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Real or fake?
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:02 amby ATJ
Here are two images that show the wonders of mimicry in nature. The first photograph is of a pufferfish,
Canthigaster valentini. As with other members of its family (Tetraodontidae), this fish is toxic due to the tetraodontoxin in its tissues. This is the same toxin in fugu.
The second photograph is of a filefish (basically a leatherjacket) that mimics the puffer. It is not toxic at all. They are almost identical in appearance, other than their fins.
Interestingly, I took these photographs in sequence only minutes apart - well near enough: there was one photograph between them of the mimic which wasn't as good as this one.
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:34 amby gstark
That's amazing .... nature never ceases to impress me, and your images only help to keep me intrigued.
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:09 amby sirhc55
Great pics and very informative
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:13 amby Old Bob
You are an encyclopaedia of the underworld, Andrew. I am always intrigued by your images, and your knowledge of the subject.
Bob
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:36 pmby Yi-P
Your underwater shots never stop impressing me
Thanks for the great infos that I never knew.
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:09 pmby Glen
I am buggered how you tell the difference! Great images and story, always interesting your posts
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:24 pmby BT*ist
A great duo of photos - easy to see why a predatory fish would probably move on and grab themselves a less risky meal than attempt to try to tell the difference!
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:56 pmby ATJ
Thanks for the comments. I have been passionate about all things marine since I was in my teens and completed a marine biology degree in 1981. I don't work in the field but sometimes wish that I did. I then remember if I did, I wouldn't be able to afford my toys.
The easiest way to tell them apart is looking at the size and shape of the indicated fins. On the real one it is small and with a narrow base:
On the fake, the fin is long with a base extending most of the way along the back:
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:23 pmby Glen
Andrew, looks easy now you have shown me the difference, but I am sure you would beat me in a 'spot the difference comp'
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:17 pmby Oneputt
I thought I knew a lot about fish, but I have never seen that before. Thank you Andrew. Live and learn.
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:26 pmby Killakoala
Amazing thing nature is.
Thanks for sharing that with us. It's certainly fascinating to see your images. Those tiny seahorses still intrigue me.
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:32 pmby ozimax
Wonderful, spectacular, colourful
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:50 pmby big pix
A very good lesson, what you see might not be what it is......
Great Capture
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:18 pmby Willy wombat
Always enjoy your shots ATJ
Posted:
Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:24 pmby rookie2
I am as good an angler as I am a photographer
.... consequently I have managed to catch both of these on many occasions and never noticed the difference
R2
Posted:
Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:57 amby PiroStitch
love the educational posts ATJ! Either way I try to stay away from any fish
Posted:
Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:29 pmby crackatoea
Nice shots and very interesting. What really scares me is what if I caught the first fish and went to eat it thinking it was a leatherjacket, then again the chances of me catching a fish are nonexistant. I'm never eating fish again.
Posted:
Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:58 pmby ATJ
crackatoea wrote:What really scares me is what if I caught the first fish and went to eat it thinking it was a leatherjacket, then again the chances of me catching a fish are nonexistant. I'm never eating fish again.
Maximum size of both the pufferfish and the filefish (leatherjacket) is only 10 centimetres. I hope you don't to all the trouble of eating something so small.