what is this?

[shelli0001]

ok, what is this 4" fish with butterfly wings? found it close to the beach at francis.



very wierd.

[augie]

I think it's a sand diver. They usually just sit on the bottom, with their "wings" folded beneath them.

[Maggy]

It's a flying gurnard.

[Pickle]

Sorry, Steve. Maggy is correct.

[augie]

Sorry, Steve. Maggy is correct.

As usual! Maybe they're in the same family?

[Maggy]

Actually I don't think they are in the same family. The sanddiver is a lizardfish but I think the flying gurnard is the only fish in another family. They can actually "walk" on their fins.

[toni]

Thanks for posting this -we don't snorkel, so we were only in about 3' of water and I saw this same little guy on the bottom at Maho and wondered what it was.

[Maggy]

Absolutely! Thanks for posting. It's a good find and a very cool fish.

[Diana2]

I've only seen 2 of them on STJ. One at Jumbie and I don't remember where I saw the other one, it may have been at Hawksnest. They were both in shallow water. Very cool find and great pictures.

[shelli0001]

thanks guys, i knew you'd know what it was.

augie, i thought it was a sand diver too, even tried to startle some wings out of the next sand diver i saw.

[Larry]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMuebKvlR4Y

Theres one in action in St John

[djmom]

Oh wow, I would have thought it was a lionfish and totally freaked out

[Connie]

Neat looking prehistoric fish.

[Jo Ann - VA]

This is why I like this forum!

[cptnkirk]

Cool shot