucus.org.uk/wrasse.htm The thing with wrasse, like so many fish you can get local variations. If you look at a cod from off a Norfolk beach and compare it with a NE rock cod then they'd look like different species.

[GowerRay]

Have a look here: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/

They've been a bit busy of late but are now back on track with a load of new images. Great site.

[dale]

had a look at these, nothing there that i'm not already familiar with.

 

just wonder if it was a hybrid-ill fish????

[ColinW]

Have a look around the net for more images of corkwing wrasse, because they can be almost any colour and pattern you can imagine.

[Phil the Fish]

Some Ballan Wrasse are known to have white latteral stripes rather than spots .. and the general colouration would match as well .... the shape of ballans also varies -- so a young juvinille could be more elongated (maybe??) ... really difficult with out a picture....

 

This is from andy hortons site ----

 

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/wrasse-sp.jpg

 

its green, but what if it was reddish brown you describe.. would it be close to what you saw??

 

This is picture taken by Andy of a young Ballan ... any help???

 

Phil

 

PS --- yes I've been busy updating the Aquarium ID site .... Holidays are here, so no lectures to prepare or marking to do ... glad you like it, but I must say that there are many here who have helped it work over the years by contributing towards it.....

Edited July 21, 2006 by Phil the Fish

[dale]

That's quite like it. the lateral line was much more defined but that may have been the red colour showing it of more.

 

the scales coming away in the hand??? sick/ill!

[Phil the Fish]

OK --- How about this...

 

 

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/wrasse4ClaireProwse.jpg

 

 

Phil

[dale]

that's better. the lateral line was whiter and wider but the same fish.

 

still don't understand why the scales were coming away in my hand as i have caught countless ballans and they never shed scales.

[Neil]

that's better. the lateral line was whiter and wider but the same fish.

 

still don't understand why the scales were coming away in my hand as i have caught countless ballans and they never shed scales.

 

 

Dale, we have had some weirdo Wrasse at Torness before, they usually spark off a bit of an argument, I posted a picture of one on NESA a few years ago and no one could ID it. I think the little blighters do a bit of swinging.....

 

 

 

Neil.