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  • This species of crayfish, known as zarigani (Cambaroides japonicus) is endemic to Japan, living in Hokkaido and northern Honshu. They live in areas of low temperature with high water purity. This individual was missing its right front claw.
    zarigani-crayfish-cambaroides-japoni...tif
  • This is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) that is consuming a large skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), which is a type of amphipod. Pygmy squids use venom to paralyze prey, then inject digestive enzymes into their food. They ingest the liquified contents and discard the exoskeleton.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-caprelli...tif
  • Pontonides sp. commensal shrimp on a curled-up whip coral (Cirrhipathes sp.) formation
    Pontonides-commensal-shrimp-on-Cirrh...tif
  • This is a female mud crab (Scylla sp.) carrying eggs during the late summer.
    scylla-mud-crab-eggs-japan-202208-00...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
  • This is a small, unidentified amphipod, measuring about 2mm in length. Photographed at a magnification of four times life-size.
    amphipod-japan-201905-1107.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
  • 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 small shrimp (Tozeuma sp.). This shrimp and two others were well camouflaged on a small clump of coral and other entangled organisms. Photographed in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
    tozeuma-shrimp-japan-202302-0206.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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Black and white squat lobster (Allogalathea elegans) sitting on a crinoid. Ambon, Indonesia
    Allogalathea-elegans-squat-lobster-o...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
  • 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
  • Giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) being cleaned by scarlet cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis). Ambon, Indonesia
    giant-moray-eel-Gymnothorax-javanicu...tif
  • This is a Japanese mitten lobster (Parribacus japonicus) patrolling the sea bed at night.
    parribacus-japonicus-mitten-lobster-...tif
  • This is a harlequin crab (Lissocarcinus laevis) comfortably ensconced in a tube anemone.
    lissocarcinus-laevis-harlequin-crab-...tif
  • This is a large Mauve-eyed hermit crab (Dardanus crassimanus) consuming a red cornetfish (Fistularia petimba).
    dardanus-crassimanus-consuming-fistu...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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) eating a red starfish in Ambon, Indonesia
    harlequin-shrimp-Hymenocera-elegans-...tif
  • This is a shallow water hydrothermal vent crab (Xenograpsus testudinatus), size less than 1cm. This species lives in sulfur-rich, anaerobic waters associated with active hydrothermal vents. The white particles in the water have been ejected along with gas bubbles from crevices among the rocks. The white hair on the crab comprises bacterial growth. Hot water emerging from the vents results in complex thermoclines that obscure visibility. As is the case with deepwater ocean vents, shallow sites host a range of bacteria that make use of sulfur as an energy source. First described in Taiwan, this crab species has been confirmed in several locations in Japan as well. This photograph is from Showa Io-jima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    xenograpsus-testudinatus-hydrotherma...tif
  • This is a male Pagurus constans hermit crab, which is typically associated with Hydrissa sodalis hydroids as shown here. The hydroids create the crustacean's characteristic spiky appearance. Photographed in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
    pagurus-constans-hermit-crab-japan-2...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
  • 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
  • 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 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
  • 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
  • Whale louse (Cyamus ovalis) taken from a Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), with a ruler for scale.
    cyamus-ovalis-whale-louse-southern-r...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
  • 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
  • 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 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 Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) has its arms wrapped around its prey, a skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), which is a type of amphipod. Here the skeleton shrimp is clinging to the eelgrass by a single claw, but it eventually succumbed. Pygmy squids use venom to paralyze their prey, then inject digestive enzymes into their food. They ingest the liquified contents and discard the exoskeleton.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-caprelli...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
  • 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
  • Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) out in the open, standing on a sandy bottom
    Odontodactylus-scyllarus-peacock-man...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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae) with an infestation of whale lice (Cyamis boopis), an ectoparasite that lives exclusively on humpback whales. Single hairs protruding from the round tubercules on the whale's head are also visible.
    humpback-whale-calf-whale-lice-infes...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
  • This is a shallow water hydrothermal vent crab (Xenograpsus testudinatus), size less than 1cm. This species lives in sulfur-rich, anaerobic waters associated with active hydrothermal vents. The white particles in the water have been ejected along with gas bubbles from crevices among the rocks. The white hair on the crab comprises bacterial growth. Hot water emerging from the vents results in complex thermoclines that obscure visibility. As is the case with deepwater ocean vents, shallow sites host a range of bacteria that make use of sulfur as an energy source. First described in Taiwan, this crab species has been confirmed in several locations in Japan as well. This photograph is from Showa Io-jima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    xenograpsus-testudinatus-hydrotherma...tif
  • This is a male Pagurus constans hermit crab grasping a smaller female, behavior that is typical of hermit crabs during reproductive season. This species of hermit crab is associated with Hydrissa sodalis hydroids, which cover the shells inhabited by the crustaceans and give the crustaceans their characteristic spiky appearance. Photographed in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
    pagurus-constans-hermit-crab-reprodu...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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Juvenile hairfinned leatherjacket (Paramonacanthus japonicus) being attended to by a multicolored cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes sp.)
    paramonacanthus-japonicus-juvenile-a...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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The rostrum of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) emerging from the water. This whale was part of a group of humpback whales engaged in cooperative bubble-net feeding. Viewing this image at 100%, you can see the tubercles (including single follicles of hair protruding from some of them), an injury to one of the tubercles, and a few whale lice (Cyamus boopis) at the tip of the lower jaw. Note also the barnacles under the jaw, which are humpback whale barnacles (Coronula diadema), that grow only on humpback whales. In addition, growing on the humpback whale barnacles are a type of gooseneck barnacle (Conchoderma auritum), that appear only on humpback whale barnacles.
    humpback-whale-rostrum-tubercles-par...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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 crinoid squat lobster (Allogalathea elegans) perched on the arms of a feather star. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    allogalathea-elegans-elegant-squat-l...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 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
  • 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 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 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 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
  • 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 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
  • Rear view of a red frog spanner crab (Ranina ranina)
    red-frog-spanner-crab-rear-view-rani...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
  • 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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Zebra crab (Zebrida adamsii) on venomous fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) in Ambon, Indonesia
    zebra-crab-Zebrida-adamsii-venomous-...tif
  • This is a Dasycaris sp. shrimp that was associated with a small coral growth. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size. Photographed in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
    dasycaris-shrimp-japan-202302-0610.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
  • 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
  • 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
  • This is a small crab species (Lauridromia intermedia) that is known for carrying sponges, sometimes ascidians or other things on its back. Found in the western Indo-Pacific, these crabs use claw-like spines on the ends of their fourth and fifth pairs of legs to carry the sponges. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    lauridromia-intermedia-sponge-crab-j...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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) being cleaned by scarlet cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis). Ambon, Indonesia
    giant-moray-eel-Gymnothorax-javanicu...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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