High-Hat
High Hat (Tiger Drum)
Commonly called High Hat, but this individual is likely a Tiger Drum (Pareques lineatus), the more probable species around Bonaire.
| Name: | High-Hat |
| Scientific Name: | Pareques acuminatus |
| Family: | Drums and Croakers |
| Taxonomic: | Sciaenidae |
| ID Group: | Odd Shaped Swimmers |
| Size: | 5 - 8 in. |
| Depth Range: | On the reef (10 – 60 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Not usually seen |
This drum fish has a black and white striped body, dark fins, and a slightly sloped forehead. Juveniles have a tall, curved dorsal fin and a bold black stripe that arches over the back and loops around the fin.
The High-Hat is usually seen in pairs or small groups. However, on Bonaire, many individuals match the appearance of the Tiger Drum (Pareques lineatus), a closely related but lesser-known species. The two are difficult to distinguish, and most references do not clearly separate them.