Juvenile High Hat
I snapped this photo on the same dive that I shot the mating pair of gold-crowned nudibranchs not far offshore from Key Biscayne on Emerald Reef. I am not 100 percent certain of the identity of this fish. When they are this size (<3 inches), the juveniles of high hats (Pareques acuminatus), jackknife fish (Equetus lanceolatus), and spotted drums (Equetus punctatus) look nearly identical. As the latter species suggests, all three of these species are part of the drum family (so called because of some members’ ability to “vocalize” during courtship and mating). If I had to hazard a guess I’d say that this one is a high hat, based on the spot on its nose and band across the eyes. To really appreciate the beauty of this fish though, you have to observe it in action: It takes full advantage to its long finnage as it undulates and swims cyclically. Because of it’s constant motion, it can be deceptively difficult to photograph. For such a defenseless fish, these movements must be confusing enough to thwart most predators. The juveniles stay mostly protected underneath ledges, caves, and near crevices. Unfortunately, the grace and beauty of the high hat declines over time as the long dorsal and caudal (tail) fins shrink in proportion to the body. Jackknife fish and spotted drums by comparison keep their long fins into adulthood, although they are still most exaggerated as juveniles.
