2015-12 Solomon Islands Dives 2178-2210
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Jewel Damsel
Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus - algae farmers on dead coral surfaces.
Jackfish Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2183#7480
Larry L. Jackson
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Moorish Idol
Zanclus cornutus
Jackfish Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2183#7483
Larry L. Jackson
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Two-spined Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosus
Jackfish Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2183#7484
Larry L. Jackson
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White-bonnet Anemonefish
Amphiprion leucokranos - in Merten's Carpet Anemone.
Jackfish Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2183#7488
Larry L. Jackson
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Spotted Unicornfish
Naso brevirostris
Jackfish Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2183#7490
Larry L. Jackson
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Giant Clam
Tridacna gigas - that gives this dive location its name.
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7491
Larry L. Jackson
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Redfin Butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunulatus
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7493
Larry L. Jackson
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Gilded Triggerfish, male
Xanthichthys auromarginatus - also called Bluechin Triggerfish.
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7494
Larry L. Jackson
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Barred Thicklip
Hemigymnus fasciatus - terminal (male) phase.
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7500
Larry L. Jackson
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Bluehead Tilefish, pair
Hoplolatilus starcki - no seen often.
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7513
Larry L. Jackson
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Scissortail Fusiliers
Caesio caerulaurea - with a few Lunar Fusiliers.
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7517
Larry L. Jackson
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Bigeye Trevally
Caranx sexfasciatus
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7519
Larry L. Jackson
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Bigeye Trevally
Caranx sexfasciatus - courtship coloration.
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7520
Larry L. Jackson
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Oval-spot Butterflyfish
Chaetodon speculum
Giant Clam, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 3, 2015
2184#7529
Larry L. Jackson
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Clown Blenny
Ecsenius axelrodi
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2185#7531
Larry L. Jackson
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Heron Ardeadoris
Ardeadoris egretta - is large and attractive.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2185#7538
Larry L. Jackson
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Bigeye Barracuda
Sphyraena forsteri - a smaller, schooling type.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2185#7539
Larry L. Jackson
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Oceanic Triggerfish
Canthidermis maculatus - were nesting in sandy spots on the reefs.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2185#7542
Larry L. Jackson
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Oceanic Triggerfish
Canthidermis maculatus - likely a male guarding a nest.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2185#7545
Larry L. Jackson
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Goldbelly Damsels
Pomacentrus auriventris
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2185#7547
Larry L. Jackson
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Crinoid Clingfish
Discotrema crinophial - there were two small individuals in the feather star.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7549
Larry L. Jackson
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Decorated Firefish
Nemateleotris decora - are generally seen a depths of 80 feet or more.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7553
Larry L. Jackson
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Christmas Tree Worms
Spirobranchus species - a dense colony in the typical Porites coral.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7555
Larry L. Jackson
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Peacock Flounder
Bothus mancus
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7558
Larry L. Jackson
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Hemprich's Sea Anemone
Heterodactyla hemprichii - this one has purple grape cluster tentacles at the edge.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7559
Larry L. Jackson
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Acropora monticulosa
Prefers shallow, high water movement reefs.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7560
Larry L. Jackson
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Acropora gemmifera
Another shallow water, high water movement type.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7562
Larry L. Jackson
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Acropora florida
Large coral in the shallow areas.
Kicha Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2186#7563
Larry L. Jackson
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Blue Coral
Heliopora coerulea - has a blue skeleton only seen when broken.
Caves, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2187#7565
Larry L. Jackson
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Two-spinned Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosus - an unusual coloration seen here.
Caves, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2187#7568
Larry L. Jackson
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Midnight Angelfish
Centropyge nox - besides being skittish these fish are almost impossible to get the camera to focus on for a photo.
Caves, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2187#7575
Larry L. Jackson
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Acropora desalwii
A worrisome colony that may have expelled zooxanthellae. Hopefully not an early sign of big bleaching episode.
Caves, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2187#7577
Larry L. Jackson
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Acropora cerealis & Porites lichen
Caves, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2187#7580
Larry L. Jackson
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Fluted Giant Clam
Tridacna squamosa - with a fairly common color pattern.
Caves, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2187#7581
Larry L. Jackson
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Foxface Rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus - pair.
Caves, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2187#7582
Larry L. Jackson
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Chironephthya specie
In full feeding mode.
Canyons, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2188#7585
Larry L. Jackson
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Pacific Double-saddle Butterflyfish
Chaetodon ulietensis - possibly feeding on the Sea Star tube feet.
Canyons, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2188#7589
Larry L. Jackson
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Yellow-mask Angelfish
Pomacanthus xanthometopon
Canyons, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2188#7590
Larry L. Jackson
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Anna's Chromodoris
Chromodoris annae
Canyons, Mbulo Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 4, 2015
2188#7598
Larry L. Jackson
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Artillery Piece
A difficult shot with my macro lens. Field artillery gun on the front of a small, sunken Japanese freight ship.
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7600
Larry L. Jackson
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Longnose Hawkfish
Oxycirrhites typus - with a shrimp.
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7602
Larry L. Jackson
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Two-tone Pygmy Squid
Idiosepius pygmaeus - with captured Translucent Gorgonia Shrimp.
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7604
Larry L. Jackson
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Ornate Ghost Pipefish, male
Solenostomus paradoxus
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7614
Larry L. Jackson
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Clown Triggerfish
Ballistoides conspicillum - juvenile.
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7617
Larry L. Jackson
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Anchors
Encrusted with 60 years of growth.
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7622
Larry L. Jackson
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Netfin Grouper
Epinephelus miliaris - hunting Cardinalfish.
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7623
Larry L. Jackson
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Threadfin Butterflyfish & Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasses
Chaetodon auriga & Labroides dimidiatus - the Butterflyfish is being cleaned.
Maru 2, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2189#7624
Larry L. Jackson
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Lace Coral
Distichopora specie - nice name for a stinging coral.
Wickham Island, Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2190#7626
Larry L. Jackson
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Flatworm
Thysanozoon specie - Debbie spotted this nice Flatworm.
Wickham Island, Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2190#7629
Larry L. Jackson
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Anne's Phyllidiopsis
Phyllidiopsis annae - very small.
Wickham Island, Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, December 5, 2015
2190#7631
Larry L. Jackson