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  • This is a male Japanese sea biscuit urchin (Clypeaster japonicus) engaged in broadcast spawning. This urchin and many others were gathered in shallow water. Ocean swells rapidly disbursed the gametes. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    clypeaster-japonicus-urchin-broadcas...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
  • This is an albino juvenile blue bat seastar (Patiria pectinifera), 6cm to 7cm in size. This species is normally blue with orange-red blotches. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    patiria-pectinifera-blue-bat-seastar...tif
  • Close-up view of a male Leiaster leachi starfish extruding sperm from one of its arms whille engaged in spawning.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a male Leiaster leachi sea star broadcasting sperm into the water during spawning time. Other nearby sea stars were broadcasting sperm and eggs into the water in synchrony. This individual was between 40cm and 45cm in diameter. Winner of Underwater category of the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest #WPY58.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • Shown here are threadfin wrasses (Cirrhilabrus temminckii) consuming gametes of a male black sea cucumber (Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota) engaged in broadcast spawning. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    cirrhilabrus-temminckii-wrasse-consu...tif
  • This is a dead fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) being consumed by northern pacific seastars (Asterias amurensis), an arthritic neptune (Neptunea arthritica) and other scavengers. The yellow color of the fish indicates that it was a mature male in breeding coloration. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    hexagrammos-otakii-being-eaten-by-sc...tif
  • This Comaster nobilis crinoid was elevated upon several arms, almost as if standing. Crinoids use their arms to filter feed, but also to walk, swim, and elevate themselves as seen here. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    comaster-nobilis-crinoid-standing-on...tif
  • This is a male leopard sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus) engaged in broadcast spawning. Having raised itself above the substrate, the sea cucumber sent streams of sperm into the water.
    bohadschia-argus-sea-cucumber-spawni...tif
  • This is a pile of northern Pacific seastars (Asterias amurensis) and blue bat seastars (Patiria pectinifera) that are scavenging a dead giant pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). It took several days for the entire octopus to be consumed.
    enteroctopus-dofleini-giant-pacific-...tif
  • Pictured here are intermediate sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) spawning in the evening. Found in the northwest Pacific, this species is one of several that are regularly consumed by people. The orange urchin is a female releasing eggs after detecting sperm that has been released by males.
    strongylocentrotus-intermedius-inter...tif
  • Ron Leidich removing crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) from coral reef in shallow water in Palau
    ron-leidich-removing-crown-of-thorns...tif
  • Black and white squat lobster (Allogalathea elegans) sitting on a crinoid. Ambon, Indonesia
    Allogalathea-elegans-squat-lobster-o...tif
  • Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) eating a red starfish in Ambon, Indonesia
    harlequin-shrimp-Hymenocera-elegans-...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
  • This is the test, or hard interior shell, of a flower urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus). Found and photographed in Kannoura, Toyo-cho, Kochi-ken, Shikoku, Japan.
    flower-urchin-test-toxopneustes-pile...tif
  • Pair of Coleman shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) on fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium). Ambon, Indonesia
    Periclimenes-colemani-Coleman-shrimp...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 male black sea cucumber (Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota) engaged in broadcast spawning. There were dozens of these sea cucumbers sending gametes into the water at the same time for a period of around 2.5 hours. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    holothuria-mertensiothuria-leucospil...tif
  • This type of swarming behavior is common with scavengers like these Asterias amurensis starfishes. After coming across organic debris on the ocean floor, these animals pile on to consume it. This keeps the ecosystem clean and recycles nutrients. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    asterias-amurensis-swarm-japanese-co...tif
  • This is a male banded sea urchin (Echinothrix calamaris) engaged in broadcast spawning. Other nearby individuals released gametes around the same time, though the spawning was not exactly synchronized. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    echinothrix-calamaris-urchin-broadca...tif
  • This is a male intermediate sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) commencing the process of broadcast spawning. On this particular day, only a few urchins were spawning.
    strongylocentrotus-intermedius-urchi...tif
  • This is a male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a giant pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) investigating a pile of northern Pacific seastars (Asterias amurensis) and blue bat seastars (Patiria pectinifera) that are scavenging a dead giant pacific octopus. One arm of the dead octopus is visible. Most of the dead cephalopod had already been consumed. This octopus touched and caressed the remains of the dead octopus for a few minutes, then departed.
    enteroctopus-dofleini-giant-pacific-...tif
  • Pictured here are male intermediate sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) commencing the spawning process by emitting sperm into the water. Female urchins release eggs upon sensing the sperm. Found in the northwest Pacific, this species is one of several that are regularly consumed by people.
    strongylocentrotus-intermedius-inter...tif
  • Japanese sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus) are found in waters of the northwest Pacific, with a range comprising Japan, Korea, China, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and Alaska. This species generally comes in three color morphs: red, green, black. This individual is a rare albino, measuring about 20cm in length. Apostichopus japonicus is eaten in many areas. It is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
    apostichopus-japonicus-endangered-sp...tif
  • Orange-yellow crinoid feather star perched on a coral branch, filtering nutrients from the passing current. The position and color of this crinoid reminded me of a sunflower.
    crinoid-feather-star-with-backlighti...tif
  • Spectacular pink and orange soft corals in full bloom, surrounded by multicoloured fairy basslets
    pink-and-orange-soft-coral-picasso-p...tif
  • Close-up portrait of zebra crab (Zebrida adamsii) on a colorful fire sea urchin (Asthenosoma varium)
    zebra-crab-and-fire-urchin-ambon-201..tiff
  • This is a large male banded sea urchin (Echinothrix calamaris) engaged in broadcast spawning at night. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    echinothrix-calamaris-urchin-broadca...tif
  • This is a 4x life-size close-up view of a single tubercle of a Selenka's sea cucumber (Stichopus horrens). The tubercles give this species their characteristic appearance. The sea cucumbers extend (as seen here) and retract the tubercles frequently. The tubercles collapse inward along the concentric rings when retracted. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    stichopus-horrens-sea-cucumber-tuber...tif
  • This is a top-down view of a male intermediate sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) commencing the process of broadcast spawning.
    strongylocentrotus-intermedius-urch...tif
  • This is a female pin cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae) engaged in spawning. The starfish has climbed to the top of the reef to release eggs, visible as a cloud of tiny white dots surrounding the animal.
    culcita-novaeguineae-cushion-star-sp...tif
  • This is a large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • Pictured here are intermediate sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) spawning in the evening. Found in the northwest Pacific, this species is one of several that are regularly consumed by people. The orange urchin is female, which releases eggs after detecting sperm that has been released by males.
    strongylocentrotus-intermedius-inter...tif
  • Palau's reefs have been attacked in the past by massive crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) infestations. Ron Leidich recalled that he removed about 6500 of these starfish from this one particular reef after the el Nino event in 1998. The reefs have recovered, but there are still occasional outbreaks of these coral-consuming invertebrates.
    crown-of-thorns-starfish-acanthaster...tif
  • Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) standing guard over its captive starfish. Ambon, Indonesia
    Hymenocera-elegans-harlequin-shrimp-...tif
  • Zebra crab (Zebrida adamsii) on venomous fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) in Ambon, Indonesia
    zebra-crab-Zebrida-adamsii-venomous-...tif
  • Shown here ia a threadfin wrasse (Cirrhilabrus temminckii) consuming gametes of a male black sea cucumber (Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota). Other wrasses, as well as Chaetodon auripes and Pomacentrus nagasakiensis, took advantage of the echinoderm's broadcast spawning to dine on gametes as well. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    cirrhilabrus-temminckii-wrasse-consu...tif
  • This is a six-armed magenta morph of a blue bat seastar (Patiria pectinifera). These starfishes are normally five-armed and blue with orange highlights. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    patiria-pectinifera-blue-bat-seastar...tif
  • This is a female black sea cucumber (Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota) engaged in broadcast spawning, sending out a steady stream of eggs. There were dozens of these sea cucumbers sending gametes into the water at the same time for a period of around 2.5 hours. This was the only female I was able to find. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    holothuria-mertensiothuria-leucospil...tif
  • Despite appearances, crinoids are active, mobile animals. This crinoid (Cyllometra manca) has just climbed up to a high spot on the reef shortly after sunset. It has done so to unfurl for a night of filter feeding. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    cyllometra-manca-crinoid-filter-feed...tif
  • This is the test, or hard interior shell, of a Diadema setosum sea urchin. Found and photographed in Kannoura, Toyo-cho, Kochi-ken, Shikoku, Japan.
    diadema-setosum-sea-urchin-test-japa...tif
  • This is a male Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota black sea cucumber engaged in broadcast spawning. Nearby sea cucumbers of the same species were broadcasting gametes into the water at the same time. Other invertebrates, including Clypeaster japonicus urchins and Spirobranchus giganteus polychaete worms were also spawning. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    holothuria-mertensiothuria-leucospil...tif
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