Adult Macolor macularis are common at Kwajalein. They are usually seen along the seaward reef along the knee of the dropoff at depths of about 8 to 15m along with the similar Macolor niger. Juveniles are sporadically seen hanging around crinoids. They seem to settle out of the plankton together; most of the time, juveniles are not present but if you see one, there will usually be more around other nearby crinoids. Gehh Island is a good place to see juveniles if any are around.
Adult Macolor macularis can be distinguished from the similar Macolor niger by the yellow-orange reticulations on the head and the more distinctly yellow eye. On older adults, the white spotting and banding becomes less noticable.
Small juveniles hang around crinoids, usually black ones, where despite their weaving back and forth swimming patterns, the fish often go unnoticed. They differ from the similarly colored juvenile Macolor niger by their elongate pelvic fins extending downward.
The pelvic fins start to shrink as the fish grows, and a more black and white spotted pattern develops along the back. By this time, they have abandoned the crinoids and swim freely on the reef.
This one approaches adult coloration.
Not really sure about the one in the two photos below, but I think it is probably M. macularis rather than M. niger.
Created 15 April 2017