Show Navigation

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
{ 151 images found }

Loading ()...

  • One of a tangle of four or five banded sea kraits (Laticauda colubrina) hauled up on a ledge of a vertical rock face. There were several clumps of sea kraits resting on the rocks. It is not clear why the marine reptiles behave in this manner. Though these animals possess power venom, they are generally non-aggressive.
    banded-sea-krait-laticauda-colubrina...tif
  • A pile of four or five venomous banded sea kraits (Laticauda colubrina) lounging on a shaded ledge located on a vertical rock face just above the splash zone of one of the Rock Islands in Nikko Bay. Sea kraits crawl up on the rocks from the sea to rest and perhaps to lay eggs, though no one has yet found sea krait eggs at any haul out site in Palau. There were several aggregations at this site, comprising perhaps up to 30 individuals in total.
    banded-sea-kraits-laticauda-colubrin...tif
  • Terry Ward looking (nervously) at a pile of four or five venomous banded sea kraits lounging on a shaded ledge.
    banded-sea-krait-laticauda-colubrina...tif
  • A portion of tens of thousands of blue-lined sea bream (Symphorichthys spilurus) gathered for the purpose of mass spawning at Peleliu island in Palau. These fish are normally rare in shallow water. They appear two or three times a year in large numbers for reproduction.
    blue-lined-sea-bream-aggregation-for...tif
  • Profile of a blue-lined sea bream (Symphorichthys spilurus), photographed in Palau.
    blue-lined-sea-bream-symphorichthys-...tif
  • Large school of bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) swimming along the top of a shallow reef in Palau
    bluestripe-snapper-lutjanus-kasmira-...tif
  • Single sailfin snapper, or blue-lined sea bream (Symphorichthys spilurus), swimming in the opposite direction from the rest of the school. These fish were gathered by the tens of thousands for a spawning aggregation.
    sailfin-snappers-symphorichthys-spil...tif
  • One of Palau's many picturesque Rock Islands, surrounded by blue skies and shallow tropical seas
    palau-rock-islands-201211-0414.tif
  • School of bluelined snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) at Blue Corner dive site in Palau
    bluelined-snapper-Lutjanus-kasmira-b...tif
  • School of bluelined snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) at Blue Corner dive site in Palau
    bluelined-snapper-Lutjanus-kasmira-b...tif
  • Massive aggregation comprising tens of thousands of sailfin snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) in preparation for group spawning. These fish normally live in deep water. They gather several times a year for this spawning phenomenon. Photographed in Palau.
    sailfin-snapper-aggregation-for-grou...tif
  • Juvenile oriental flying gurnard (Dactylopterus orientalis), measuring between two and three centimeters. Photographed during a blackwater dive at Short Dropoff in Palau.
    juvenile-flying-gurnard-dactylopteru...tif
  • Larval development of sailfin snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) at 10 hours post-fertilization. The fertilized embryo was collected during a mass spawning aggregation involving tens of thousands of fish. Photographed in Palau.
    sailfin-snapper-embryo-symphorichthy...tif
  • Larval development of sailfin snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) at 35 hours post-fertilization. The fertilized embryo was collected during a mass spawning aggregation involving tens of thousands of fish. Photographed in Palau.
    sailfin-snapper-embryo-symphorichthy...tif
  • This is a female hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) foraging for food on the reef at Blue Corner in Palau. Her head is facing down while she looks for something to eat, with her rear end flipped up such that it appears that the turtle is performing a handstand. Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered.
    hawksbill-turtle-blue-corner-palau-E...tif
  • Mature male Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) in Palau
    male-napoleon-wrasse-cheilinus-undul...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
  • 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) with its mouth open. Photographed at Blue Corner, Palau.
    Cheilinus-undulatus-Napoleon-wrasse-...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
  • 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 submerged forest of pneumatophores that supports a vibrant community of mangrove apple (Sonneratia alba) trees in Long Lake, which is a tidal exchange area that connects a saltwater lake inside Ngeruktabel Island with the ocean. The conical pneumatophores pictured here comprise an extended root system that is essential for gas exchange in an anoxic environment. Sonneratia alba communities prefer seaward fringes with high salinity and soft sandy or muddy bottoms.
    Sonneratia-alba-pneumatophore-mangro...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
  • Shallow, protected nooks and crannies among the Rock Islands of Palau are characterized by murky water, but can provide a safe environment for corals to flourish and develop into intricate, unbroken formations like the one pictured here. This coral tree was one of many in very shallow water in front of Ngchuus Beach, Ngeruktabel Island.
    backlit-coral-formation-ngeruktabel-...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) patrolling the reef at Palau's renowned dive site Blue Corner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • Twinspot snapper (Lutjanus bohar) engaged in a mass spawning aggregation early in the morning. This photograph was the winner of the Under Water category of the 52nd Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in 2016 (#WPY52) organized by the Natural History Museum in London.
    twinspot-snapper-spawning-aggregatio...tif
  • Top-down view of a mature male Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) cruising over healthy coral reef
    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
  • Larva of a tube anemone. This free-swimming gelatinous animal was about 1cm in size, encountered while blackwater diving in Palau.
    unidentified-cnidarian-polyp-blackwa...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
  • This is a young Bruguiera gymnorrhiza mangrove plant taking root in the shallow water of Long Lake, part of Ngeruktabel Island in Palau. These mangrove trees create an intricate network of roots, visible behind this young plant, that stablize and lock-in silt and mud, providing a buffer against erosion, as well as serving as shelter for juvenile fish and other marine animals.
    Bruguiera-gymnorrhiza-mangrove-long-...tif
  • Long Lake, part of Ngeruktabel Island in Palau, is home to a variety of plant life, including a dense forest of mangrove trees. This is a young Bruguiera gymnorrhiza mangrove plant taking root in the shallows. When mature, these mangrove trees create an intricate network of roots that stablize and lock-in silt and mud, providing a buffer against erosion, as well as serving as shelter for juvenile fish and other marine animals.
    bruguiera-gymnorrhiza-young-mangrove...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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Female grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) with visible scarring from mating activity. During the mating season, many female sharks appear with scars like this, inflicted by amorous male sharks. Mating is a rough affair among sharks, ften with multiple males biting and holding on to female sharks. Photographed at Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    grey-reef-shark-mating-scars-carchar...tif
  • Close-up view of one of Palau's many beautiful Rock Islands
    palau-rock-islands-201211-0411.tif
  • This individual was part of a group of about 50 short-finned pilot whales milling around just offshore on the eastern side of Palau. Note the scars located all over the animal's body.
    short-finned-pilot-whale-globicephal...tif
  • The marine lakes of Palau comprise a plethora of hidden environments and fragile ecosystems, often characterized by delicate formations such as this Merulina sp. hard coral, which was thin enough to be translucent. Photographed inside Disney Lake, located in Nikko Bay, Palau.
    translucent-merulina-sp-hard-coral-d...tif
  • An inquisitive blenny (Salarias sp.) in very shallow water at Ngchuus Beach, Ngeruktabel Island, Palau.
    blenny-salarias-sp-ngeruktabel-islan...tif
  • Ron Leidich removing crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) from coral reef in shallow water in Palau
    ron-leidich-removing-crown-of-thorns...tif
  • One of the advantages of navigating the Rock Islands of Palau in kayaks is the ability to visit very shallow areas and look straight down at coral, fish and other marine life
    mandarinfish-lake-risong-bay-palau-r...tif
  • Ron Leidich describing the lifecycle and natural history of an insectivorous pitcher plant (Nepenthes mirabilis) during a morning kayak paddle, on the way to Disney Lake in Nikko Bay, Palau.
    ron-leidich-pitcher-plant-nepenthes-...tif
  • Ron Leidich and Terry Ward paddling by kayak inside Black Tip Lake, a shallow, semi-enclosed bay that is a nursery for baby blacktip reef sharks and other juvenile fish. The sharks use sheltered areas like this one as safe havens to grow and hunt small fish while they mature.
    black-tip-lake-risong-bay-palau-ron-...tif
  • Ron Leidich and Terry Ward in the shallow water of Long Lake during the incoming tide. Ron is explaining the natural history of Long Lake and the associated ecosystems to Terry. Long Lake leads from the open ocean, snakes through an area dominated by mangrove forest, and finally opens into the inner lake at Ngeruktabel Island in Palau. Water from the island's inner lake jets out through submerged passages in the island's substrate when the tide goes out, transporting nutrients to the exterior of the island. This constant flow of nutrients supports the healthy colonies of Lobophyllia and other coral at Darwin's Wall, Einstein's Wall and nearby areas.
    long-lake-mangroves-ngeruktabel-isla...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 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
  • I photographed this Pachyseris speciosa coral formation in Disney Lake, a saltwater enclosure in the Rock Islands of Palau. The lake is only accessible via a submerged tunnel. The lake and surrounding area is sheltered from wind and waves, and almost no one enters the enclosed area, so some species of coral that are normally fragile are able to grow to large sizes. This coral formation was so thin at its edge that light can shine through. Lit from behind, the lines comprising the coral growth reminded me of flowing volcanic lava.
    pachyseris-speciosa-coral-disney-lak...tif
  • Two jellyfish bumping heads, Jellyfish Lake, Palau. Mastigias cf. papua etpisoni
    jellyfish-lake-palau-mastigias-cf-pa...tif
  • A pair of bigeye jacks (Caranx sexfasciatus), with the male temporarily turned black in preparation for spawning. Another pair of fish also getting ready to spawn is visible in the background. These fish were among a large school of several hundred jacks swimming above the Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    bigeye-trevally-mating-spawning-blue...tif
  • Napoleon wrasses are abundant and friendly in Palau, often approaching divers in the water in an inquisitive manner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • Garbage on one of Palau’s Rock Islands. The item in the foreground is a bottle of bleach from Japan, underscoring the point that garbage knows no boundaries
    garbage-palau-201311-0531.tif
  • Bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) working inside the mouth of a goldband fusilier (Pteroceasio chrysozona). Several cleaner wrasses maintained a cleaning station in shallow water, which was visited frequently by groups of fusiliers and other fish seeking the services of the wrasses.
    bluestreak-cleaner-wrasse-labroides-...tif
  • Shadowfin soldierfish (Myripristis adusta) on a coral reef in Palau
    shadowfin-soldierfish-myripristis-ad...tif
  • Chevron barracuda (Sphyraena putnamae) in Palau, with one fish leading the others.
    chevron-barracuda-blue-corner-palau-...tif
  • Twinspot snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation early in the morning, with a group of fish releasing a stream of gametes into the water.
    twinspot-snapper-spawning-aggregatio...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) spawning in Palau. The smaller female is in front, the male behind. Mature males spawn repeatedly with multiple females. This is photograph 1 of in a sequence of 5 images, with the entire sequence taking less than one second.
    napoleon-wrasse-spawning-cheilinus-u...tif
  • Rear view of a mature male Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
    male-napoleon-wrasse-rear-view-cheil...tif
  • This jellyfish lives in the world-famous Jellyfish Lake in Palau’s Rock Islands. Descended from Mastigias papua jellyfish that live in the open ocean, this individual and others in the lake have lost most of their stinging capability. Within the confines of a small landlocked lake, there is minimal prey. Instead of hunting for food, these jellyfish host colonies of symbiotic algae, which produce food through photosynthesis. The jellyfish obtains sustenance from the algae. There are actually a number of lakes hosting such populations of stingless jellyfish in Palau, but only one is open to the general public.
    jellyfish-lake-palau-mastigias-papua...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
  • A group of bumphead parrotfishes (Bolbometopon muricatum) in a spawning cluster. The female is in the middle releasing eggs, surrounded by males releasing sperm. This group was part of a much larger spawning aggregation, comprising thousands of fish. Photographed in the early morning in Palau.
    bumphead-parrotfish-spawning-palau-b...tif
  • A juvenile squirrelfish (Sargocentron sp.) encountered during blackwater diving at night over deep water in Palau. About 3cm long, photographed with harsh backlighting to emphasize translucent areas of fins and head.
    sargocentron-squirrelfish-juvenile-b...tif
  • Clouds of sperm and eggs released by thousands of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) engaged in mass spawning in the early morning. Simultaneous release of gametes in such large quantities likely serves to maximize chances of survival for fertilized eggs. Group spawning also obscures visibility underwater, creating hazy, fog-like conditions. Photographed in the early morning in Palau.
    bumphead-parrotfish-spawning-aggrega...tif
  • Massive spawning aggregation of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in the early morning, involving thousands of individuals. During a short span of time, the fish coordinate release of large quantities of sperm and eggs into the water, creating fog-like white-out conditions.
    bumphead-parrotfish-spawning-aggrega...tif
  • A group of bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) swimming around a grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrynchos), with one of the fish rubbing its body against the shark's skin. Bigeye trevallies and other species of fish engage in this activity from time to time, perhaps to remove parasites or other irritations from their skin. For the most part, the sharks do not seem to mind, though they sometimes take off at high speed. Note also that one of the bigeye trevallies is dark. The change in coloration is associated with reproduction. Photographed at Blue Corner in Palau.
    bigeye-trevally-rubbing-against-grey...tif
  • Large aggregation of moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) gathered at the tip of Siaes Corner dive site in Palau a few days prior to the full moon for the purpose of group spawning.
    moorish-idol-spawning-aggregation-pa...tif
  • A group of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) preparing to spawn en masse, very early in the morning. Note the white coloration of their faces, a color shift that occurs during spawning aggregations involving thousands of these large fish.
    bumphead-parrotfish-mass-spawning-ag...tif
  • A swarm of the voracious Lutjanus bohar two-spot red snappers attacked and devoured a boxfish, the remains of which are shown here after they participated in an enormous spawning aggregation in the early morning involving thousands snappers. The attack on the boxfish was fast and furious, reminiscent of a shark feeding frenzy. I was unable to identify the species of the boxfish before it was consumed, but based on the yellow pattern, I am guessing that it was a yellow boxfish, Ostracion cubicus.
    lutanus-bohar-snapper-devouring-yell...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-bolbometopon-mur...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
  • An aggregation of Lutjanus bohar snapper engaged in mass spawning. As pictured here, large groups of fish cluster together before swimming rapidly in unison to release clouds of sperm and eggs. Thousands of fish were gathered for this spawning event. Photographed in Palau.
    Lutjanus-bohar-snapper-spawning-aggr...tif
  • Humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) congregating before spawning in large numbers. These fish gather by the thousands, milling around until the tidal conditions are just right. In this photograph, the heads of the fish have not yet turned white, a color change which is a precursor to mass spawning. Photographed in Palau.
    humphead-parrotfish-bolbometopon-mur...tif
  • Thousands of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) amassing in deep water prior to spawning en masse. Note the pale heads of the fish, which signal readiness for spawning. Photographed in Palau.
    bumphead-parrotfish-mass-spawning-bo...tif
  • This is a part of a spawning aggregation comprising thousands of Bohar snapper (Lutjanus bohar) gathered in deep water in the early morning. Prior to spawning, the fish take on a range of coloration, as pictured here. Of note, the fish do not all seem to take on the same color hues or patterns. Photographed in Palau.
    lutjanus-bohar-snapper-spawning-aggr...tif
  • Ron Leidich with unusually large nest made by a Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse) pair in the Rock Islands of Palau. Also known as the Micronesian scrubfowl, this species is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
    ron-leidich-endangered-micronesian-m...tif
  • Cute yellow coral goby (Gobiodon okinawae) living among branches of Acropora coral at Fantasy Island, part of the Patch Reefs of Palau. This area was devastated by the el Nino of 1998 and a subsequent crown of thorns infestation. The area has since recovered and is a thriving, healthy reef system.
    yellow-coral-goby-gobiodon-okinawae-...tif
  • Aerial view of the Natural Arch formation in the Rock Islands of Palau.
    aerial-view-natural-arch-rock-island...tif
  • Aerial view of the Rock Islands of Palau, showing the contrasting colors of two adjacent inner lakes.
    aerial-view-rock-islands-palau-20110...tif
  • Ron Leidich and Terry Ward having a chat in our dinner tent at Blue Devil Beach, where we camped for the first three nights of our trip to explore the Rock Islands of Palau by kayak.
    palau-blue-devil-beach-koror-island-...tif
  • The marine lakes of Palau comprise a plethora of hidden environments and fragile ecosystems, often characterized by delicate formations such as this Merulina sp. hard coral, which was thin enough to be translucent. Photographed inside Disney Lake, located in Nikko Bay, Palau.
    translucent-merulina-sp-hard-coral-d...tif
  • The corals living in the shallow waters around Fantasy Island in the Patch Reefs of Palau were devastated by a massive crown of thorns attack following extensive bleaching damage caused by El Niño in 1998. This photograph was taken in 2011, just 13 years after the corals here were wiped out.
    healthy-coral-recovered-bleaching-cr...tif
  • Swarm of golden jellyfish (Mastigias cf. papua etpisoni) in Palau's Jellyfish Lake. These jellyfish have been isolated in a saltwater lake for thousands of years. They have lost most of their ability to sting, and depend upon symbiotic algae for food. Jellyfish Lake is one of five saltwater lakes in Palau with jellyfish populations similar to these.
    jellyfish-lake-palau-mastigias-cf-pa...tif
  • Juvenile pajama cardinalfish hiding among coral in the calm and safe shallow-water environment of Mandarin Fish Lake in Palau
    juvenile-pajama-cardinalfish-Sphaera...tif
  • A baby eagle ray at the world-famous Blue Corner dive site in Palau, with barracuda, redtooth triggerfish and dive boats visible in the background. The Palauan word for eagle ray and the Audobon shearwater bird are the same. Both eagle rays and shearwaters are considered gods in Palau culture.
    juvenile-spotted-eagle-ray-Aetobatus...tif
  • Discarded flip-flops, garbage on a white-sand beach in popular holiday and tourism destination Palau
    garbage-palau-201311-0711.tif
  • Plastic garbage accumulated on one of the Rock Islands of Palau, a major tourism destination
    garbage-palau-201311-0526.tif
  • Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) gathering at dawn in preparation for a spawning aggregation. The heads of some individuals have turned white, indicating that they are ready for spawning activity. The majority of fish, however, are not quite ready. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of fish gather and mill around until there is consensus reached. Then all the fish rush out to deeper water for group spawning.
    bumphead-parrotfish-gathering-before...tif
  • A group of Lutjanus bohar twinspot snappers breaking away from the spawning aggregation to release a stream of sperm and eggs into the water. The lead fish is likely the female, with males following.
    lutjanus-bohar-snappers-spawning-pal...tif
  • Group of twinspot snappers (Lutjanus bohar) gathered as part of an early-morning spawning aggregation involving thousands of fish. Note the range of coloration displayed by individual fish, which most often appear red when seen by scuba divers.
    lutjanus-bohar-spawning-aggregation-...tif
  • Spawning polychaete worms. The ones pictured here are often called fireworms due to the pain that ensues if you touch the bristles, which contain a neurotoxin. Photographed during a blackwater dive a couple of days prior to the new moon.
    polychaete-worm-spawning-fireworm-br...tif
  • White-jawed Cardinalfish (Pseudamia amblyuroptera) encountered at 15m to 25m depth during a blackwater dive just off the reef at Short Dropoff in Palau. This fish was about 10cm in length, suggesting that it is an adult or near adult. The fish was hanging vertically in the water. It showed no concern with divers being present, making no effort to swim away. It also never adopted a horizontal position.
    pseudamia-amblyuroptera-white-jawed-...tif
  • Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) engaged in a massive spawning aggregation, with one group of fish pictured here rising above the mass to spawn. There is one female at the center of the mass, with others being male fish. This takes place early in the morning.
    bumphead-parrotfish-spawning-aggrega...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) spawning in Palau. The smaller female is in front, the male behind. Mature males spawn repeatedly with multiple females. This is photograph 5 of in a sequence of 5 images, with the entire sequence taking less than one second.
    napoleon-wrasse-spawning-cheilinus-u...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) spawning in Palau. The smaller female is in front, the male behind. Mature males spawn repeatedly with multiple females. This is photograph 4 of in a sequence of 5 images, with the entire sequence taking less than one second.
    napoleon-wrasse-spawning-cheilinus-u...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) spawning in Palau. The smaller female is in front, the male behind. Mature males spawn repeatedly with multiple females. This is photograph 3 of in a sequence of 5 images, with the entire sequence taking less than one second.
    napoleon-wrasse-spawning-cheilinus-u...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) spawning in Palau. The smaller female is in front, the male behind. Mature males spawn repeatedly with multiple females. This is photograph 2 of in a sequence of 5 images, with the entire sequence taking less than one second.
    napoleon-wrasse-spawning-cheilinus-u...tif
  • This is a colorful pygmy squid (Idiosepius sp.), less than 1cm in length, hunting for food in relatively shallow water at night. Photographed during a blackwater dive in Palau.
    pygmy-squid-idiosepius-sp-palau-blac...tif
  • Tiny swimming mollusk known as a cigar pteropod (Cuvierina columnella). This swimming mollusk is found throughout temperate and tropical waters around the world. Photographed during a blackwater night dive in Palau.
    cigar-pteropod-cuvierina-columnella-...tif
  • A juvenile blotched bigeye or glasseye (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus), 3-4cm in size, photographed during a blackwater dive in Palau.
    juvenile-heteropriacanthus-cruentatu...tif
Next
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Tony Wu Underwater Photography

  • Search Image Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • View Portfolio
  • Read About Me
  • Send Me a Note
  • Portfolio