Longfin waspfish

Longfin waspfish
Apistus carinatus

I have now seen this unusual fish in two different parts of Bali, both times in similar environments. Shallow black sand sites with virtually no coral growth. A very bizarre fish with many unique features, it has long thin finger like projections coming down from the underside of it's pectoral fins, then it has barbles just like a goatfish but the most unique feature is those long fins.... though what are they for. My theory, unless someone can correct me is a feeding mechanism.

During one dive I noticed this fish quickly moving these long fins back and forth in what seemed to be like a very controlled manner, to me it looked like it was trying to disturb small animals under the sand and feed on them. These may go unnoticed as just another goatfish laying on the sand, most times when I have first spotted this fish it lays with the fins buried in the sand, only when it seemed disturbed by my presence did it slowly rise up to show it's full length fins and colourfully marked dorsal and anal fins.

Source:
http://www.diving4images.com/creature_features.html