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Tonga

40 images Created 22 Oct 2018

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  • This is a head-on view of the tube-like home of a marine polychaete worm in the Pectinariidae family, commonly known as trumpet worms or ice cream cone worms. These worms construct their homes by fitting and gluing together grains of sand. The walls of their home typically comprise a single layer of sand. The head of the worm is situated at the wider end (2cm in diameter in this case) of the tube, which faces down into sediment, with the narrower end protruding above the sediment. The worms forage in the sediment, digging through sand, mud and silt with strong gold-colored spines (setae) while using tentacles to sort through the materials. The worms digest organic particles and excrete pseudofaeces, a stream of undigested inorganic matter wrapped in mucous. This worm hole measured 9cm in length.
    pectinariidae-polychaete-trumpet-wor...tif
  • This is a tube-like home of a marine polychaete worm in the Pectinariidae family, commonly known as trumpet worms or ice cream cone worms. These worms construct their homes by fitting and gluing together grains of sand. The walls of their home typically comprise a single layer of sand. The head of the worm is situated at the wider end (2cm in diameter in this case) of the tube, which faces down into sediment, with the narrower end protruding above the sediment. The worms forage in the sediment, digging through sand, mud and silt with strong gold-colored spines (setae) while using tentacles to sort through the materials. The worms digest organic particles and excrete pseudofaeces, a stream of undigested inorganic matter wrapped in mucous. This worm hole measured 9cm in length.
    pectinariidae-polychaete-trumpet-wor...tif
  • This is an aerial panorama of Fonua'one'one Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. The island and white sand beach visible from a boat at sea level represents only a small fraction of the entire coral reef structure, as is apparent from this aerial view.
    fonua-one-one-island-aerial-panorama...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Fangasito Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga, with Fonua’one’one island visible in the background. From this perspective, the extent of the coral reef surrounding the island is visible.
    fangasito-island-aerial-panorama-ton...tif
  • This is an aerial panorama of Fangasito Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. Visible in the background is Fonua’one’one Island. The extensive coral reef structure surrounding the island is clearly visible from this high vantage point.
    fangasito-island-aerial-panorama-ton...tif
  • This is an aerial panorama of Maninita Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. The island sits atop an extensive coral reef structure, which is for the most part not visible from the surface of the ocean. The reefs extend into the background, reaching the smaller island of Fonuafo’ou. This photograph was taken a few days before the full moon. The pinkish-red threads visible on the ocean surface are billions of gametes, perhaps spawned from the coral around Maninita and other nearby reefs.
    maninita-island-aerial-panorama-tong...tif
  • This is an aerial view of Lua Loli island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. From this perspective the extensive reef structure surrounding the visible portion of the island is apparent.
    lua-loli-island-aerial-tonga-201909-...tif
  • This is an aerial panorama of Taula Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. The smaller island immediately behind and to the right of Taula is Lua Lole island. Further ub the background is the main island group. From this perspective, the considerable extent of the coral reef and sand associated with the island is clearly visible.
    taula-island-aerial-panorama-tonga-2...tif
  • This is an aerial panorama of Maninita Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. The island sits atop an extensive coral reef structure, which is for the most part not visible from the surface of the ocean. Visible to the right behind Maninita is Taula Island.
    maninita-island-aerial-panorama-tong...tif
  • An unusual 3-headed coconut tree on Tongatapu Island, Kingdom of Tonga
    coconut-tree-with-three-heads-tonga-...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Fonua’one’one Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga, with a boat in the foreground for scale. From this perspective, it is clear that the island comprises only a small part of the entire reef and sand structure, with most of Fonua’one’one being coral reef that submerges at higher tides. This image was created during an extreme low tide just after the full moon. Fangasito Island is visible in the background.
    fonuaoneone-island-aerial-panorama-t...tif
  • This is an aerial view of the coal reef extending from Mounu Island toward Euakafa Island, which is visible in the background. The passage seen in this image is frequently used by boats to pass through the reef. It is deep enough for humpback whales to pass through on occasion.
    passage-through-coral-reef-aerial-pa...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Lua Ui Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga., with a boat in frame for scale. From this vantage point it is clear that the visible portion of the island structure is surrounded by extensive reef structure.
    aerial-panorama-lua-ui-island-tonga-...tif
  • This is trash that I picked up on a white sand beach on a remote tropical island in the Kingdom of Tonga. The big pieces are visible.. There are hundreds of tiny pieces of plastics, i.e., microplastics, as well. Many of the small pieces were clear to white, blending in perfectly with sand.
    plastic-and-trash-from-white-sand-be...tif
  • This is a small crab infested with a Sacculina barnacle parasite, a genus of barnacles that is a parasitic castrator of crabs. These barnacles are pelagic during their larval stage. Female larvae seek out host crabs. Once a suitable host is located, the female barnacle attaches to a joint area, molts into a form known as a kentrogon, and then injects its soft body into the crab, discarding its hard shell in the process. Once inside, the Sacculina develops into two parts: the interna, which comprises root-like threads that wrap around the crab’s internal organs; and the externa, which is a bulbous reproductive organ that protrudes from the crab’s abdomen, as pictured here. Male Sacculina barnacles inject themselves into a pocket in the female’s body in order to undertake the sole function of producing spermatozoa to fertilize the female. In other words, the male becomes parasitic to the female, which is parasitic to the crab. Once infected, a crab is unable to molt, though it otherwise functions normally. Nutrition that the crab ingests is siphoned off by the barnacle. Even more amazing, when a female Sacculina sets upon a male crab, as pictured here, it sterilizes the crab and causes the male crab to release hormones that cause the shape of the body to change such that it more resembles a female crab, with wider, flatter abdomen. The formerly male crab can even act like a female, performing female mating dances. When the female Sacculina is ready to release her brood into the water, she causes her host crab to do exactly what a female crab would normally do to release her own eggs. Namely, the crab finds high ground, grooms the brooding pouch on its abdomen and shoots out clouds of larvae via the hole visible at the center of the abdominal area, using its claws to stir the water to assist the newborn larvae, in this case barnacle larvae, not crabs. Once infected, a crab devotes its life to the reproduction of Sacculina. There are more than 100 species of Saccu
    sacculina-barnacle-infested-male-cra...tif
  • This is a small crab infested with a Sacculina barnacle parasite, a genus of barnacles that is a parasitic castrator of crabs. These barnacles are pelagic during their larval stage. Female larvae seek out host crabs. Once a suitable host is located, the female barnacle attaches to a joint area, molts into a form known as a kentrogon, and then injects its soft body into the crab, discarding its hard shell in the process. Once inside, the Sacculina develops into two parts: the interna, which comprises root-like threads that wrap around the crab’s internal organs; and the externa, which is a bulbous reproductive organ that protrudes from the crab’s abdomen, as pictured here. Male Sacculina barnacles inject themselves into a pocket in the female’s body in order to undertake the sole function of producing spermatozoa to fertilize the female. In other words, the male becomes parasitic to the female, which is parasitic to the crab. Once infected, a crab is unable to molt, though it otherwise functions normally. Nutrition that the crab ingests is siphoned off by the barnacle. Even more amazing, when a female Sacculina sets upon a male crab, as pictured here, it sterilizes the crab and causes the male crab to release hormones that cause the shape of the body to change such that it more resembles a female crab, with wider, flatter abdomen. The formerly male crab can even act like a female, performing female mating dances. When the female Sacculina is ready to release her brood into the water, she causes her host crab to do exactly what a female crab would normally do to release her own eggs. Namely, the crab finds high ground, grooms the brooding pouch on its abdomen and shoots out clouds of larvae via the hole visible at the center of the abdominal area, using its claws to stir the water to assist the newborn larvae, in this case barnacle larvae, not crabs. Once infected, a crab devotes its life to the reproduction of Sacculina. There are more than 100 species of Saccu
    sacculina-barnacle-infested-male-cra...tif
  • Aerial view of Luahaipo island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga, showing fringing coral reef structure and white sand beach surrounding the island
    luahaipo-island-aerial-tonga-201808-...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Taula Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. Taula is an elongated island, completely surrounded by fringing reef.
    taula-island-aerial-panorama-tonga-2...tif
  • Aerial Panorama of Lualoli Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga, showing the extensive fringing reef that extends far off one end, with additional submerged reef nearby.
    lualoli-island-aerial-panorama-tonga...tif
  • Brown booby (Sula leucogaster) taking off from the ocean
    brown-booby-sula-leucogaster-tonga-2...tif
  • Lesser frigatebird (Fregata aerial) patrolling the skies. There were terns picking up sardines that had been driven into shallow water and onto the beach by trevallies, blacktip reef sharks and other predators. Frigatebirds like this gathered overhead to swoop in, bully terns carrying fish, and steal their meals.
    lesser-frigatebird-fregata-aerial-20...tif
  • This is a brown booby (Sula leucogaster) grabbing a sardine from a group of fish that had swum into very shallow water.
    sula-leucogaster-brown-booby-eating-...tif
  • This is a greater crested tern (Thalasseus bergii) wrangling a sardine. Being a small bird, the tern had difficulty controlling the struggling fish. The bird flew the sardine to the sand in order to subdue it.
    greater-crested-tern-thalasseus berg...tif
  • Pictured here are sardines (Clupeidae) fleeing from predators in the early morning. They were being herded and chased by trevallies and blacktip reef sharks in the water, and picked off by brown boobies and terns from the air. This coordinated hunting took place primarily before sunrise. Here, the sun was just peeking over the horizon.
    sardines-fleeing-from-predators-tong...tif
  • This is a blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) beaching itself to catch sardines. This occurred in the early morning, just before sunrise, when large schools of the baitfish gathered in shallow water. Several species worked together to herd and catch the fish. In the water, trevallies and blacktip reef sharks herded the fish, forcing them into concentrated groups. From the air, brown boobies and terns hovered. The predators coordinated their attacks, usually with trevallies making high-speed runs through the groups of fish. This caused panic, sending the sardines in every direction. Blacktip reef sharks then charged in and beached themselves, chasing baitfish onto shore, while boobies and terns picked off fish at the surface, separated from the other fish. This action was rapid, often resulting in sweeping waves of panicked fish washing down the length of the shoreline. Once the sun came up, the action slowed down and usually stopped within 20-30 minutes after sunrise.
    blacktip-reef-shark-hunting-sardines...tif
  • Pictured here are sardines (Clupeidae) fleeing from predators in the early morning. They were being herded and chased by trevallies and blacktip reef sharks in the water, and picked off by brown boobies and terns from the air. This coordinated hunting took place primarily before sunrise.
    sardines-fleeing-from-predators-tong...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Fangasito Island in the Vava'u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga, showing fringing coral reef structure and white sand beaches around the island
    fangasito-island-aerial-panorama-ton...tif
  • This is a blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) slicing through shallow water in pursuit of sardines, some of which can be seen jumping into the air to avoid being caught. This occurred in the early morning, usually commencing just before sunrise, when large schools of the baitfish gathered in shallow water. Several species worked together to herd and catch the fish. In the water, trevallies and blacktip reef sharks herded the fish, forcing them into concentrated groups. From the air, brown boobies and terns hovered. The predators coordinated their attacks, usually with trevallies making high-speed runs through the groups of fish. This caused panic, sending the sardines in every direction. Blacktip reef sharks then charged in, chasing sardines into shallow water and sometimes onto shore, while boobies and terns picked off fish at the surface, separated from the other fish. This action was rapid, often resulting in sweeping waves of panicked fish washing down the length of the shoreline. Here, the sun has just come up over the horizon. The action usually slowed down and stopped within 20-30 minutes after sunrise.
    blacktip-reef-shark-hunting-sardines...tif
  • Pictured here are sardines (Clupeidae) fleeing from predators in the early morning. They were being herded and chased by trevallies and blacktip reef sharks in the water, and picked off by brown boobies and terns from the air. This coordinated hunting took place primarily before sunrise.
    sardines-fleeing-predators-tonga-201...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Eueiki Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. Located on the island is Treasure Island Resort, visible in this photo. There is a large school of sardines near the boats.
    aerial-panorama-eueiki-island-tonga-...tif
  • Profile of Rocky the dog at dawn, Eueiki Island, Vava’u
    sunrise-dog-eueiki-island-tonga-2018...tif
  • This is a brown booby (Sula leucogaster) taking off from the ocean surface after catching a sardine., with the fish still struggling in the bird’s beak.
    brown-booby-catching-sardine-sula-le...tif
  • This is a brown booby (Sula leucogaster) taking off from the ocean surface after catching a sardine., with the fish still struggling in the bird’s beak.
    brown-booby-catching-sardine-sula-le...tif
  • An unusual 3-headed coconut tree on Tongatapu Island, Kingdom of Tonga
    coconut-tree-with-three-heads-tonga-...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Mounu Island Resort in Vava’u, Tonga. This private island getaway is surrounded by coral reef and white sand.
    tonga-mounu-island-resort-aerial-pan...tif
  • Yellow paper wasp (Polistes olivaceus) grooming itself at sunset, in between sessions of scraping the bamboo poles for material to construct a hive.
    yellow-paper-wasp-polistes-olivaceus...tif
  • This is the test, or hard interior shell, of a heart urchin found at Mounu Island in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga
    heart-urchin-tonga-30102015.tif
  • Modern scrimshaw, sperm whale teeth, Kingdom of Tonga.
    modern-scrimshaw-sperm-whale-teeth-t...tif
  • Vertebrae from a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) that stranded on a small island in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga. These vertebrae and most of the whale's skeleton was in the process of being cleaned. The bones were buried in the sand, and there was still decomposing soft tissue on the bones.
    sperm-whale-vertebrae-on-beach-by-mo...tif
  • Double rainbow in Neiafu harbor, Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga
    double-rainbow-panorama-tonga-201208...tif
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