What is this?

[Octoloco]

During the safety stop just up from the big pipe this morning at Redondo, we came across this fish - the closest thing I've seen to this crazy looking critter is a stargazer from the South Pacific. This first photo is from the Philippines last year:

This next series include the one we found today. I've never heard of a stargazer in the PNW so does anyone have any ideas or thoughts on what this crazy looking thing is? The size of the two is about the same, tip to tail about 1 foot, though on the one we found today the eyes are on the side more than the Philippines one. Are those really teeth? They look brutal!

[Dusty2]

Did you check for radiation??? That's an interesting one. I have never seen that one even in a book.

Good job getting lots of angles. Wish you could have got one of the tail. Maybe Greg knows?

[Octoloco]

I looked through all my books and couldn't find anything, even looked up stargazer on the internet - didn't find anything that looked like that locally so was hoping one of our local experts might have something on this one. Unfortunately if you don't have an answer that makes one less expert!

[Tidepool Geek]

Hi Kathy,

I think what you've got there is a Pacific Sandfish - Trichodon trichodon

It's listed in Lamb's Coastal Fishes of the PNW (page 58 of the 1st edition and page 89 of the 2nd edition).

It's also listed in Love's Certainly MTYWTKATFOTPC (page 471) but not in his Probably MTYWTKATFOTPC

Where you found it doesn't seem like a good match with the preferred habitat described in these books but the physical description and photos match your fish very well.

Cryptically yours,

Alex

[LCF]

What a cool find, and thank you for such great photographs of it!

[Dusty2]

After scanning Loves book that as my guess too but it's only a guess. I'd rather hear it from Greg

[nwscubamom]

Absolutely AWESOME FIND!!!! I have never known of any diver reporting one before.
I completely agree that what you have there is the Pacific Sandfish, Trichodon trichodon
Kathy, make sure you get this on a REEF survey, please!
I am looking in Pacific Fishes of Canada as well, and it's shown in here. It says:
"Recognized by the upward turned, fringed mouth, the stout pectoral fin with out-turned edges, and absence of scales."

Range is roughly from San Francisco up to the Bering Sea (and beyond).

VERY COOL!!

- Janna

[Dusty2]

Congrats! Awesome find Kathy! that's what keeps me diving, you never know what you'll find.

[Jan K]

Congrats! Awesome find Kathy! that's what keeps me diving, you never know what you'll find.

+1
Great photos !

[Tom Nic]

Exciting find!

[Octoloco]

Thanks everyone it's definitely the Pacific Sandfish. We appreciate everyone's help in identifying this exciting find! It's great to have such a pool of knowledge available here on the board!!

[Greg Jensen]

I think this is a pretty unusual sighting for Puget Sound. I have an old reference that is a compilation of records for different species around the NW, and the only locations it lists for sandfish are Bellingham (less than 10 records) and the San Juans (lots).
I'm jealous!

[Octoloco]

He/she didn't move at all, no matter how close I got - maybe it's still there. Safety stop depth just below the aquarium. Redondo seems to consistantly have the odd ones, that's why we like diving there so much. You never know what you'll see; though a six-gill has not crossed our paths as of yet.

Thanks for everyone's help and information.

[diverden]

What a weirdo! https://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4 ... OX=1&REC=3

I guess it had mostly buried itself in the sand, eh?

[Octoloco]

I thought it was just resting, didn't realize half the body was buried!?