Fish ID please

[bpmurray]

I'm trying to ID two fish caught from a pier on southern Crete on ragworm. Here's the first - not a great pic, but the thing looks like a wrasse. Or maybe a bream. Or something:


The second is rather odd - it either has no scales or they're very small, with the effect that it seems to have skin rather than scales. It's a very aggressive taker too - note the fins all the way up the back, and most of the way across the underside too:

[Hardiman]

ok edited this reply! the bottom one is a Spinefoot! its a curious looking thing and im bored shitless right now!
http://forums.handlinefishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=55
was looking at all these and came across it, cant tell by looking at the top one :/
http://www.cretanbeaches.com/fish-of-crete/

[bpmurray]

Yes, that's definitely a Spinefoot, although I think it could be any of them. I also think I'm lucky not to have been stung by one since I caught loads of the things - apparently their spines are venomous. Great find - how did you track it down?

Update - I've gotten a reply from a Cretan aquarium which says the top one is a Parrot Fish (http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Sparisoma-cretense.html) and the second is a Spinefoot, either a dusky spinefoot (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Species ... +spinefoot) or the marbled spinefoot (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Species ... =spinefoot), and that its coloration can change at the drop of a hat.

[Jayball10]

Nice one mate.

Are ya sure thats a Parrotfish though? Doesnt look like any of the Parrotfish ya see on a Google image search. Its the exact same as a fish I caught in France a few weeks back and Im having trouble identifying it. Took pictures but lost the phone soon after. I was thinking it was a small Ballan but apparently ya cant get Ballans in the Med.

Ive been looking through a big list of fish in the med and cant seem to find it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrotfish