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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. Photographed in Miyagi Prefecture in northeast Japan.
    rhamphocottus-nagaakii-nihon-grunt-s...tif
  • This is a male peach fairy basslet (Pseudanthias dispar).
    pseudanthias-dispar-peach-fairy-bass...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 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
  • 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 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 1 in a sequence of 3.
    zoarchias-major-female-getting-ready...tif
  • Slender Sandgoby (Fusigobius gracilis) watching over a clutch of eggs hanging from the ceiling of an extremely narrow burrow. The silver reflection from the eggs are the eyes of the embryonic fish. The goby was about 4cm in length, the burrow at 15m depth.
    slender-sandgoby-fusigobius-gracilis...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
  • 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
  • After engaging in an enormous spawning aggregation in the early morning, thousands of Lutjanus bohar red snappers lingered on near a reef edge. A swarm of the snappers, comprising a couple dozen fish, attacked and devoured a boxfish, the remains of which are shown here, with the main school of snappers visible in the background. I was unable to identify the species of the boxfish before it was attacked, but based on the yellow pattern, I am guessing that it was a yellow boxfish, Ostracion cubicus.
    ostracion-cubicus-boxfish-devoured-b...tif
  • Large school of bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) swimming along the top of a shallow reef in Palau
    bluestripe-snapper-lutjanus-kasmira-...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
  • When the tides change and the currents run at Carl's Ultimate dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea, fish of all description swarm the reef by the millions. I've seen more fusilier damselfish (Lepidozygus tapeinosoma) like the ones pictured here at this dive site than I have at any other location I've ever dived. It is truly one of the world's greatest spectacles.
    Luzonichthys-waitei-basslets-swarmin...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
  • 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
  • Colorful male jewel fairy basslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) photographed in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    jewel-fairy-basslet-male-eastern-fie...tif
  • This is a sea raven (Hemitripterus villosus), a fish native to the northwest Pacific.
    hemitripterus-villosus-sea-raven-jap...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 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
  • 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
  • Pterogobius elapoides, a goby called kinubari in Japanese, swimming against a backdrop of bright-green seaweed that blooms in the spring.
    pterogobius-elapoides-seaweed-japan-...tif
  • Large school of crescent-tail bigeye fish (Priacanthus hamrur) in deep water, swarming over sand and coral bottom at the entrance to Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa, Tahiti
    schooling-crescent-tail-bigeye-fish-...tif
  • Healthy cabbage coral (Turbinaria reniformis) formation surrounded by basslets, damsels and other tropical reef fish. Photographed at about 15 meters depth on a dive site near Normanby Island in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea that we named Julian's Cabbage Patch because there was so much cabbage coral.
    cabbage-coral-turbinaria-reniformis-...tif
  • Solitary longfin bannerfish swimming along a coral reef. This fish appeared to be patrolling a limited area, with a tendency to return to this one spot. After a while, the fish grew accustomed to my presence and approached closely.
    longfin-bannerfish-pennant-coralfish...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 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 U-mark sandperch (Parapercis snyderi) poised on top of delicate folds of brown algae Colpomenia sinuosa.
    parapercis-snyderi-u-mark-sandperch-...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 two male Zoarchias major eelpouts engaging in mouth-to-mouth battle in mid-water. When these fish fight, they usually do not leave the substrate. There are bigger fish around that will happily eat them. These two individuals were evenly matched, which made for a protracted, intense battle.
    zoarchias-major-eelpout-males-fighti...tif
  • This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout attempting to dislodge a male from a hole in the reef. Females sometimes approach males and curl up next to them, rub against their bodies. This has been misinterpreted as behavior suggesting affection, in the courtship context. Males do the same to females as well. In reality, one fish is attempting to dislodge the other from a prime piece of real estate. Sometimes the intruder succeeds, sometimes not. Image 3 of 6 in a sequence illustrating this behavior.
    zoarchias-major-female-pulling-male-...tif
  • Two male Zoarchias major eelpouts with mouths wide open facing off in the middle of Sargassum hemiphyllum algae. The fishes blend-in well with both the coloration and texture of these brown algae and other surrounding vegetation and substrate, providing some measure of protection in the form of camouflage from larger fish patrolling the reef.
    zoarchias-major-eelpouts-fighting-sa...tif
  • Jawfish (Opistognathus sp.) taking a look around after spitting out sand and rubble while maintaining its burrow
    jawfish-opistognathus-cleaning-burro...tif
  • This is a female dark sleeper (Odontobutis obscura), a species of freshwater sleeper perch, protecting her brood of eggs. Here she is flipped upside-down, with some of her eggs visible in the background. This fish’s den was located in a tiny crevice in a small ditch by the side of a road.
    dark-sleeper-odontobutis-obscura-wit...tif
  • Extreme close-up portrait of a 2cm yellow pygmy goby (Lubricogobius exiguus) perched at the entrance of a burrow in sandy substrate at 29m depth. ミヒンベニハゼ
    lubricogobius-exiguus-super-macro-po...tif
  • Juvenile pale razorfish (Iniistius aneitensis) with its mouth open. Photographed in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    iniistius-aneitensis-juvenile-pale-r...tif
  • Mature male Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) in Palau
    male-napoleon-wrasse-cheilinus-undul...tif
  • Spawning aggregation of Lutjanus bohar twinspot snapper coincidentally forming a nice heart shape, a visual metaphor for love in the ocean. Photographed in Palau.
    lutjanus-bohar-spawning-aggregation-...tif
  • Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) spawning aggregation, early morning in deep water, with groups of fish coalescing to release sperm and eggs into the current. Photographed in Palau.
    bumphead-parrotfish-spawning-aggrega...tif
  • Part of an enormous gathering of two-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) for the purpose of mass spawning in the early morning. Thousands of fish aggregate for this spawning aggregation. Coloration of the fish seems to vary through the spawning activity, with the fish not necessarily displaying the characteristic red hue of this species. Photographed in Palau.
    two-spot-red-snapper-lutjanus-bohar-...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
  • Fusilier damselfish (Lepidozygus tapeinosoma) swarming over large staghorn coral (Acropora sp.) formation at Carl's Ultimate dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea.
    fusilier-damselfish-Lepidozygus-tape...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
  • Enormous swarm of bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthlamus) swimming around the jetty at Air Manis dive site in Ambon, Indonesia
    Selar-crumenophthlamus-bigeye-scad-s...tif
  • Common ghost goby (Pleurosicya mossambica) diligently guarding a precious brood of eggs on the surface of a sponge, in the muck at Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photographed at 3x life-size
    super-macro-common-ghost-goby-Pleuro...tif
  • Red-tinted black coral tree (Antipathes sp.) surrounded by a school of orange fairy basslets (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) at the Black and Silver dive site in the Nuakata Island area of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.
    Antipathes-sp-black-coral-Pseudanthi...tif
  • School of Yellowstripe Scad (Selaroides leptolepis) swimming under the jetty at Samarai Island in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, one fish with its mouth wide open.
    Selaroides-leptolepis-yellowstripe-s...tif
  • Juvenile yellowback tubelip (Labropsis xanthonota). Photograph from Feni Islands in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
    juvenile-yellowback-tubelip-Labropsi...tif
  • Cute orange and white juvenile bicolor parrotfish with tail fin flared open
    juvenile-bicolor-parrotfish-Cetoscar...tif
  • Female pink basslet (Pseudanthias hypselosoma)
    pink-basslet-pseudanthias-hypselosom...tif
  • Unspoiled orange-yellow sea fan with golden damselfish and orange basslets in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    orange-yellow-sea-fan-anthias-damsel...tif
  • Soft coral with lots of magenta slender Anthias and a couple of golden damselfish, on a steep wall in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea
    soft-coral-wall-dive-eastern-fields-...tif
  • Strong currents around Bangka Island bring nutrients to support sea fans like this. Note the small group of juvenile convict fish at the lower left part of the sea fan. Juvenile convict fish mimic venemous striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus). These fish were mistakenly called convict blennies and convict gobies, but are neither blennies nor gobies.
    red-sea-fan-blue-water-juvenile-conv...tif
  • There are still virgin reefs like this that few people have seen, where unspoiled corals carpet the reef system and countless fish gather to feed in the currents. This photograph is from a dive site called Tokyo Express in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea.
    unspoiled-coral-reef-millions-of-fis...tif
  • Close-up view of developing eggs of Icelinus pietschi, a species of sculpin native to the northwest Pacific. Each egg is a few millimeters in diameter. Photographed at four times life-size magnification.
    icelinus-pietschi-sculpin-eggs-japan...tif
  • This is a newly hatched juvenile Eumicrotremus awae lumpsucker, a species found along the Pacific coast of Japan's main island of Honshu. The fish is 2mm to 3mm in size, perched on brown algae (Lessoniaceae). The juveniles retain this distinct pattern with white rings for a brief time, eventually taking on solid coloration that varies from brown and red to green, pink and other hues.
    eumicrotremus-awae-juvenile-lumpsuck...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
  • 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. Pictured here is the moment of transfer, with the male below the female, taking the cluster of fertilized eggs into his mouth. At 100% magnification, the eggs that are still inside the female and are just about to emerge are visible. 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 approimately 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
  • These are the unusually shaped eggs of a seven-lined prickleback (Ernogrammus zhirmunskii), a small fish found in the Northwest Pacific and Sea of Japan. Each egg is around 2mm to 3mm in size, photographed here at a magnification of four times life-size. The eggs that have been successfully fertilized are distinguishable by the developing embryos. The egg at the lower left appears to be non-viable.
    ernogrammus-zhirmunskii-eggs-seven-l...tif
  • Profile of a dwarf lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus awae), which is known as a dango-uo in Japanese. Photographed just before the start of the reproductive season, this mature fish measured about one centimeter in length. These lumpsuckers generally live for only one year. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    eumicrotremus-awae-dwarf-lumpsucker-...tif
  • This is a view down the throat of a male Zoarchias major eelpout that has opened its mouth during a confrontation with another male. When the males square off with one another, the size of each male’s mouth plays a role in establishing dominance. It may be possible that the pattern inside the mouth is used for displays, threats and other communication as well. Deep inside the throat are teethlike structures facing toward the rear, quite likely serving to make escape difficult for prey.
    zoarchias-major-male-mouth-open-view...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 was attempting to dislodge the male from the hole in order to occupy it herself. It is an antagonstic encounter, not one characterized by amorous interest. The male retaliated by biting the female, which caused her to leap and twist in order to escape, as pictured here. 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 3 in a sequence of 3.
    zoarchias-major-female-fighting-with...tif
  • Pictured here are two male Zoarchias major eelpouts engaged in a mouth-to-mouth confrontation. This behavior is perhaps linked to establishing dominance, as a precursor to reproduction. There is not much known about these fish. Reproduction has not been witnessed or documented.
    zoarchias-major-males-fighting-japan...tif
  • This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout approaching another one that has occupied a hole in the reef. The aggressor has clamped her mouth on the occupying fish in an attempt to intimidate and force her out of the hole. Individuals of this species engage in such battles over holes while they are in shallow waters. Females and males alike intimidate both females and males in a continual process of claiming and losing holes. The holes themselves are often those used by blennies, which have been displaced by these fish, but return to the holes once these fish disappear. The purpose of these battles is not clear.
    zoarchias-major-eelpout-females-figh...tif
  • Two male Zoarchias major eelpouts intertwined in competitive battle, mouths wide open. These fish, called ookazunagi in Japanese, engage in this behavior during the spring and summer, presumably as part of their reproductive process. Despite these confrontations, it does not appear that the fish inflict harm on one another.
    zoarchias-major-males-competitive-fi...tif
  • Portrait of a female Zoarchias major eelpout looking out from a hole in the reef. These fish often occupy holes like this. On one occasion, I saw one fish kick out a blenny to take over the hole. In another instance, I watched as a female eelpout tried to enter a hole and was punched in the face by a small mantis shrimp that was already occupying the hole.
    zoarchias-major-female-portrait-japa...tif
  • Two male Zoarchias major eelpouts engaged in competitive fighting, with a female eelpout visible in the background, peeking out from a hole in the hard coral. This competitive fighting behavior is likely related to reproduction, though there does not seem to be a one for one correlation with female acceptance of winning individuals.
    zoarchias-major-male-eelpouts-compet...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
  • 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
  • Spotted and barred blenny (Mimoblennius atrocinctus) peeking out from a hole in the coral, with colourful soft coral as a backdrop.
    spotted-and-barred-blenny-mimoblenni...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
  • Chevron barracuda (Sphyraena putnamae) in Palau, with one fish leading the others.
    chevron-barracuda-blue-corner-palau-...tif
  • Profile of a blue-lined sea bream (Symphorichthys spilurus), photographed in Palau.
    blue-lined-sea-bream-symphorichthys-...tif
  • Juvenile Ambon damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) with open mouth. Photographed in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
    ambon-damselfish-juvenile-pomacentru...tif
  • A yellow pygmy goby (Lubricogobius exiguus) sitting on the test of a sea urchin. Photographed in Osezaki bay, Izu Peninsula, Japan.
    Lubricogobius-exiguus-on-sea-urchin-...tif
  • Dozens of giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) schooling together at Peleliu Express dive site in Palau. This association behavior may be associated with spawning.
    giant-trevally-schooling-caranx-igno...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
  • Close encounter with a large school of bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) at the world-renowned Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    bigeye-trevally-caranx-sexfasciatus-...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) patrolling the reef at Palau's renowned dive site Blue Corner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • Male threadfin anthias (Pseudanthias huchtii) in Ambon, Indonesia
    male-Pseudanthias-huchtii-threadfin-...tif
  • Comical blenny (Ecsenius opsifrontalis) in Ambon, Indonesia
    Ecsenius-opsifrontalis-comical-blenn...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
  • Potato cod being cleaned by three bluestreak cleaner wrasses at Carl's Ultimate dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea. There is also a cleaner shrimp visible on the fish's lower jaw.
    potato-cod-Epinephelus-tukula-cleane...tif
  • Jewel fairy basslet in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. This photograph is a film scan.
    threadfin-anthias-pseudanthias-squam...tif
  • Fangblennies have cute smiles on their faces, but they make their living by ambushing other marine animals, swimming out from hidden holes and crevices, taking a bite from a victim, and then darting back to safety.
    bluestriped-fangblenny-milne-bay-pap...tif
  • Colourful fairly basslets and sea fans snatching bits of food from the passing current
    fairy-basslets-sea-fan-bangka-north-...tif
  • Pictured here are fresh eggs of a six-lined prickleback (Ernogrammus hexagrammus), a fish that is found in the Northwest Pacific. The eggs are around 3mm in size.
    ernogrammus-hexagrammus-eggs-six-lin...tif
  • This is a flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) consuming a sandperch (Parapercis sp.) that it had just grabbed.
    metasepia-pfefferi-flamboyant-cuttle...tif
  • This is a starry goby (Asterropteryx semipunctata), about 5cm in length. This species is found in shallow areas such as tide pools and protected bays.
    asterropteryx-semipunctata-starry-go...tif
  • This is a Gymnocanthus herzensteini sculpin, native to the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Normally found at depths of 50m to 100m, this fish ascended to a shallow area during an upwelling of cold water from the deep. It measured about 30cm in length and was highly inquisitive.
    gymnocanthus-herzensteini-sculpin-ja...tif
  • This is a coral grouper (Cephalopholis miniata) pictured with a typical reef scene in the Japanese island of Kumejima in Okinawa.
    cephalopholis-miniata-coral-grouper-...tif
  • This is a male Neoclinus bryope chaenopsid blenny with his mouth open. The internal structure of the fish’s eye is visible in this photo. This species is called koke-ginpo in Japanese. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-eye-structur...tif
  • Pictured here are three male Neoclinus bryope blennies. They are engaged in a stand-off during the reproductive season. As is apparent in this photo, the blennies are able to adjust their coloration to fit the situation and their surroundings. When these blennies emerge fully from the protection of their holes in the reef, they often become drab and bland in color as seen here, perhaps to blend-in with the background. The color of their distinctive dorsal fin spots also seems capable of shifting in hue.
    neoclinus-bryope-blennies-engaged-in...tif
  • A sabretooth blenny (Petroscirtes breviceps) relaxing among delicate folds of brown algae Colpomenia sinuosa
    petroscirtes-breviceps-blenny-colpom...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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