File this Fish with the Shy Group
()
About this ebook
Filefish have a protruding mouth with some very sharp teeth, similar to a triggerfish. They have narrow, compressed bodies with rough spiny scales and a front dorsal fin that can be raised or lowered. When the fin is raised, it resembles a file, which some reference sources say is the inspiration for the name. Others attribute the moniker to the sandpaper-like quality of the scales. Whatever the true origin, filefish are another group of highly entertaining critters on the reef.
They eat a variety of things, but mostly algae, seagrass, soft corals and anemones. Scrawled filefish seem to have an affinity for munching on branching fire coral. I have also seen scrawled filefish pecking at a moon jellyfish in mid water.
Whitespotted filefish are usually very shy, and I have found it takes a bit of patience to get them oriented for a good photo. Their color changes from orange to a dull yellow and gray when they display the white spots.
Next on the elusiveness scale are the orangespotted filefish. They are quite a bit smaller than the scrawled or whitespotted varieties and tend to hide among the gorgonians and peak out at you before they bolt to a more secure spot.
To me the most difficult species to spot are the slender filefish. Not only are they quite small, typically about three inches or less in length, but they are quite adept at changing color to match the gorgonian they are hiding behind. We have seen them frequently on on top of the mini-wall on Deep Molasses.
Tim Grollimund
Tim spent nearly a decade in Key Largo, Florida. He wrote the scuba diving column for the local newspaper, The Reporter, for over three years, and also served as a Working Group member and Alternate Representative on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. His ebooks are all based on his newspaper columns. Each ebook has a collection of underwater images shot by Tim. The ebooks cover a wide range of marine life species and ocean conservation topics.
Read more from Tim Grollimund
Look for the Fish in a Box Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSmall Wonders on Reefs and Wrecks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPhoto Tour of the Philippines Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSchooling Activity is Alive and Well on the South End of Molasses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAngels on the Reef Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Less Traveled Reef: Going Deep Reveals Abundant and Unusual Sealife Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Glassy Side of the Reef Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Brass Section of the Reef Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsButterflyfish: Graceful Reef Gliders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGoliath Grouper... Gentle Giants of the Reef Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWherever You Go, There's No Place Like Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpadefish Have to Dig Their Way Out of a Hole Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInvasive Orange Cup Coral Silently Grows off the Keys Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to File this Fish with the Shy Group
Related ebooks
The Brass Section of the Reef Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsButterflyfish: Graceful Reef Gliders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWrasses: the Smartest Fish? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThis Goat Is a Hero Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOh! Those Sweet Red Lips! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLet's Wake Up an Eel and Go Hunting Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll Puffed Up Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWherever You Go, There's No Place Like Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Whale of a Good Time (Maybe) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpadefish Have to Dig Their Way Out of a Hole Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDamselfish May Be More Aggressive Than You Think Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Less Traveled Reef: Going Deep Reveals Abundant and Unusual Sealife Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Glassy Side of the Reef Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Great Hamlet Debate Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHogfish Heaven? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDiving the Spiegel Grove... Wreck or Reef? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGoliath Grouper... Gentle Giants of the Reef Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInvasive Orange Cup Coral Silently Grows off the Keys Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Eagle Has Landed... or Not Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSnook Recover After 2010 Cold Snap Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrogfish: The Weirdest Fish in the Sea Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFlounder Bytes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLet's Go See Who Lives In the Sea! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrogfish: The Weirdest Fish in the Sea: Educational Version Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOspreys in Falconry: Lessons Learned Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ocean Adventures WIth Jax Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCleaning Stations: the Ultimate Hygiene System Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSomething Fishy's Goin' On: In Search of Caribbean Critters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecrets of the Dolphins Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBryony the Blue-Footed Booby: Animal Adventures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Outdoors For You
How to Survive Off the Grid: From Backyard Homesteads to Bunkers (and Everything in Between) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5How to Survive Anything: From Animal Attacks to the End of the World (and Everything in Between) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bushcraft Illustrated: A Visual Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prepared: The 8 Secret Skills of an Ex-IDF Special Forces Operator That Will Keep You Safe - Basic Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Birth of The Endless Summer: A Surf Odyssey Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/552 Prepper Projects: A Project a Week to Help You Prepare for the Unpredictable Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Advanced Bushcraft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles: Learn How To Forage, Prepare & Eat 40 Wild Foods Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Survival Hacks: Over 200 Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bushcraft First Aid: A Field Guide to Wilderness Emergency Care Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Pocket Guide to Essential Knots: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Most Important Knots for Everyone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Emergency Survival Manual: 294 Life-Saving Skills Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sailing For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for ANY Disaster Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pocket Guide to Prepping Supplies: More Than 200 Items You Can?t Be Without Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ultimate Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ultimate Survival Hacks Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Ultimate Winter Survival Handbook: 157 Winter Tips & Tricks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ultimate Bushcraft Survival Manual: 272 Wilderness Skills Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Field Guide to Knots: How to Identify, Tie, and Untie Over 80 Essential Knots for Outdoor Pursuits Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for File this Fish with the Shy Group
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
File this Fish with the Shy Group - Tim Grollimund
File this Fish with the Shy Group
Tim Grollimund
Author: Tim Grollimund
Date Published: March 20, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-3703081-2-5
Publisher: Smashwords Edition
Copyright © Apex Global Solutions LLC 2017. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the prior and express written permission of the copyright holder. All inquiries via timgrollimund.com
Table of Contents
File this Fish with the Shy Group
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Reporter
Filefish
About The Author
Other eBooks, Prints and Keepsakes
Acknowledgments
To Dad, who knew I loved the sea, and always encouraged me to pursue my passion.
Introduction
When I moved to the Florida Keys in 2009, I had one objective in mind. Simply, to become highly proficient as an underwater photographer. For the previous