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  • Blakiston’s Fish Owl (Bubo blackistoni) at night, with a small masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou masou), also known as yamame, in its mouth. Photographed in Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. This owl is wild, but is habituated to people and is fed daily.
    endangered-blakistons-fish-owl-bubo-...tif
  • Blakiston’s Fish Owl (Bubo blackistoni) at night, with a small masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou masou), also known as yamame, in its mouth. Photographed in Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. This owl is accustomed to people and is fed daily.
    endangered-blakistons-fish-owl-bubo-...tif
  • This is a humpbacked scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis neglecta) sitting on a muddy bottom in shallow water, with a number of Japanese silver-biddy fishes (Gerres equulus) swimming past in the background.
    scorpaenopsis-neglecta-humpbacked-sc...tif
  • This is a yellow-green wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens) male engaging in courtship display. He spawned several times while I observed, each time with a different female. He also chased away a number of other males.
    thalassoma-lutescens-banana-wrasse-m...tif
  • This is a Shiho’s seahorse (Hippocampus sindonis), a species that is endemic to Northwest Pacific coastal waters of Japan and southern Korea. The Japanese name is hanatatsu.
    hippocampus-sindonis-seahorse-japan-...tif
  • This male Neoclinus bryope blenny has an unusual dorsal fin with two prominent blue spots. Most individuals of this species have one spot. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-unusual-dors...tif
  • Close-up profile of a male Neoclinus bryope chaenopsid blenny during the winter breeding season. This species is known as koke-ginpo in Japanese. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-japan-202101...tif
  • This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout attempting to dislodge a male from a hole in the reef. Females sometimes approach males and curl up next to them, rub against their bodies. This has been misinterpreted as behavior suggesting affection, in the courtship context. Males do the same to females as well. In reality, one fish is attempting to dislodge the other from a prime piece of real estate. Sometimes the intruder succeeds, sometimes not. Image 3 of 6 in a sequence illustrating this behavior.
    zoarchias-major-female-pulling-male-...tif
  • Two male Zoarchias major eelpouts with mouths wide open facing off in the middle of Sargassum hemiphyllum algae. The fishes blend-in well with both the coloration and texture of these brown algae and other surrounding vegetation and substrate, providing some measure of protection in the form of camouflage from larger fish patrolling the reef.
    zoarchias-major-eelpouts-fighting-sa...tif
  • Jawfish (Opistognathus sp.) taking a look around after spitting out sand and rubble while maintaining its burrow
    jawfish-opistognathus-cleaning-burro...tif
  • This is an Indian anchovy (Stolephorus indicus), one of the anchovy species that Eden’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) feed upon in the Gulf of Thailand. It is also a primary ingredient for fish sauce, as well as many other foods in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
    indian-anchovy-stelophorus-indicus-g...tif
  • Mature male Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) in Palau
    male-napoleon-wrasse-cheilinus-undul...tif
  • A bunch of twinspot snapper (Lutjanus bohar) rushing up to spawn, releasing a cloud of milky white sperm and eggs in the water column. Photographed in Palau.
    twinspot-snapper-spawning-lutjanus-b...tif
  • Red Light District: A pair of mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) mating at late dusk, photographed to appear as if illuminated against a red lantern suggestive of red light districts. Photographed in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    mating-mandarinfish-at-night-synchir...tif
  • Small orange painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) waiting patiently at night for potential prey to swim by. Photographed in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    orange-painted-frogfish-antennarius-...tif
  • Small moray eel covered with parasites, hiding in a bottle in the muck of Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Gymnothorax-moray-eel-with-parasites...tif
  • Lubricogobius dinah goby sitting on top of its beer bottle home, located at 30 meters depth at Observation Point at Normanby Island in Milne Bay province, Papua New Guinea.
    Lubricogobius-dinah-goby-observation...tif
  • White-spotted pufferfish being cleaned by a bicolor cleaner wrasse. Photograph taken at Ambitle Island, one of the two islands in the Feni Island group, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
    white-spotted-pufferfish-cleaner-wra...tif
  • Cute orange and white juvenile bicolor parrotfish with tail fin flared open
    juvenile-bicolor-parrotfish-Cetoscar...tif
  • Unspoiled orange-yellow sea fan with golden damselfish and orange basslets in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    orange-yellow-sea-fan-anthias-damsel...tif
  • Soft coral with lots of magenta slender Anthias and a couple of golden damselfish, on a steep wall in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    soft-coral-wall-dive-eastern-fields-...tif
  • This male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny is looking out from his home in the coral reef during breeding season. He is searching for females that are ready to spawn. Normally dull and drab in color, this male had donned a bright yellow, blue and orange pattern for this purpose. When a female approaches, he performs an elaborate, somewhat comical dance to entice her.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • Normally pale in color, this male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny is displaying the characteristic yellow, blue and orange colors and patterns used to court females during breeding season. When an interested female comes close, he will perform a dance in front of his burrow to entice her to deposit eggs inside.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) sending one of his babies into the world. Females of this species deposit eggs into the burrows of males, which fertilize and care for the developing young. When juveniles are mature, the males take the young fish into their mouths, dart out of their burrows and spit the babies into the water, sometimes one at a time, sometimes several at once. The action is rapid, the direction and timing of launching babies unpredictable. When the males send the babies out like this, their bodies usually lose the bright coloration of breeding season, becoming relatively drab, though not quite as dull as normal.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a female whitespotted pygmy filefish (Rudarius ercodes) tending to a clutch of eggs that she has deposited on a cluster of bryozoans that have grown on the branches of a dead tree lodged in the substrate. Development of this species is rapid, with the juveniles hatching in approximately three days.
    rudarius-ercodes-tending-eggs-whites...tif
  • This is a female whitespotted pygmy filefish (Rudarius ercodes) tending to a clutch of eggs that she has deposited on a rope. Development of this species is rapid, with the juveniles hatching in approximately three days.
    rudarius-ercodes-tending-eggs-whites...tif
  • This is an arc-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) observing the reef from a favored spot.
    paracirrhites-arcatus-arc-eye-hawkfi...tif
  • This is a male peach fairy basslet (Pseudanthias dispar).
    pseudanthias-dispar-peach-fairy-bass...tif
  • This is a male red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) hatching the clutch of eggs that he has been watching over for a period of about five days. Hatching occurs in the evening, with the male stimulating the eggs with his fins and mouth to provide the cue to the juveniles.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • This is a red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) peeking out from its well-hidden home in the coral reef.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • This is a pair of Pair of Aspasma minima clingfish hiding underneath part of a large growth of Ecklonia cava brown algae. This species is found in the northwest Pacific.
    aspasma-minima-clingfish-pair-japan-...tif
  • Juvenile painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus), about 3cm in length
    antennarius-pictus-painted-frogfish-...tif
  • This is a male Neoclinus bryope chaenopsid blenny with his mouth wide open. This species is called koke-ginpo in Japanese.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-mouth-open-j...tif
  • This is a male spotty-bellied greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus) watching over several clutches of developing eggs, which are situation just below the fish's left pectoral fin. Males of this species are tasked with caring for and protecting eggs.
    hexagrammos-agrammus-spotty-bellied-...tif
  • Pictured in the foreground is a male chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) on his last legs during the spawning run. His body has deteriorated considerably. His eye is opaque. Yet, he was still vying to spawn with females. A more intact male is visible in the background. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    oncorhynchus-keta-chum-salmon-spawni...tif
  • This is a male spotty-bellied greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus) protecting several clutches of eggs resulting from spawning with multiple females. During the autumn/ winter breeding season, males keeps watch over developing embryos until they hatch. At the same time, males actively court females that approach, swimming out to greet them and lead them back to carefully prepared spawning areas like the one pictured here. The eyes of developing fish larvae are visible in many of the eggs here, meaning they are close to hatching. Freshly spawned eggs were attached to the opposite side of this cluster. Successful males like this one often attend to a number of egg clusters at different stages of development, each from separate females.
    hexagrammos-agrammus-spotty-bellied-...tif
  • Close-up view of newly spawned spotty-bellied greenling eggs (Hexagrammos agrammus). Each egg is about 3mm in size. Photographed at a magnification of four times life size.
    hexagrammos-agrammus-spotty-bellied-...tif
  • This is a male hairy frogiish (Antennarius striatus) with illicium (rod) and esca (lure) extended for the purpose of attracting prey. The wormlike shape of the esca is characteristic of this species. The illicium and esca are part of the frontmost of three dorsal fins.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...tif
  • This is a large male hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) with his esca, or lure, extended to entice prey. The esca is situated at the end of a long rod called the illicium, which is the fish’s front-most dorsal fin. The white hair-like protrusions of the fish’s body are small skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), clearly visible at 100% magnification. This photograph was taken five days prior to this fish spawning with a smaller female.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...tif
  • These two hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) are seconds away from spawning. The smaller male has positioned himself beneath the female to push her up into the water column. Her belly is swollen with eggs, and she has inflated herself to around twice her normal size in preparation for release of eggs. This may make it difficult for her to swim effectively without help. The male is positioned near where the eggs will be released. Being in this position may be critical for him to judge the precise moment when he should break away from the female and release sperm to fertilize the eggs.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...tif
  • This is a pair of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in unusual post-mating courtship activity. Earlier in the morning, the pair had completed hours of courtship, culminating with the female (background) depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male (foreground). Once this takes place, the pair usually return to independent activity, most often foraging for food. In this instance, the pair stayed together. They maintained body contact, often with their prehensile tails intertwined. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-co...tif
  • This is a male fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) protecting eggs. The eggs comprise several clutches from a number of females. During the autumn to winter breeding season, mature males like this one establish territories and adopt a brilliant yellow-orange coloration. The males court passing females, which can choose to spawn with or to ignore a given male.
    hexagrammos-otakii-fat-greenling-mal...tif
  • Like other cardinalfish, spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) are paternal mouthbrooders. When a pair of fish are ready to spawn, male and female align side-by-side. As the female pushes out a cluster of eggs, the male fertlizes them, then rapidly moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. Once the transfer of eggs is accomplished, the male will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting the eggs in his mouth. While avoiding these charges by the female, the male spits out and takes the eggs back into his mouth multiple times, as pictured here. The male has just turned quickly to evade the female (visible in the background) and spit out his mouthful of eggs, sucking them back into his mouth in a fraction of a second. The purpose of this post-spawning behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • This is a male striped poison-fang blenny mimic (Petroscirtes breviceps) watching over multiple batches of eggs that are at different stages of development. The eggs are adhered to the inside of the bivalve shell, with the eyes of many of the developing fish larvae visible. This male will have mated with several different females at various times, with each female depositing eggs to the inner surface of the shell. The male guards the eggs until they hatch. Pictured here, the male has just opened his mouth for a split-second.
    petroscirtes-breviceps-guarding-eggs...tif
  • These are eggs of a sculpin named <br />
Bero elegans, found in the northwest Pacific. The eggs of this species have a blue tint and measure about 2mm to 3mm in size. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    bero-elegans-sculpin-eggs-japan-2019...tif
  • These are Zoarchias major eelpouts. The orange individual is female; the one in the hole is male. The female has approached the male, curled around him and rubbed him in a manner that divers in the area interpreted as affection or interest in the courtship context. In actuality, the female is trying to dislodge the male from the hole in order to occupy it herself. It is an antagonstic encounter, not one characterized by amorous interest. Given that these fish come up from deeper waters to congregate and socialize in this specific place at a specific time of year, the possibility that this activity is related to reproduction in the greater context is high, though how and when reproduction takes place remains unknown. Image 1 in a sequence of 3.
    zoarchias-major-female-getting-ready...tif
  • Two mature male Zoarchias major eelpouts opening their mouths as wide as possible during a protracted confrontation. From personal observation, it seems likely that the size of the mouth when wide open serves as a means of relative strength comparison. This type of behavior is exhibited during the spring and summer months, presumably associated with reproduction.
    zoarchias-major-male-eelpouts-compet...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) stopping to consider a flatfish as a possible meal. After a few moments, the frogfish thought the better of it and moved on, possibly because of the size difference. The flatfish was bigger.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • Hasegawa-san with freshly caught deep sea rockfish (Sebastes matsubarai)
    hasegawa-san-deep-sea-rockcod-japan-...tif
  • This is a 7mm-long juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) sitting on Colpomenia sinuosa algae. The white crystals are grains of sand, which provide a sense of scale. This fish grows to a size of around 40cm and is known from Northern Pacific waters down to 1700m depth. It is the only known member of its genus.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-juvenile-smoo...tif
  • This is a head-on view of a 7mm-long juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) sitting on Colpomenia sinuosa algae. The white crystals are grains of sand, which provide a sense of scale. This fish grows to a size of around 40cm and is known from Northern Pacific waters down to 1700m depth. It is the only known member of its genus.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-juvenile-smoo...tif
  • This is a juvenile Eumicrotremus uenoi lumpsucker, estimated length 3mm from head to tip of caudal fin. Adults of this species are generally a single color, losing the white rings that characterize the juveniles. This fish is sitting on Colpomenia sinuosa algae. The white crystals are grains of sand, which provide a sense of scale. This species is found in the North Pacific, on the western coast of Japan and southern coast of the Korean peninsula. Photographed at magnification of four times life-size.
    eumicrotremus-uenoi-juvenile-japan-2...tif
  • This is a juvenile Asian sheepshead wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus), easily recognized by the white lateral stripe against an orange-yellow background.
    asian-sheepshead-wrasse-juvenile-sem...tif
  • These are two mature male Asian sheepshead wrasses (Semicossyphus reticulatus) fighting over territory during the breeding season. During this season, the mature males take on a whitish coloration, particularly when they are approaching female wrasses and when they engage in territorial disputes with other males. The male on the left in this image is Yamato, the dominant male in this area. He is the successor to Benkei. Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that all individuals start life as females, then eventually turn into males. This image is licensed on an exclusive basis to BBC through 29 October 2021.
    asian-sheepshead-wrasse-males-fighti...tif
  • A minipizza batfish (Halieutaea stellata) settling on the seafloor before descending back to depth after being released from a fishing net. When stationary like this, these fish perch on their fins almost as if they were using legs. These fish are usually found between 50m and 400m depth.
    minipizza-batfish-halieutaea-stellat...tif
  • Pterogobius elapoides goby, known as kinubari in Japanese, against a background of bright-green seaweed that blooms in the spring.
    pterogobius-elapoides-seaweed-japan-...tif
  • This is a male hairchin goby (Sagamia geneionema) protecting a brood of eggs. Males of this species mate several times with females, which lay their eggs on the upper surfaces of confined spaces and then leave the area to the care of the male. In this case, this burrow was at 20m depth, with water ranging between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius. The males protect the eggs until they hatch, somewhere between one and two weeks depending on water temperature, and then mate again. Throughout this process, the male does not eat much. As a result, after several matings, the males become too weak to carry on, and they die. The name for this species in Japanese is sabihaze (サビハゼ).
    hairchin-goby-sagamia-guarding-eggs-...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) struggling to subdue a very large pipefish that it has grabbed by the head. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 11 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) that tried to attract a small mantis shrimp by waving its lure (esca), in order to eat the crustacean. The mantis shrimp did not fall for the trap and fled. It can be seen to the left, in the background. The disappointed frogfish had to move on to continue its quest for a meal.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • Lutjanus bohar are commonly referred to as twinspot snapper, and sometimes as red snapper. As shown here, this species is capable of taking on coloration other than red. This happens during spawning aggregations, but also when fish are alone, as is the case here. The two dorsal spots can also appear and disappear. This species is an active predator, as suggested by the prominent canine teeth.
    lutjanus-bohar-twinspot-snapper-prof...tif
  • Reef lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) eating a Bennett’s sharpnose puffer (Canthigaster bennetti). Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
    lizardfish-eating-Bennetts-pufferfis...tif
  • Large orange-red painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) lying in wait for prey at night in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    orange-red-frogfish-hunting-at-night...tif
  • Colorful male jewel fairy basslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) photographed in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    jewel-fairy-basslet-male-eastern-fie...tif
  • Darkfin chromis (Chromis atripes), photographed in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    darkfin-chromis-atripes-papua-new-gu...tif
  • Cute juvenile combtooth blenny (Aspidontus sp.) swimming in mid-water at night over deep ocean. Encountered during a blackwater night dive. Between 5cm and 6cm in length.
    juvenile-combtooth-blenny-aspidontus...tif
  • The seahorse extended its jaws forward and opened the area of its face just below its eyes and jawline several times, perhaps to vent water through its mouth and jaw structure.
    thorny-seahorse-hippocampus-histrix-...tif
  • Staghorn coral formation at Point P dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea, with a large school of bigeye trevallies (Caranx sexfasciatus) swimming overhead
    caranx-sexfasciatus-bigeye-trevally-...tif
  • Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) coming together in deep water early in the morning as part of their preparation for group spawning involving thousands of fish. Their faces turn pale prior to commencing group spawning. Photographed in Palau.
    bumphead-parrotfish-bolbometopon-mur...tif
  • Spawning aggregation of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) gathering by the thousands in the early morning to release massive clouds of sperm and eggs into the water. Photographed in Palau.
    spawning-aggregation-bumphead-parrot...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) with its mouth open. Photographed at Blue Corner, Palau.
    Cheilinus-undulatus-Napoleon-wrasse-...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) patrolling the reef at Palau's renowned dive site Blue Corner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • Napoleon wrasses are abundant and friendly in Palau, often approaching divers in the water in an inquisitive manner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • A beautiful Lori's Anthias (Pseudanthias lori). This fish is male, with characteristic red, orange, yellow, blue and purple coloration on its body. Photographed at Carl's Ultimate dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea, a submerged coral reef atoll in the Coral Sea
    Pseudanthias-lori-basslet-anthias-ea...tif
  • This is a comet (Calloplesiops altivelis), an elegant, cryptic fish that possesses a false eye on its dorsal fin, probably to mislead predators. When alarmed, comets poke their heads into a hole or crevice and expose their tail ends in order to discourage potential predators by mimicking the head of the moray eel.
    comet-fish-Calloplesiops-altivelis-l...tif
  • Cute snowflake moray eel (Echidna nebulosa) with its mouth open, photographed in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    snowflake-moray-eel-Echidna-nebulosa...tif
  • Hardyhead silversides (Atherinomorus lacunosus) swarming under the jetty at Samarai Island in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.
    Hardyhead-silversides-Atherinomorus-...tif
  • School of Yellowstripe Scad (Selaroides leptolepis) swimming under the jetty at Samarai Island in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
    Selaroides-leptolepis-yellowstripe-s...tif
  • Pretty little yellow Ambon damselfish facing the camera with its mouth wide open. Photographed at Gotoi Bay in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.
    Pomacentrus-amboinensis-ambon-damsel...tif
  • Jewel fairy basslet in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. This photograph is a film scan.
    threadfin-anthias-pseudanthias-squam...tif
  • Colourful fairly basslets and sea fans snatching bits of food from the passing current
    fairy-basslets-sea-fan-bangka-north-...tif
  • Colourful, cute baby longnose cowfish are always popular subjects for photography
    Juvenile-longhorn-cowfish-Lactoria-c..tiff
  • These are freshly deposited eggs of an Icelinus pietschi sculpin. The eggs are about 3mm in diameter.
    icelinus-pietschi-sculpin-eggs-japan...tif
  • This is a purple-pink weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) sitting on the ocean floor. In the absence of artificial illumination from strobe lights, the fish blends-in perfectly with its surroundings.
    rhinopias-frondosa-weedy-scorpionfis...tif
  • This is a lacy scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes) opening its mouth in a yawn-like fashion, extending and protruding its jaws in the process.
    rhinopias-aphanes-lacy-scorpionfish-...tif
  • Profile view of a two-stripe damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus)
    dascyllus-reticulatus-two-striped-da...tif
  • This is a female Radulinopsis taranetzi sculpin attending to a clutch of eggs, which are attached to a rock. The fish extends her mouth and sucks on the eggs to keep them clean and aerated.
    radulinopsis-taranetzi-sculpin-with-...tif
  • This is a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) darting out from his burrow in order to send one of his babies into the water. The juvenile fish's eyes are visible inside the adult's mouth. Males of this species care for developing young. When the juveniles are ready, males collect them in their mouths, swim out at high speed and spit the fry into the water.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) sending babies into the world. Females of this species deposit eggs into the burrows of males, which fertilize and care for the developing young. When juveniles are mature, the males take the young fish into their mouths, dart out of their burrows and spit the babies into the water, sometimes one at a time, sometimes several at once. The action is rapid, the direction and timing of launching babies unpredictable. When the males send the babies out like this, their bodies usually lose the bright coloration of breeding season, becoming relatively drab, though not quite as dull as normal.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • These spotty blennies (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) have just finished spawning. The female has emerged from the male's burrow after depositing all of her eggs. At this juncture, the male was attempting to kick the female out by hovering, prodding and even hitting her. The sooner he could force her to depart, the sooner the male could court other females and spawn again.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a large Mauve-eyed hermit crab (Dardanus crassimanus) consuming a red cornetfish (Fistularia petimba).
    dardanus-crassimanus-consuming-fistu...tif
  • This is a Korean sandlace (Hypoptychus dybowskii) male tending to fresh eggs which multiple females have deposited on sargassum (Sargassum horneri (Turner) C.Agardh). Each egg is a few millimeters in size. Korean sandlances grow up to 10cm in length. They produce a sticky secretion in their kidneys that they use to adhere eggs to sargassum.
    hypoptychus-dybowskii-eggs-korean-sa...tif
  • This is a Korean sandlace (Hypoptychus dybowskii) male tending to fresh eggs which a female has deposited on sargassum (Sargassum horneri (Turner) C.Agardh). Each egg is a few millimeters in size. Korean sandlances grow up to 10cm in length. They produce a sticky secretion in their kidneys that they use to adhere eggs to sargassum.
    hypoptychus-dybowskii-eggs-korean-sa...tif
  • This is a male red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) watching over a clutch of eggs that are nearly ready to hatch.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • This is a male red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) fertilizing eggs. The female is in the burrow beneath him and has deposited eggs. Once the male finishes, he goes to another hole and waits for the female to deposit more eggs before coming back to fertilize again. After repeating this process multiple times, the female departs and leaves the male to care for the developing young.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of red-spotted blennies (Blenniella chrysospilos) that have just finished spawning. After attracting the female (foreground) to his burrow, the male moves to another hole while the female deposits eggs. He visits multiple times to fertilize while she does this. This is the spit-second just before the female departs and the male takes over to brood the eggs. The male's dark hue is breeding coloration.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • This is a sea raven (Hemitripterus villosus), a fish native to the northwest Pacific.
    hemitripterus-villosus-sea-raven-jap...tif
  • On the left is a juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus), about 5mm in length. To the right is a shrimp, species indeterminate. The pair came together momentarily on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-juvenile-smoo...tif
  • Depicted here is spawning of grass puffers (Takifugu niphobles), a small species of pufferfish native to the northwest Pacific. The female in the foreground has just released yellow eggs. The male in the background is fertilizing the eggs. This species has the unusual habit of spawning on land during high tide at certain times of the year, as shown here.
    takifugu-niphobles-grass-puffer-spaw...tif
  • This is a species of clingfish (Aspasma minima) that is found in the northwest Pacific. This individual was one of a pair that was living on a large growth of brown algae (Ecklonia cava). As can be seen here, the fish is capable of turning its eyes to look directly overhead.
    aspasma-minima-clingfish-japan-20210...tif
  • Pictured here are four newly hatched lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus awae) juveniles, around 2mm to 3mm in size, about the size of a sesame seed. These baby fish stayed together for a brief time, hidden among intricate folds of red algae (Pugetia japonica), before dispersing around the reef. Known as dango-uo in Japanese, these fish are found along the Pacific coast of the main island of Honshu.
    eumicrotremus-awae-juvenile-lumpsuck...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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