Hitting the road

Our season diving in Bonaire is over.  Today we are packing up.  Here are some above ground photos of the local wildlife.

An immature flamingo, walking along the road

Iguana

Happy Spring!

Structural animals

Underwater, much of the structure that provides habitat and shelter on coral reefs is actually animals, or was built by animals.  Corals are animals, and sponges are animals.  These structural animals are abundant, quite varied, and very colorful.  They have created the coral reef ecosystem.

The photos below are a few examples of corals and sponges. Sorry, but I don't have my coral ID book with me, so I can't provide the species names.

Elkhorn coral

Coral

Coral

Coral

Brain coral in background another coral in foreground

Coral in the background, green turtle in foreground

Green finger sponge and golden zoanthids

Rope sponge and a graysby

At least 4 varieties of sponge

Two varieties of sponge and a whitespotted filefish

Honeycomb cowfish

The honeycomb cowfish is a member of the boxfish family.  It has a sharp, forward-facing spine above each eye.  This species varies in color from blue to green or yellow, and often it changes shade instantaneously.  An electric blue shade seems to be one they switch on when interacting with species mates. The honeycomb pattern on the body is responsible for its name.

Although this fish can reach 18 inches in length, these fish were about 12 to 14 inches.  The photos were taken at depths of 30 to 45 feet.

One more day of diving, then our season is over.

Oh no, it's almost time to go!

Fairy basslets

These lovely little fish dart about on reef structures, often upside down.  Fairy basslets are somewhat wary, and often disappear into reef recesses when approached.  The front end is bluish purple and the rear is golden, and they have a black spot on their dorsal fin.

Three inches is their maximum size.  They occur down to 200 feet (not that I dive anywhere near that deep).  These photos were taken at depths from 35 to 50 feet.

Try to figure out which way they are facing.

Facing to the right

Facing up and forward

Upside down, facing to the left

Upside down, facing to the right

Facing up

Facing down