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  • This is a male Nihon grunt sculpin (Rhamphocottus nagaakii) watching over a clutch of eggs. On average, the eggs require about 60 days at 10 degrees Celsius to mature. The yellow-colored egg is one that was not successfully fertilized. Photographed in Miyagi Prefecture in northeast Japan.
    rhamphocottus-nagaakii-nihon-grunt-s...tif
  • This is a male Nihon grunt sculpin (Rhamphocottus nagaakii) watching over a clutch of eggs. On average, the eggs require about 60 days at 10 degrees Celsius to mature. Photographed in Miyagi Prefecture in northeast Japan.
    rhamphocottus-nagaakii-nihon-grunt-s...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 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 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 male peach fairy basslet (Pseudanthias dispar).
    pseudanthias-dispar-peach-fairy-bass...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
  • 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
  • Hasegawa-san with freshly caught deep sea rockfish (Sebastes matsubarai)
    hasegawa-san-deep-sea-rockcod-japan-...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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) with its mouth open. Photographed at Blue Corner, Palau.
    Cheilinus-undulatus-Napoleon-wrasse-...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
  • Colourful, cute baby longnose cowfish are always popular subjects for photography
    Juvenile-longhorn-cowfish-Lactoria-c..tiff
  • 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
  • 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 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 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 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 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 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
  • 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 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 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
  • 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
  • Jawfish (Opistognathus sp.) taking a look around after spitting out sand and rubble while maintaining its burrow
    jawfish-opistognathus-cleaning-burro...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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Mature male Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) in Palau
    male-napoleon-wrasse-cheilinus-undul...tif
  • Colorful male jewel fairy basslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) photographed in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    jewel-fairy-basslet-male-eastern-fie...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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) patrolling the reef at Palau's renowned dive site Blue Corner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...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
  • Cute snowflake moray eel (Echidna nebulosa) with its mouth open, photographed in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    snowflake-moray-eel-Echidna-nebulosa...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
  • School of Yellowstripe Scad (Selaroides leptolepis) swimming under the jetty at Samarai Island in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
    Selaroides-leptolepis-yellowstripe-s...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
  • Jewel fairy basslet in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. This photograph is a film scan.
    threadfin-anthias-pseudanthias-squam...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
  • Bright orange juvenile star pufferfish (Arothron stellatus) eating coral
    juvenile-star-pufferfish-Arothron-st..tiff
  • 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 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
  • Pictured here is a pair of spotty blennies (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) engaged in spawning. When a female has finished depositing eggs, as pictured here, the male wants her to leave immediately. He hovers, prods, even strikes the female to force her out. He then takes responsibility for the eggs, but also continues to court other females in order to spawn again.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...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 an arc-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) observing the reef from a favored spot.
    paracirrhites-arcatus-arc-eye-hawkfi...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 sea raven (Hemitripterus villosus), a fish native to the northwest Pacific.
    hemitripterus-villosus-sea-raven-jap...tif
  • Depicted here is the chaos of spawning of grass puffers (Takifugu niphobles) rushing onto a beach, female in the middle. This species has the unusual habit of spawning on land. At certain times of the year, large numbers in shallow water at high tide. When larger females beach themselves to lay eggs, males follow to fertilize. The fish rely on waves to take them ashore and return them to the ocean. Native to the northwest Pacific, grass puffers are the only pufferfish known to spawn onshore.
    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
  • This is a head-on view of a Neoclinus lacunicola chaenopsid blenny, a species that can be found in shallow waters of the northwest Pacific. The species reaches a maximum length of about 6cm. The Japanese name for this fish is iwa-ana-kokeginpo. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    neoclinus-lacunicola-chaenopsid-blen...tif
  • This is a well-camouflaged Yatabe blenny (Parablennius yatabei), about 9cm in length. Called Iso-Ginpo in Japanese, This species has been documented in coastal waters of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
    parablennius-yatabei-yatabe-blenny-j...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 Neoclinus bryope chaenopsid blenny, active during the winter reproductive season. This species is known as koke-ginpo in Japanese.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-male-reprodu...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
  • This is a male hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) exhibiting the characteristic lump resulting from infection by the parasitic copepod Sarcotaces pacificus. A maggot-shaped female resides inside the lump, where she lays thousands of eggs. The eggs hatch within the lump and pass through five nauplius development stages before reaching their first copepodid stage, at which point the juvenile parasites are able to infect new hosts.
    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
  • This is a pair of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in spawning. The lighter-colored female on the left is depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male (right, looking toward the camera). The male’s pouch is swollen and distended to make room for the eggs, which he fertilizes once they are deposited. 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-sp...tif
  • This is a pair of brown-lined puffers (Canthigaster rivulata) engaged in spawning, with the female facing toward the camera. In preparation for spawning, the female has cleared and cleaned the area where she will lay her eggs. The larger male circled the female while she was engaged in preparation, nudging her on occasion. Once the spawning was completed, the male left the area. The female initially departed, but returned within short order to inspect the area.
    canthigaster-rivulata-spawning-japan...tif
  • This is a pair of spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) engaged in spawning. The female on the right has just released a clutch of eggs, and the male is fertilizing them. Wisps of the male’s sperm are visible. both coming out of the male and around the eggs. After fertilization, the male moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. He 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. This occurs at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-coital 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
  • This is a 40cm mature male smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) watching over a brood of eggs. This species resides in deep water, down to about 1700m. During the winter to spring breeding season, mature fish come up to shallow water. After fertilizing a brood of eggs laid by a female fish, the male watches over and protects the developing young. Adult fish die during the breeding season, the female after laying eggs, the male once the juveniles have hatched. Following extended observation, I realized that the eggs in this photo were not viable. They had not been fertilized and were therefore never going to produce juveniles. The male, unaware of this fact, was destined continue to protect the infertile eggs, weakening day by day, eventually succumbing to death.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-smooth-lumpsu...tif
  • This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout (the orange fish) wrapping her caudal fin around the head of a male eelpout occupying a hole in the reef. The female is preparing to try to displace the male from the hole. Image 1 in a sequence of 4 photographs.
    zoarchias-major-eelpout-female-displ...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 2 in a sequence of 3.
    zoarchias-major-female-getting-ready...tif
  • Pictured here are sardines (Clupeidae) fleeing from predators in the early morning. They were being herded and chased by trevallies and blacktip reef sharks in the water, and picked off by brown boobies and terns from the air. This coordinated hunting took place primarily before sunrise.
    sardines-fleeing-predators-tonga-201...tif
  • 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 5 of 6 in a sequence illustrating this behavior.
    zoarchias-major-female-pulling-male-...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 4 of 6 in a sequence illustrating this behavior.
    zoarchias-major-female-pulling-male-...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
  • 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 smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) concentrating very hard on catching something to eat. Body size is about seven millimeters. 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 rarely sighted Marukawichthys ambulator, a species of bullhead sculpin that normally resides at depths of several hundred meters in the waters around Japan.
    marukawichthys-ambulator-deep-ocean-...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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