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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Hi Julie,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I've been doing coral research on Curacao (NA) the last 2.5
years which involves diving everyday. What you describe, I haven't seen on my
dives. Strange, since Bonaire is virtually around the corner. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Cheers, Sander</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000
size=2><BR>________________________________________<BR>Sander
Scheffers<BR>Carmabi Foundation<BR>(Caribbean Research and Management of
Biodiversity)<BR>P.O.Box 2090, Piscadera Baai, Willemstad,<BR>Curacao
(NA)<BR>Fax: ++ 599 9 462 7680<BR>Phone: ++ 599 9 462 4242/565 2871<BR>E-mail:
<A href="mailto:corals@interneeds.net">corals@interneeds.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><B>-----Original Message-----</B><BR><B>From:
</B>Julie Ekstrom <<A
href="mailto:jekstrom@coral.org">jekstrom@coral.org</A>><BR><B>To: </B><A
href="mailto:coral-list-daily@coral.aoml.noaa.gov">coral-list-daily@coral.aoml.noaa.gov</A>
<<A
href="mailto:coral-list-daily@coral.aoml.noaa.gov">coral-list-daily@coral.aoml.noaa.gov</A>><BR><B>Cc:
</B><A href="mailto:ehorne@coral.org">ehorne@coral.org</A> <<A
href="mailto:ehorne@coral.org">ehorne@coral.org</A>><BR><B>Date:
</B>Thursday, July 12, 2001 1:18 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>sharpnose puffer
tumors<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>>Greetings Coral List,<BR>><BR>>While
diving in Bonaire this month I noticed small white growths on
<BR>>several Sharpnose Puffers (Canthigaster rostrata).Through casual
<BR>>survey I found that 50-80% of this species had similar growths. The
<BR>>tumors appear pale or white in color, and are slightly raised bumps
<BR>>to bulbous growths. On affected fish the spots were present on the
<BR>>body and/or fins.<BR>><BR>>Is this common in other areas in
the Caribbean? Has anyone else <BR>>noticed these growths, and if so, is
it anything to worry about? I <BR>>have spent nearly 75 hours underwater
in Bonaire over the last 4 <BR>>years and this visit was the first time I
observed the growths.<BR>><BR>>Any information is
appreciated<BR>><BR>>Thanks in advance,<BR><BR> Ellen<BR>
<A href="mailto:ehorne@coral.org">ehorne@coral.org</A><BR>-- <BR>Julie
Ekstrom<BR>Administrative Assistant<BR>The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)<BR><A
href="mailto:jekstrom@coral.org">jekstrom@coral.org</A><BR><A
href="http://www.coral.org/">http://www.coral.org/</A><BR>tel:
510-848-0110<BR>fax: 510-848-3720<BR><BR>"Working together to keep
coral reefs alive."<BR>~~~~~~~<BR>For directions on subscribing and
unsubscribing to coral-list or the<BR>digests, please visit <A
href="http://www.coral.noaa.gov">www.coral.noaa.gov</A>, click on Popular on
the<BR>menu bar, then click on Coral-List
Listserver.<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>