W.A.N.T. Photography

Title: "Beardie"

( Portrait of a Bearded Filefish, aka Bearded Leatherjacket, Anacanthus barbatus )

Bali, Indonesia, October, 2007

Total Edition: 200

SIZE: 11.5" X 16.5"

(29 cm X 42 cm)

Our local guide spoke of a mysterious fish he had spotted once before at this West Bali dive site. Unable to describe it to us, I took his comments lightly. On our second day at the site, I saw this bizarre fish gliding along an old mooring line, and knew immediately this was his mystery fish. Several weeks later my research revealed the identity of this rarely seen fish. The common name “beardie” comes from the prominent barbel below the mouth.

I had the opportunity to observe it feeding on small crustaceans in the sand. The fish swims inverted at a 45° angle, its mouth & eye towards the bottom. Then it uses the long barbel to disturb the sand near its mouth, and snaps up anything the jumps up from the sand.

Image ID# 101139-19









		**Title: "Beardie" ( Portrait of a Bearded Filefish, aka Bearded Leatherjacket, Anacanthus barbatus ) Bali, Indonesia, October, 2007 Total Edition: 200 SIZE: 11.5" X 16.5" (29 cm X 42 cm)**
		Our local guide spoke of a mysterious fish he had spotted once before at this West Bali dive site. Unable to describe it to us, I took his comments lightly. On our second day at the site, I saw this bizarre fish gliding along an old mooring line, and knew immediately this was his mystery fish. Several weeks later my research revealed the identity of this rarely seen fish. The common name “beardie” comes from the prominent barbel below the mouth. I had the opportunity to observe it feeding on small crustaceans in the sand. The fish swims inverted at a 45° angle, its mouth & eye towards the bottom. Then it uses the long barbel to disturb the sand near its mouth, and snaps up anything the jumps up from the sand.
	Image ID# 101139-19


copyright © 2001-2009 Donald Brown/ W.A.N.T. Photography All rights reserved. No use, reuse, copying, reproduction allowed without express permission from copyright holders