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  • Close-up portrait of zebra crab (Zebrida adamsii) on a colorful fire sea urchin (Asthenosoma varium)
    zebra-crab-and-fire-urchin-ambon-201..tiff
  • Beautiful harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) at night
    Hymenocera-elegans-harlequin-shrimp-..tiff
  • Rainbow mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) resting its eggs on the camera lens
    close-up-of-mantis-shrimp-with-eggs-..tiff
  • Cute coral crab (Trapezia sp.) in pretty mint-colored hard coral (Acropora sp.)
    cute-Trapezia_crab-in-coral-ambon-20..tiff
  • Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) at night
    Hymenocera-elegans-harlequin-shrimp-..tiff
  • This is a male Huenia heraldica crab, one of many species of crustaceans that use other animals for camouflage and protection. This crab was particularly ambitious in terms of the relative size of the hydroids it chose to carry around presumably for self-defense.
    huenia-heraldica-decorator-crab-hydr...tif
  • Whale lice are amphipods that scavenge for food on whales’ bodies, including consuming skin and flesh of whales. This species (Cyamus scammoni) lives exclusively on gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). There is sexual dimorphism among adult Cyamus scammoni, with males being larger than females. Unlike the young of most other marine crustaceans, which have a planktonic larval stage, juvenile whale lice mature in a pouch-like structure called the marsupium, which is located on the underside of females. There is a small whale louse visible on the right side of this large amphipod’s head, hidden between the head and the forward right appendage. Photographed in Baja California, Mexico.
    cyamus-scammoni-whale-lice-gray-whal...tif
  • This gray whale calf (Eschrichtius robustus) hosts a population of commensal barnacles (Cryptolepas rhachianecti) and whale lice (Cyamus scammoni) which are amphipods that scavenge for food on the whale's body, including the whale's skin and flesh. There is sexual dimorphism among adult Cyamus scammoni, so the large individuals visible in this photograph are male. The females are smaller. Unlike the young of most other marine crustaceans, which have a planktonic larval stage, juvenile whale lice mature in a pouch-like structure called the marsupium, which is located on the underside of females.
    whale-lice-cyamus-scammoni-on-gray-w...tif
  • Infestation of whale lice (Cyamus scammoni) in the blowholes of a gray whale calf (Eschrichtius robustus). Whale lice are amphipods that scavenge for food on the whale's body, including the whale's skin and flesh. There is sexual dimorphism among adult Cyamus scammoni, with males being larger than females. Unlike the young of most other marine crustaceans, which have a planktonic larval stage, juvenile whale lice mature in a pouch-like structure called the marsupium, which is located on the underside of females. Photographed in Baja California, Mexico.
    whale-lice-cyamus-scammoni-infestati...tif
  • Detailed view of the unique structure of the compound eyes of a harlequin mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)., photographed at 3x life-size magnification. The eyes of mantis shrimps comprise what may perhaps be the most complex visual system that has ever evolved. Each eye sits atop a mobile stalk, with each stalk capable of moving independently. Each eye comprises two flattened hemispheres separated by parallel rows of specialized clusters of photoreceptor cells called ommatidia. These rows collectively make up the midband. This 3-part division facilitates trinocular vision in each eye, which means each eye is capable of depth perception. Depending upon the species, mantis shrimps have between 12 and 16 types of photoreceptors (compared to three for humans), giving these crustaceans the ability to perceive a wide spectrum covering from far red to ultraviolet, as well as polarized light.
    peacock-mantis-shrimp-eyes-closeup-o...tif
  • Front view of a freshly caught giant isopod (Bathynomus doederleinii) brought up from a depth of 300m to 400m in Suruga Bay, Japan. From this angle, the crustacean’s two pairs of antennae are clearly visible.
    giant-isopod-bathynomus-doederleinii...tif
  • Squat lobster in a crinoid, carrying a clutch of eggs, just visible under the crustacean's abdomen. There were many exceptionally large squat lobsters at Alexander's Wall, a dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea. This photograph is a film scan.
    elegant-squat-lobster-with-eggs-allo...tif
  • This is a spanner crab (Ranina ranina), also known as a red frog crab. It is an edible crab found in tropical and sub-tropical waters. These crabs burrow into the sand rear-first, where they stay camouflaged with only their eyes protruding. They come out to scavenge for food. Unlike other crabs, this species walks in a forward direction. Though this crustacean is harvested for food, there is little known about this species’ ecology. It is the only species extant in its genus.
    red-spanner-frog-crab-ranina-ranina-...tif
  • Head-on view of a mature giant isopod (Bathynomus doederleinii), approximately 11cm in length. From this angle, the crustacean’s compound eye structure is clearly visible, as are the two pairs of antennae. This specimen was brought up from a depth of 300m to 400m in Suruga Bay, Japan.
    giant-isopod-front-view-bathynomus-d...tif
  • Juvenile crustacean encountered during blackwater night dive in Palau. Likely the megalop stage of a decapod crab, which is the final stage of development prior to settling down to morph into benthic form. Possibly Carpilius juvenile. Carapace less than 1cm.
    decapod-crab-megalop-stage-blackwate...tif
  • Juvenile crustacean encountered during blackwater night dive in Palau. Likely the megalop stage of a decapod crab, which is the final stage of development prior to settling down to morph into benthic form. Possibly Carpilius juvenile. Carapace less than 1cm.
    crab-megalop-stage-blackwater-diving...tif
  • This Idiosepius paradoxus Japanese pygmy squid is consuming a crustacean, perhaps an amphipod of sub-order Hyperiidea. The compound eye of the prey is visible. These small squids immobilize prey with venom, then inject digestive enzymes and consume the liquified contents. They discard the empty exoskeletons when finished.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-hyperiid...tif
  • This is a Japanese mitten lobster (Parribacus japonicus) peeking out from a crevice in the rock and coral substrate just before emerging to forage at night.
    parribacus-japonicus-mitten-lobster-...tif
  • This is a Periclimenes magnificus commensal shrimp waiting for larger animals to visit to be cleaned. This species is one of many types of shrimps that earn their keep by providing cleaning services to larger reef residents.
    periclimenes-magnificus-commensal-sh...tif
  • This is a harlequin crab (Lissocarcinus laevis) comfortably ensconced in a tube anemone.
    lissocarcinus-laevis-harlequin-crab-...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
  • Freshly caught deep-sea king crab (Paralomis multispina) on the deck of a fishing vessel. The crabs were brought up from around 1000m depth in Suruga Bay, Japan. Adjacent to the crabs is the bait used to attract the crabs.
    deep-sea-king-crab-paralomis-multisp...tif
  • This is the internal shell of a deep-water cephalopod called a Ram’s horn squid, also known as a little post horn squid (Spirula spirula). This cephalopod is the only known member of its genus. The internal shell is both robust and buoyant, so often found on beaches. This one washed up during a mass stranding of thousands of Physalia utriculus amd other animals of the open-ocean, pelagic community. Attached to the shell were pelagic goose barnacles (Lepas sp.).
    rams-horn-shell-spirula-goose-barnac...tif
  • Rear view of a red frog spanner crab (Ranina ranina)
    red-frog-spanner-crab-rear-view-rani...tif
  • Cyamus ovalis, one of three whale lice species known to associate with right whales. on my hand for scale. Whale lice are amphipods. This specimen is from a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    whale-lice-cyamus-ovalis-southern-ri...tif
  • Anemone hermit crab (Dardanus pedunculatus) capturing and eating a mollusk. This hermit crab has a symbiotic relationship with anemones. The crab attaches anemones to the shell it lives in and transfers the anemones when it grows larger and changes shells. The anemones provide defence against predators like octopuses. It is possible that transfer of shells took place after this photograph was taken.
    anemone-hermit-crab-dardanus-peduncu...tif
  • A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) entangled by longline fishing gear. This whale was still able to swim, but was very weak. The fishing line had immobilized both pectoral fins, slicing through them as is visible here. The whale was infested with whale lice (Cyamus boopis), and there were a number of large sharks trailing it, including tiger sharks and bronze whalers. Another healthy whale was accompanying this whale, though it was clearly unable to assist. This whale most likely died soon after this sighting.
    longline-fishing-gear-entanglement-h...tif
  • This is a cloud of crab larvae, just after release in shallow water by a female land crab (Discoplax hirtipes). At 100% magnification, the individual larva are easily distinguishable. See separate image of female crab in the act of releasing these eggs/ larvae into the water. Photographed at Ngeremdiu Beach, Ngeruktabel Island in Palau.
    crab-larvae-zoea-Discoplax-hirtipes-...tif
  • Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) out in the open, standing on a sandy bottom
    Odontodactylus-scyllarus-peacock-man...tif
  • Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) eating a red starfish in Ambon, Indonesia
    harlequin-shrimp-Hymenocera-elegans-...tif
  • Giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) being cleaned by scarlet cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis). Ambon, Indonesia
    giant-moray-eel-Gymnothorax-javanicu...tif
  • This is a pair of mud crabs (Scylla sp.) preparing to mate in the late summer. The male is on top, with the female upside-down beneath.
    scylla-mud-crabs-mating-japan-202208...tif
  • This is a female Orisarma intermedium crab making her way down to the ocean to release a clutch of eggs a couple of nights before the new moon.
    orisarma-intermedium-crab-eggs-japan...tif
  • This is an Eualus leptognathus shrimp carrying eggs. The shrimp is sitting on Undaria pinnatifida kelp in the northern waters of Japan.
    eualus-leptognathus-shrimp-with-eggs...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 pair of leopard anemone shrimp (Izucaris masudai) on their host Nemanthus sp. anemone. The larger of the two is the female. First described in Japan in 1999, this species is called ayatori-kakure-ebi in Japanese..
    izucaris-masudai-leopard-anemone-shr...tif
  • Senbei rice crackers made with giant isopods (Bathynomus doederleinii) available for purchase at a popular seafood market frequented by tourists
    giant-isopod-senbei-rice-crackers-fo...tif
  • Hasegawa father and son team bringing up and sorting through giant isopods (Bathynomus doederleinii) from deep water in Suruga Bay, Japan. The traps for these isopods were set in the 300m to 400m depth range. The isopods are used for making food like senbei rice crackers, and some are sent to aquaria for display.
    hasegawa-giant-isopods-suruga-bay-ja...tif
  • This is a horned isopod (Deto echinata), a species of air-breathing isopod that inhabits seashores of southern Africa. This isopod is a woodlouse, which is an isopod that is adapted to terrestrial rather than aquatic life. This species lives onshore, feeding in the intertidal zone on carrion and plant material washed up by the ocean, as well as small live prey. The horns on the backs of this species are longer in males than in females. This is a male, about two centimeters in length.
    horned-isopod-deto-echinata-201711-3...tif
  • Two adjacent flukes of a pair of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) diving in synchrony. Both flukes, but particularly the one in the rear, are covered with Coronula diadema barnacles, which are found exclusively on humpback whales.
    humpback-whale-flukes-coronula-diade...tif
  • A krill specimen that was spit out by a blue whale I was with. As depicted here, the krill was about the size of my little finger. The blue whale had just come up from deeper water, where it was likely feeding.
    krill-from-blue-whale-sri-lanka-2015...tif
  • A southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis), resting its head on top of its mother while looking at me. The callosities that are characteristic of this species are beginning to show on the calf’s head. Note also that the calf already carries a full complement of whale lice, what appear to be mostly or entirely Cyamus ovalis. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-calf-with-mothe...tif
  • Malcolm was our cook during the kayak expedition. Here he is holding a large male land crab (Discoplax hirtipes) at our second campsite, which was at Ngeremdiu Beach. Malcolm told me that female crabs migrate from land to the water to release their brood at the turning of the high tide during full moon. We saw a few females releasing eggs here at Ngeremdiu Beach, and also at the next campsite on Ngchuus Beach. See separate photos of female crab releasing eggs, and of the resulting zoea.
    terrestrial-crab-discoplax-hirtipes-...tif
  • This is a female Discoplax hirtipes terrestrial crab disseminating her brood of fertilized eggs into shallow water during full moon. The crab waited on land at Ngeremdiu Beach for the evening high tide. She entered the water as the tide turned to go out and released her eggs. Once she committed to releasing eggs, it was only a matter of seconds before she completed her task and headed back to the safety of her underground burrow. See separate photograph of the crab eggs in the water.
    female-land-crab-releasing-eggs-pala...tif
  • Pontonides sp. commensal shrimp on a curled-up whip coral (Cirrhipathes sp.) formation
    Pontonides-commensal-shrimp-on-Cirrh...tif
  • Pair of Coleman shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) on fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium). Ambon, Indonesia
    Periclimenes-colemani-Coleman-shrimp...tif
  • Black and white squat lobster (Allogalathea elegans) sitting on a crinoid. Ambon, Indonesia
    Allogalathea-elegans-squat-lobster-o...tif
  • Giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) being cleaned by scarlet cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis). Ambon, Indonesia
    giant-moray-eel-Gymnothorax-javanicu...tif
  • Tiny mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus latirostris) peeking out from its burrow in the muck, standing at full attention. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    cute-mantis-shrimp-Odontodactylus-la...tif
  • This is a pair of Pagurus brachiomastus hermit crabs. The male on the right is holding on to the female on the left. During the reproductive season, males grasp females in this manner. Other males approach to challenge, often resulting in a protracted tussle, with the victorious male claiming the female.
    pagurus-brachiomastus-hermit-crab-re...tif
  • This is a female mud crab (Scylla sp.) carrying eggs during the late summer.
    scylla-mud-crab-eggs-japan-202208-00...tif
  • This is a pair of mud crabs (Scylla sp.) preparing to mate in the late summer. The male is on top, with the female upside-down beneath.
    scylla-mud-crabs-mating-japan-202208...tif
  • This is a red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) poking its head out of its home in the coral, with two coral hermit crabs (Paguritta sp.) visible in the background. The blenny's home is the abandoned burrow of a vermetid gastropod, Dendropoma maximum.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • Adult male gnathid isopod (Elaphognathia discolor) on a sponge. The isopod is about 6mm in length. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    elaphognathia-discolor-gnathid-isopo...tif
  • This is an adult male gnathid isopod (Elaphognathia discolor) on a sponge. The isopod is about 6mm in length. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    elaphognathia-discolor-gnathid-isopo...tif
  • This is a large female hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus). Her mottled appearance gave her the ability to blend-in with the visual chaos of the reef. She is also covered with small white amphipods known as skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), clearly visible at 100% magnification.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...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 mature giant isopod (Bathynomus doederleinii), approximately 12cm in length. This specimen was brought up from a depth of 300m to 400m in Suruga Bay, Japan.
    giant-isopod-bathynomus-doederleinii...tif
  • A pile of giant isopods (Bathynomus doederleinii), caught at a depth of 300m to 400m in Suruga Bay, Japan. This photograph of the ventral side of an isopod provides a clear view of the seven body segments (pereon) and the mouth structure (which comprises mandibles, maxillae 1, maxillae 2, and the first set of limbs, which are called the maxillipeds).
    giant-isopods-bathynomus-doederleini...tif
  • A pile of giant isopods (Bathynomus doederleinii), caught at a depth of 300m to 400m in Suruga Bay, Japan. This photograph of the ventral side of an isopod provides a clear view of the seven body segments (pereon), seven pairs of legs (pereopods), abdomen (pleon), respiratory gill structures (rami), and the mouth structure (which comprises mandibles, maxillae 1, maxillae 2, and the first set of limbs, which are called the maxillipeds).
    giant-isopods-bathynomus-doederleini...tif
  • Hasegawa-san surveying the ocean in the moody pre-dawn blue light, contemplating the upcoming hard work of bringing up traps for giant isopods (Bathynomus doederleinii) set the previous day
    deep-sea-fishing-early-morning-surug...tif
  • This is a juvenile giant isopod (Bathynomus doederleinii), approximately 6cm in length. As shown here, juveniles exhibit six pairs of legs, with the rearmost seventh pair typical of isopods folded underneath the carapace and only becoming fully functional when the isopods mature. This specimen was brought up from a depth of 300m to 400m in Suruga Bay, Japan.
    giant-isopod-juvenile-bathynomus-doe...tif
  • Hasegawa-san with a freshly caught species of deep-sea king crab (Lithodes turritus), known as hari-ibaragani in Japanese. This was caught at a depth of 1000m.
    hasegawa-san-deep-sea-king-crab-lith...tif
  • Hasegawa father and son team preparing traps to be set a depths of 300m to 400m for giant isopods (Bathynomus doederleinii)
    hasegawa-san-preparing-traps-giant-i...tif
  • This is a Columbus crab (Planes major), a small oceanic crab that lives on floating objects such as seaweed, driftwood and other debris, or in association with animals such as by-the-wind sailors (Velella velella) or turtles. They can appear in different colors. This one was found together with a mass stranding of thousands of Portuguese man-of-war colonial siphonophores (Physalia utriculus) and by-the-wind sailors. The crab was between one and two centimeters. This species was previously known by the name Planes cyaneus.
    columbus-crab-planes-major-south-afr...tif
  • This is a parasite that was associated with a Mola mola ocean sunfish. It is a copepod of the family Caligidae (possibly Caligus sp. or Lepeoptheirus sp.), the carapace slightly over 1cm in length. The long appendage visible at the rear end is one of two original appendages. The other one fell off. The one that is visible is actually split into two. Each slit carried a developing juvenile copepod. There is one remaining one visible at the distal end.
    parasitic-copepod-associated-with-mo...tif
  • High-magnification view of an Ortmann squat lobster (Chirostylus ortmanni) carrying a clutch of eggs. The background is the primary stalk of the large soft coral upon which the squat lobster was living.
    chirostylus-ortmanni-squat-lobster-w...tif
  • This is a red frog spanner crab (Ranina ranina) creating a sandstorm as it runs across sandy substrate. This species is the only extant member of its genus and is considered a delicacy in many countries. When it emerges from the sand, this crab ambles across the sea floor with forward motion, unusual among the true crabs.
    red-frog-spanner-crab-ranina-ranina-...tif
  • Whale louse (Cyamus ovalis) taken from a Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), with a ruler for scale.
    cyamus-ovalis-whale-louse-southern-r...tif
  • A relatively large krill specimen that was spit out by a blue whale I was with. The whale had just come up from deeper water, where it was likely feeding.
    krill-from-blue-whale-sri-lanka-2015...tif
  • Inquisitive southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) approaching to observe me. Note the callosity above the whale’s eye, which is populated by other organisms, including whale lice (Cyamus ovalis) and barnacles of indeterminate species. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-close-up-201507...tif
  • Cyamus ovalis, one of three whale lice species known to associate with right whales. Whale lice are amphipods. This specimen is from a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    cyamus-ovalis-whale-louse-right-whal...tif
  • Whip coral shrimp (Pontonides ankeri) on a sea whip (Cirripathes sp.) in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. This species is often confused with Pontonides unciger, which lives on bushy black corals (Anthipathes sp.)
    pontonides-ankeri-shrimp-on-cirripat...tif
  • Alpheus frontalis snapping shrimp infected with a Rhizocephalan parasite, possibly Thompsonia sp. Photographed in the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    alpheus-frontalis-snapping-shrimp-rh...tif
  • This is the female humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that was the center of an extended, energetic competitive group heat run. There were two large males that were the main contenders, including one particularly aggressive male that had white pectoral fins, and a number of other males that cycled in and out of the intense activity. The barnacles on the female humpback’s pectoral fin are clearly visible.
    humpback-whale-female-pectoral-fin-b...tif
  • Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) female adult resting vertically in the water with her fluke protruding from the surface, barnacles clearly visible, and boat in the background. This female had a penchant for resting in this position while her female calf (201404) played.
    humpback-whale-hanging-in-water-fluk...tif
  • Portunid swimming crabs mating at night in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The male crab is on top. The female crab is underneath, flipped upside down.
    portunid-swimming-crabs-mating-at-ni...tif
  • Spearing mantis shrimp (Lysiosquilla tredecimdentata) hugging low to the ground, ready to take off at an instant. Photographed in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    spearing-mantis-shrimp-Lysiosquilla-...tif
  • Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) standing guard over its captive starfish. Ambon, Indonesia
    Hymenocera-elegans-harlequin-shrimp-...tif
  • A tiny cleaning shrimp (Urocaridella sp.) dwarfed by the size of its client, a giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus). Ambon, Indonesia.
    Urocaridella-cleaner-shrimp-giant-mo...tif
  • Zebra crab (Zebrida adamsii) on venomous fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) in Ambon, Indonesia
    zebra-crab-Zebrida-adamsii-venomous-...tif
  • This is a Japanese mitten lobster (Parribacus japonicus) patrolling the sea bed at night.
    parribacus-japonicus-mitten-lobster-...tif
  • This is a large male hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) opening his mouth. Frogfishes exhibit this type of yawning behavior relatively frequently. In this image, the frogfish's illicium (rod) and esca (lure) are folded back and tucked away on top of the fish's head, comprising the front-most of three dorsal fins. The white hair-like protrusions on the fish's body are small amphipods known as skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae). This photograph was taken three days prior to this fish spawning with a smaller female.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...tif
  • Pictured here is a 3cm female skeleton shrimp (Caprella bispinosa) with her small white babies clinging to her body. The magenta-red spikes on her body take on this coloration during this time of year. The spines contain venom. Females carrying young are thought to use these spines to ward off potential predators targeting the young. This may include males of her own species, which may attempt to kill the young in order to mate with the female, similar to the behavior of cats. Males of this species and other skeleton shrimps, which are actually amphipods, also have venom-laden spikes, which they use for competition between males.
    caprella-bispinosa-female-carrying-y...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 juvenile deep-sea crab, Paralomis multispina. This species is known from the waters of Japan across to Alaska and down to California. It is one of many species of the king crab genus Paralomis. This juvenile was about 7cm in size. It was brought up from a depth of 1000m in Suruga Bay, Japan. The Japanese name is Ezo-Ibarabani.
    paralomis-multispina-king-crab-juven...tif
  • This is an Ortmann squat lobster (Chirostylus ortmanni) carrying a clutch of eggs and using one of its long, spindly claws to bring something to its mouth. The background is the primary stalk of the large soft coral upon which the squat lobster was living.
    chirostylus-ortmanni-squat-lobster-w...tif
  • This is a red frog spanner crab (Ranina ranina) walking across sandy substrate at high speed. When it emerges from the sand, this crab moves along the sea floor with forward motion, unusual among the true crabs. This species is the only extant member of its genus and is considered a delicacy in many countries.
    red-frog-spanner-crab-walking-ranina...tif
  • Small krill species that was schooling in large aggregations in relatively shallow water off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Blue whales and Bryde’s whales frequent these waters and feed in the area. I do not know whether they consume this particular species.
    small-krill-species-sri-lanka-201502...tif
  • This is a cloud of crab larvae, just after release in shallow water by a female land crab (Discoplax hirtipes). At 100% magnification, the individual larva are easily distinguishable. See separate image of female crab in the act of releasing these eggs/ larvae into the water. Photographed at Ngeremdiu Beach, Ngeruktabel Island in Palau.
    crab-larvae-zoea-Discoplax-hirtipes-...tif
  • These spider crabs are relatively common throughout Southeast Asia. They resemble another type of undescribed Oncinopus sp., which is hairy and are commonly referred to as orangutan crabs (often incorrectly identified as Achaeus japonicus, which is a different species). These crabs do not have hair, however. They appear spongy, ranging from pale red to yellow in color. In addition, their eyes are white, whereas the eyes of orangutan crabs are red. These crabs also tend to be out in the open, while orangutan crabs are most often found in association with bubble coral or anemones. The stance, demeanor and gait of these crabs remind me of King Kong, hence my nickname for them, King Kong crabs.
    undescribed-oncinopus-crab-king-kong...tif
  • Squat lobster in a crinoid, one of the largest ones I've seen. There were many large squat lobsters like this at Alexander's Wall, a dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea. This photograph is a film scan.
    elegant-squat-lobster-allogalathea-e...tif
  • Two Paguritta coral hermit crabs looking out at the world from their burrows in a coral formation.
    Paguritta-coral-hermit-crabs-eastern...tif
  • This is a side view of a juvenile giant isopod (Bathynomus doederleinii), approximately 6cm in length. As shown here, juveniles exhibit six pairs of legs, with the rearmost seventh pair typical of isopods folded underneath the carapace and only becoming fully functional when the isopods mature. This specimen was brought up from a depth of 300m to 400m in Suruga Bay, Japan.
    giant-isopod-juvenile-bathynomus-doe...tif
  • Juvenile hairfinned leatherjacket (Paramonacanthus japonicus) being attended to by a multicolored cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes sp.)
    paramonacanthus-japonicus-juvenile-a...tif
  • A parasitic copepod that was associated with an ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Here, the copepod is backlit and focus-stacked in order to reveal the animal’s inner structure. The long appendage visible at the posterior of the copepod is one of two original appendages. The other appendage fell off during capture. Pictured here, the remaining appendage is split in two, such that the top and bottom halves are visible. The slits in these appendages carried juvenile copepods in various stages of development. This copepod is from the family Caligidae (possibly Caligus sp. or Lepeoptheirus sp.),
    copepod-parasite-mola-sunfish-south-...tif
  • Alpheus frontalis snapping shrimp infected with a Rhizocephalan parasite, possibly Thompsonia sp. Photographed in the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    alpheus-frontalis-infected-rhizoceph...tif
  • Portunid swimming crabs mating at night in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The male crab is on top. The female crab is underneath, flipped upside down.
    portunid-swimming-crabs-mating-at-ni...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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