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  • Japanese larch trees (Larix kaempferi) in the blue ice of Blue Pond in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan frozen over during winter.
    japanese-larch-trees-frozen-blue-pon...tif
  • Shown here are developing embryos inside transparent eggs of Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus). The embryos are in the early stages of development, with eyes, tentacles and bodies taking form. The eyes of the juveniles measure around 0.1mm in diameter. The backdrop is Zostera marina seagrass. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-japanese-pygmy-...tif
  • This Japanese flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii) is perched on a comfortable, safe location high above the ground, where it is eating one of its favorite foods, the buds of a Japanese elm tree (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica). Normally nocturnal, these squirrels are sometimes active in the early hours of daylight.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • A dandelion flower (Taraxacum sp.) ripe for its seeds to float away in the next strong breeze
    dandelion-taraxacum-japan-201505-154...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
  • These are developing embryos of Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus). The embryos are well into their development, with eyes, tentacles and bodies taking form. Their chromatophores are also visible. The eyes of the juveniles, which measure 0.1mm, are a bright orange-red in earlier stages of development. At this later stage of development, the eyes have darkened to maroon.  The backdrop is Zostera marina seagrass. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-japanese-pygmy-...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel carrying a small branch of Japanese elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica) back to its nest. This individual had spent over an hour in the early morning at the top of 20m tall elm trees feasting on fresh buds. This branch is a take-away meal for enjoyment back home.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • Autumn foliage of Momiji Japanese maple trees (Acer sp.) in Kyoto, Japan
    japanese-maple-trees-autumn-foliage-...tif
  • Autumn leaves in front of Zen Buddhist temple Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto. The main building in the background was rebuilt in 1955 following a fire that was deliberately set in 1950.
    kinkaku-ji-autumn-kyoto-202111-0238.tif
  • These are male catkins of an East Asian alder tree (Alnus japonica). These catkins are highly prized food among Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels.
    alnus-japonica-alder-male-catkins-ja...tif
  • This is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) depositing eggs on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). The white mass to the left of the fresh eggs are eggs that were deposited earlier, not necessarily by this female. Fine grains of sand and other debris have covered the older eggs. The females seem to prefer certain blades of eelgrass. It is common to see two or more clutches on a single blade of eelgrass and none on others.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) that is consuming a large skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), which is a type of amphipod. Pygmy squids use venom to paralyze prey, then inject digestive enzymes into their food. They ingest the liquified contents and discard the exoskeleton.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-caprelli...tif
  • Everlasting snow flower blossom (Syncarpha vestita) on a hillside above Kalk Bay, South Africa
    everlasting-snow-flower-blossom-sync...tif
  • Blue Pond in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan in the winter, with snow falling. The pond is manmade, and the trees growing through the water are Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), deciduous conifers. 北海道の美瑛にある青い池です。
    blue-pond-in-winter-biei-hokkaido-ja...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
  • Shown here are developing embryos inside transparent eggs of Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus). The embryos are in the early stages of development, with eyes, tentacles and bodies taking form. The eyes of the juveniles measure around 0.1mm in diameter. The backdrop is Zostera marina seagrass. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-japanese-pygmy-...tif
  • Pictured here are leaves of momiji Japanese maple trees (Acer sp.) that have turned red in autumn. Photographed in Kyoto, Japan.
    japanese-maple-trees-autumn-foliage-...tif
  • Japanese maple trees (Acer sp.), known as momiji in Japanese, produce a riot of colours with the change of seasons. Pictured here are the rich, warm hues of momiji foliage illuminated by the light of morning sun against a clear blue sky.
    japanese-maple-trees-autumn-foliage-...tif
  • Pictured here are male catkins of an Alnus japonica elder tree together with female cones. The male catkins comprise many flowers, which produce pollen to pollinate female catkins. Once pollinated, the female catkins develop into woody false cones as seen here. In the autumn the scales of the cones open and disperse their seeds. Male catkins of this species are among the favorite foods of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels.
    alnus-japonica-alder-catkins-and-con...tif
  • On the left is a juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus), about 5mm in length. To the right is a shrimp, species indeterminate. The pair came together momentarily on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-juvenile-smoo...tif
  • After a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) deposits eggs on eelgrass as shown here, sand and other debris accumulate and adhere to the eggs quickly. Within a short time, egg clusters become opaque. This may serve to protect the eggs. The eggs pictured here were fresh, deposited less than an hour before. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eggs-japan-2021...tif
  • Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) possess an attachment organ under the dorsal surface of their mantle, which they use to secure themselves to seaweed such as this eelgrass. This individual is a female, as evidenced by her collection of elongated white spermatophores that have been provided by multiple males.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-with-spe...tif
  • This Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) has its arms wrapped around its prey, a skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), which is a type of amphipod. Here the skeleton shrimp is clinging to the eelgrass by a single claw, but it eventually succumbed. Pygmy squids use venom to paralyze their prey, then inject digestive enzymes into their food. They ingest the liquified contents and discard the exoskeleton.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-caprelli...tif
  • Male Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) like the darker squid on the right side of this image often approach females in the process of depositing eggs to pass on spermatophores. Pictured here is the moment the female has accepted spermatophores from the male. Spermatophores that she has previously received from other males are visible attached to her mantle.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-spermato...tif
  • Male Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) like the darker squid on the right side of this image often approach females in the process of depositing eggs to pass on spermatophores. Pictured here is the moment that this male has just offered the white strands of sperm. The female has indicated that she will accept. Spermatophores that she has previously received from other males are visible attached to her mantle.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-spermato...tif
  • Pictured here is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) depositing eggs on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). During reproductive season, females receive spermatophores from multiple males (white strands visible) and deposit eggs multiple times. Adults die at the end of the reproductive period. Eggs hatch and mature within a few months, reproducing again to repeat the cycle. Two reproductive cycles take place each year.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) taking a break after depositing an egg on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). Reproductive season takes place twice a year..Adults of this species die after reproduction, which means that there are two generations each year. Size descriptions generate indicate maximum size of up to 18mm. The females in this area were considerably larger, in the range of 30mm. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • After depositing an egg and prior to cleaning the eelgrass again, female Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) lift away from the grass in this manner. This is part of the process of preparing the next egg that will be deposited. Photographed at a magnification of two time life-size.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) is depositing eggs on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). The curved white strands are spermatophores attached by multiple males. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) depositing eggs on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). Reproductive season takes place twice a year.. Adults of this species die after reproduction, which means that there are two generations each year. Size descriptions generally suggest maximum size of up to 18mm. The females in this area were considerably larger, in the range of 30mm. Photographed at magnification of two times life-size.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii Japanese dwarf flying squirrel foraging at dawn. It is high in the canopy, around 15-20m, not far from its nest. The tree is a Japanese elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica), one of several prime food sources for this species. As seen here, these flying squirrels consume the leaf buds of this tree.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) hovering in front of an icicle formed from the sap of a painted maple tree (Acer pictum). During winter months, small birds like this make use of this calorie-rich food source (essentially frozen maple syrup) to fuel their high metabolisms. The birds fly to an icicle, hover, break off a piece and fly away, all in the blink of eye.
    long-tailed-tit-aegithalos-caudatus-...tif
  • This Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii) snacking on a Japanese alder (Alnus japonica) flower, one of this species’ preferred foods.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-20200...tif
  • An unusual 3-headed coconut tree on Tongatapu Island, Kingdom of Tonga
    coconut-tree-with-three-heads-tonga-...tif
  • Red and white flowers of a baby sage (Salvia microphylla), a perennial shrub native to the mountains of Mexico and southeastern Arizona, that I found growing in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan.
    baby-sage-salvia-microphylla-japan-2...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
  • Blue Pond in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan in the winter, with snow falling. The pond is manmade, and the trees growing through the water are Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), deciduous conifers. 北海道の美瑛にある青い池です。
    blue-pond-in-winter-with-snow-hokkai...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
  • These are Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) eggs. The developing embryos are starting to take form, with their bodies, eyes and tentacles visible. The eggs are adhered to a blade of Zostera marina seagrass. The eyes of the juvenile squids measure about 0.1mm. Photographed in Hokkaido,, Japan.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-japanese-pygmy-...tif
  • Bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
    bamboo-forest-arashiyama-kyoto-20211...tif
  • Autumn leaves of Japanese maple trees at Buddhist Tendai sect temple Bishamon-do in Kyoto, Japan
    japanese-maple-trees-autumn-foliage-...tif
  • This is a female Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel that has emerged during the day to use the toilet. A pellet of defecation is visible stuck to her bottom. While outside the nest, she decided to snack on needles of a Sakhalin fir tree (Abies sachalinensis).
    pteromys-volans-orii-eating-abies-sa...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of juvenile smooth lumpsuckers (Aptocyclus ventricosus), sheltered among folds at the base of wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida). Pattern and color variation among juveniles is normal. Juveniles of this species spend the early part of their lives in shallow water, then descend to the deep. These fish are around 6mm in size, photographed at magnification of two times life-size.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-lumpsucker-ju...tif
  • This is a juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) nestled among folds of wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida). Juveniles of this species spend the early part of their lives in shallow water, then descend to the deep. This individual was about 6mm in size.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-juvenile-waka...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel peeking out from its den in a Sakhalin fir tree (Abies sachalinensis) in the soft light of the early winter morning.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) during the reproductive season. The white strands are spermatophores that have been passed to her by males. Here she is extending her two tentacles while searching for prey.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-with-spe...tif
  • This female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) is cleaning the surface of eelgrass (Zostera marina) prior to depositing an egg. The curved white strands are spermatophores attached by multiple males. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • Pictured here, buds of Japanese elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica) are one of the favored foods of Pteromys volans orii Japanese dwarf flying squirrels in Japan.
    ulmus-davidiana-japanese-elm-buds-20...tif
  • This is a long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) hovering in front of an icicle formed from the sap of a painted maple tree (Acer pictum). During winter months, small birds like this make use of this calorie-rich food source (essentially frozen maple syrup) to fuel their high metabolisms. The birds fly to an icicle, hover, break off a piece and fly away, all in the blink of eye.
    long-tailed-tit-aegithalos-caudatus-...tif
  • During the breeding season, male Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) sometimes confront one another, usually in the context of competition for a female. Here, the one above has just snuck up behind the individual below, which made a quick turn to look up at the intruder. The animal looking up was in the midst of enjoying a snack, the flowers of a Japanese alder (Alnus japonica) that are visible in his mouth. A frantic battle between the two males soon ensued.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-males...tif
  • Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) forage on a number of plant species, one of which is the Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis). The squirrels select the tips of fir branches, where tender new leaves can be found. After breaking off a branch tip, the squirrels frequently consume only some of the leaves before tossing the branch away, resulting in a partially eaten branch tip, as pictured here.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-food-...tif
  • A dandelion flower (Taraxacum sp.) ripe for its seeds to float away in the next strong breeze
    dandelion-taraxacum-japan-201505-154...tif
  • Female Zoarchias major peeking her head out from the stalk or holdfast of wakame seawood, also known as mekabu (Undaria pinnatifida). These fish are active, often moving around the reef, taking cover in seaweed, algae and holes.
    zoarchias-major-in-mekabu-wakame-sea...tif
  • This is an enormous Ginkgo biloba tree occupying the corner of a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan. The folded white paper is called a Shide. It is one of several affixed to the tree. Shide demarcate sacred spaces and objects.
    sacred-ginkgo-tree-shinto-shide-japa...tif
  • This is a close-up view of a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) depositing eggs on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). After finishing with an egg, females lift away from the substrate like this, perhaps as part of the process of preparing the next egg. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • Long Lake, part of Ngeruktabel Island in Palau, is home to a variety of plant life, including a dense forest of mangrove trees. Pictured here is a portion of the thick, intertwined network of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza mangrove prop roots that are submerged during high tide, but partially exposed during lower tides. These roots are key to the survival of the trees, but also serve as shelter for juvenile fish and other marine animals. The intricate network of roots also stablize and lock-in silt and mud, providing a buffer against erosion.
    Bruguiera-gymnorrhiza-mangrove-tree-...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel returning to its nest at dawn after foraging high in the canopy during the night. It is carrying a small branch with leaf buds of a Japanese elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica), one of several prime food sources for this species.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) is preparing to deposit an egg by cleaning the surface of eelgrass (Zostera marina). The curved white strands are spermatophores attached by multiple males. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • An unusual 3-headed coconut tree on Tongatapu Island, Kingdom of Tonga
    coconut-tree-with-three-heads-tonga-...tif
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