August 2006 - Photo taken at a splendid specimen of magnificent Nemateleotris during a dive from the drop-off of the wonderful Siladen Island in Bunaken National Marine Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Latin name: Nemateleotris magnificent Common name: archer fish, fish arrow, fire gobies, gobies English name: Fire goby, Dartfish Size: can take the maximum size of 7 / 8 inches in length. Photographic equipment used: Sony DSC-camera W5 + Diving Bell Sony MPK WA

Magnificent and elegant small fish with colorful livery from the head and the front half of the body are yellow-cream tinged with pink, the back half of the body is bright red and finally the tail is dark purple, the eye is oval and mouth is rather forward. The body is elongated and flat, the dorsal fin divided into two parts is extremely elongated and the ventral fins are also very long and slender. Belonging to the family of Sleepers, comes from the islands of Taiwan, New Caledonia and Mauritius. But living in a vast marine area which extends from the Indian Ocean (east coast of Africa and the Maldives), through the Indo Australian Archipelago and the China Sea, up the central Pacific Ocean. The Nemateleotris leads a wonderful life for more torque and generally constructs its hiding place by digging long tunnels in the sandy bottom or under rocks or in coral branches, to make these underground passages reinforces even more stable as by placing the foundation stone fragments, shells and coral gathering near the site chosen. The eggs are laid in small sea caves and their defense is nothing short of fierce and can be done either by the male or the female. This beautiful fish feed primarily on zooplankton and you can meet him on coral wall to a depth of about 50 meters. It 'very difficult to approach and of course to photograph because it is very quick to return to their lair, where the intruder does not leave until there has been removed.