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  • A Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica) engaged in ambush predation, leaping out of the sand to grab a small silver-stripe round herring (Spratelloides gracilis). The sand thrown up by the shark underscores the speed and force of the strike.
    japanese-angelshark-ambush-predation...tif
  • A Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica) engaged in ambush predation, leaping out of the sand to grab a small silver-stripe round herring (Spratelloides gracilis). The cloud of sand thrown up by the shark underscores the speed and force of the strike.
    japanese-angelshark-squatina-japonic...tif
  • A Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica) engaged in ambush predation, leaping out of the sand to grab a small silver-stripe round herring (Spratelloides gracilis). The shark’s extended jaws are clearly visible. The speed and force of the shark’s ambush sends not only sand into the water column, but also bottom-dwelling marine life, such as the multiple mid-water bristleworms seen here.
    japanese-angelshark-squatina-japonic...tif
  • This scenes depicts the split-second just before a Okhotsk Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus azonus) swallowed a swimming Eumicrotremus taranetzi lumpsucker. The mackerel regurgitated the little fish moments later. Lumpsuckers apparently do not taste good.
    eumicrotremus-taranetzi-pleurogrammu...tif
  • Anemone hermit crab (Dardanus pedunculatus) capturing and eating a mollusk. This hermit crab has a symbiotic relationship with anemones. The crab attaches anemones to the shell it lives in and transfers the anemones when it grows larger and changes shells. The anemones provide defence against predators like octopuses. It is possible that transfer of shells took place after this photograph was taken.
    anemone-hermit-crab-dardanus-peduncu...tif
  • This is a blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) slicing through shallow water in pursuit of sardines, some of which can be seen jumping into the air to avoid being caught. This occurred in the early morning, usually commencing just before sunrise, when large schools of the baitfish gathered in shallow water. Several species worked together to herd and catch the fish. In the water, trevallies and blacktip reef sharks herded the fish, forcing them into concentrated groups. From the air, brown boobies and terns hovered. The predators coordinated their attacks, usually with trevallies making high-speed runs through the groups of fish. This caused panic, sending the sardines in every direction. Blacktip reef sharks then charged in, chasing sardines into shallow water and sometimes onto shore, while boobies and terns picked off fish at the surface, separated from the other fish. This action was rapid, often resulting in sweeping waves of panicked fish washing down the length of the shoreline. Here, the sun has just come up over the horizon. The action usually slowed down and stopped within 20-30 minutes after sunrise.
    blacktip-reef-shark-hunting-sardines...tif
  • This is a blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) beaching itself to catch sardines. This occurred in the early morning, just before sunrise, when large schools of the baitfish gathered in shallow water. Several species worked together to herd and catch the fish. In the water, trevallies and blacktip reef sharks herded the fish, forcing them into concentrated groups. From the air, brown boobies and terns hovered. The predators coordinated their attacks, usually with trevallies making high-speed runs through the groups of fish. This caused panic, sending the sardines in every direction. Blacktip reef sharks then charged in and beached themselves, chasing baitfish onto shore, while boobies and terns picked off fish at the surface, separated from the other fish. This action was rapid, often resulting in sweeping waves of panicked fish washing down the length of the shoreline. Once the sun came up, the action slowed down and usually stopped within 20-30 minutes after sunrise.
    blacktip-reef-shark-hunting-sardines...tif
  • Thousands of spawning Lutjanus bohar snapper attract a number of predators, such as this blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) swimming through at rapid speed. Clouds of sperm and eggs and low light in the early morning result in low visibility, making ambush easy.
    carcharhinus-limbatus-blacktip-shark...tif
  • This is a lizardfish (Synodus sp.) that has just caught a butterflyfish (Chaetodon sp.). Lizardfish are ambush predators. They lie in wait on the bottom, often perched at a slight angle, such that the fish looks up into the water column. When potential prey passes overhead, the lizardfish darts up in the blink of an eye to grab its meal. While some fish do get away, the many sharp, backward-pointing teeth in a lizardfish’s mouth make escape difficult.
    lizardfish-eating-butterflyfish-2010...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
  • Reef lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) eating a Bennett’s sharpnose puffer (Canthigaster bennetti). Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
    lizardfish-eating-Bennetts-pufferfis...tif
  • This Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) has its arms wrapped around its prey, a skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), which is a type of amphipod. Here the skeleton shrimp is clinging to the eelgrass by a single claw, but it eventually succumbed. Pygmy squids use venom to paralyze their prey, then inject digestive enzymes into their food. They ingest the liquified contents and discard the exoskeleton.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-caprelli...tif
  • This is a brown booby (Sula leucogaster) taking off from the ocean surface after catching a sardine., with the fish still struggling in the bird’s beak.
    brown-booby-catching-sardine-sula-le...tif
  • Common tern (Sterna hirundo) with fish that it has just caught, Hyporhamphus sp. (perhaps limbatus), being chased by a whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
    chlidonias-hybrida-chasing-sterna-hi...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
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) eating a very large pipefish, which ended up being so long that it distended the frogfish’s stomach, and the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to digest its meal. File 13 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • An adult female sperm whale carrying a large piece of giant squid, which this group of whales had brought up from the deep trench. They were playing with the leftover bits of squid, shredding their meal, perhaps in the process of weaning the juvenile sperm whale pictured swimming alongside the female. I followed this group for several days, and this female was the dominant individual, swimming by and using sonar to check out my boat and people in the water.
    sperm-whales-eating-giant-squid-phys...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
  • Ron Leidich removing crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) from coral reef in shallow water in Palau
    ron-leidich-removing-crown-of-thorns...tif
  • This is a large Mauve-eyed hermit crab (Dardanus crassimanus) consuming a red cornetfish (Fistularia petimba).
    dardanus-crassimanus-consuming-fistu...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
  • Common tern (Sterna hirundo) with fish that it has just caught, Hyporhamphus sp. (perhaps limbatus)
    common-tern-sterna-hirundo-hyporhamp...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) opening its mouth, or yawning, while searching for food.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in a feeding frenzy, with the remains of a previously large school of sardines visible in the center background
    indo-pacific-sailfish-istiophorus-pl...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) that has just swallowed a very large pipefish. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended, as is visible here, that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 20 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) that has just swallowed a very large pipefish. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended, as is visible here, that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 19 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) eating a very large pipefish, which ended up being so long that it distended the frogfish’s stomach, and the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to digest its meal. File 15 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...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) stalking a very large pipefish. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 6 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) deploying its lure, comprising the illicium (rod) and esca (bait), with the objecting of attracting unsuspecting prey. File 4 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) walking across the substrate, wiggling its bait, comprising the illicium (rod) and esca (lure), in hopes of attracting prey. File 3 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) attempting to attract a small mantis shrimp by waving its lure (esca), in order to eat the crustacean. Mantis shrimps are clever, however, so this one did not fall for the ruse, and the frogfish had to move on to continue its quest for a meal. File 1 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • Nembrotha cristata nudibranch foraging on the reef in Ambon, Indonesia
    Nembrotha-cristata-nudibranch-ambon-...tif
  • Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) standing guard over its captive starfish. Ambon, Indonesia
    Hymenocera-elegans-harlequin-shrimp-...tif
  • Cuttlefish (Sepia sp.) eating a small shrimp it just captured
    Sepia-cuttlefish-eating-shrimp-ambon...tif
  • Nembrotha lineolata nudibranch foraging on small, green Didemnum molle tunicates. Ambon, Indonesia
    Nembrotha-lineolata-nudibranch-eatin...tif
  • Painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) eating a cardinalfish in the muck of Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    painted-frogfish-Antennarius-pictus-...tif
  • This is a starry night octopus (Callistoctopus luteus) hunting at night. It is searching the folds of Pavona decussata leaf coral for prey.
    callistoctopus-luetus-starry-night-o...tif
  • This is a starry night octopus (Callistoctopus luteus) swimming over a field of Pavona decussata leaf coral at night. The octopus was searching the folds of coral for prey.
    callistoctopus-luteus-starry-night-o...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 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
  • This is a school of juvenile striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus) feeding on a dense cloud of planktonic organisms at night. The fish are swimming in their characteristic ball-like formation. The first dorsal fin and pectoral fins have venomous spines.
    plotosus-lineatus-striped-catfish-ju...tif
  • This is a greater crested tern (Thalasseus bergii) wrangling a sardine. Being a small bird, the tern had difficulty controlling the struggling fish. The bird flew the sardine to the sand in order to subdue it.
    greater-crested-tern-thalasseus berg...tif
  • This is a blue ocean slug (Glaucus atlanticus) approaching the venom-filled tentacles of a blue bottle (Physalia utriculus). Both were washed ashore as part of a mass, multi-day stranding of thousands of blue bottles, which are colonial siphonophores that are also called Portuguese man-of-wars. The nudibranchs are part of the rarely seen blue community of the open ocean. They prey on other animals in that community, such as Physalia utriculus, by-the-wind-sailors (Velella velella), blue buttons (Porpita porpita), and violet snails (Janthina janthina). Glaucus nudibranchs are immune to the venom of the blue bottles that they consume. They store their prey’s nematocysts and deploy them in specialized cnidosacs at the tips of their ornate cerata. Because these nudibranchs concentrate the venom of their prey, they can produce a more powerful sting than Physalia.
    glaucus-atlanticus-nudibranch-with-p...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) that has crawled into a coconut shell to rest with a full stomach, after eating a very large and long pipefish. File 22 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) that has crawled into a coconut shell to rest with a full stomach, after eating a very large and long pipefish. File 21 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) eating a very large pipefish headfirst, with just the tail of the pipefish sticking out of its mouth. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended, as can be seen here, that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 18 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) eating a very large pipefish, with just the tail protruding from the frogfish’s mouth. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended (visible here) that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 17 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) eating a very large pipefish headfirst. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 16 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) eating a very large pipefish headfirst. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 12 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...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 10 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...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 8 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) that has just lunged and grabbed the head of a very large pipefish. After the frogfish swallowed the pipefish, its stomach was so distended that the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to rest. File 7 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) walking across the substrate, wiggling its bait, comprising the illicium (rod) and esca (lure), in hopes of attracting prey. File 5 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • An adult female sperm whale carrying a large piece of giant squid, which this group of whales had brought up from the deep trench. They were playing with the leftover bits of squid, shredding their meal, perhaps in the process of weaning the juvenile sperm whale pictured swimming alongside the female. I followed this group for several days, and this female was the dominant individual, swimming by and using sonar to check out my boat and people in the water.
    sperm-whales-eating-giant-squid-phys...tif
  • An adult female sperm whale carrying a large piece of giant squid, which this group of whales had brought up from the deep trench. They were playing with the leftover bits of squid, shredding their meal, perhaps in the process of weaning the juvenile sperm whale pictured swimming alongside the female. I followed this group for several days, and this female was the dominant individual, swimming by and using sonar to check out my boat and people in the water.
    sperm-whales-eating-giant-squid-phys...tif
  • An adult female sperm whale carrying a large piece of giant squid, which this group of whales had brought up from the deep trench. They were playing with the leftover bits of squid, shredding their meal, perhaps in the process of weaning the juvenile sperm whale pictured swimming alongside the female. I followed this group for several days, and this female was the dominant individual, swimming by and using sonar to check out my boat and people in the water.
    sperm-whales-eating-giant-squid-phys...tif
  • This veined octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) was hiding in a shell, and reached out to grab a small crab when it walked by. The crab struggled in vain for some time, before being devoured by the octopus. Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.
    veined-octopus-Amphioctopus-marginat...tif
  • Unidentified aeolid nudibranchs (Favorinus sp.) that appear to be feeding on eggs in a bubble-like egg case. The egg case may be that of a polychaete worm, or possibly a headshield slug of bubble snail (Cephalaspidea). See http://www.tonywublog.com/journal/aeolid-nudibranchs-eating-eggs-of-polychaete-worms for a discussion of this topic. Photographed in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.
    favorinus-aeolid-nudibranch-eating-p...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
  • This playful Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) repeatedly chased and caught a striped cowfish (Aracana aurita) as I swam along and watched. The sea lion brought the fish to me several times, as if offering it to me.
    australian-sea-lion-neophoca-cinerea...tif
  • Palau's reefs have been attacked in the past by massive crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) infestations. Ron Leidich recalled that he removed about 6500 of these starfish from this one particular reef after the el Nino event in 1998. The reefs have recovered, but there are still occasional outbreaks of these coral-consuming invertebrates.
    crown-of-thorns-starfish-acanthaster...tif
  • Small cuttlefish hunting in shallow water, with its feeding tentacles extended. Ambon, Indonesia
    sepia-cuttlefish-hunting-ambon-indon...tif
  • Nudibranch (Nembrotha cristata) eating a tunicate (Sigillina signifera). Ambon, Indonesia
    nudibranch-Nembrotha-cristata-eating...tif
  • Phyllodesmium jakobsenae nudibranch feeding on Xenia soft coral in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Phyllodesmium-jakobsenae-nudibranch-...tif
  • A lone great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) opening its mouth and displaying its sharp teeth. This fish stalked many small fish for over an hour at dusk, but it missed every time it made a lightning-quick strike.
    great-barracuda-Sphyraena-barracuda-...tif
  • Gymnodoris aurita devouring a Marionia sp. nudibranch. The entire process took about 50 minutes.
    Gymnodoris-aurita-eating-Marionia-nu...tif
  • This is a flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) extending its feeding tentacles to grab a sandperch (Parapercis sp.). The cuttlefish's tentacular clubs are milliseconds from latching on to the fish.
    metasepia-pfefferi-flamboyant-cuttle...tif
  • This Idiosepius paradoxus Japanese pygmy squid is consuming a crustacean, perhaps an amphipod of sub-order Hyperiidea. The compound eye of the prey is visible. These small squids immobilize prey with venom, then inject digestive enzymes and consume the liquified contents. They discard the empty exoskeletons when finished.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-hyperiid...tif
  • Brown booby (Sula leucogaster) taking off from the ocean
    brown-booby-sula-leucogaster-tonga-2...tif
  • This is a brown booby (Sula leucogaster) taking off from the ocean surface after catching a sardine., with the fish still struggling in the bird’s beak.
    brown-booby-catching-sardine-sula-le...tif
  • A hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) eating a very large pipefish, which ended up being so long that it distended the frogfish’s stomach, and the frogfish crawled into a coconut shell to digest its meal. File 14 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...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 9 of 22.
    hairy-frogfish-hunting-lembeh-200703...tif
  • A well-camouflaged flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) eating a sandperch (Parapercis sp.). Photographed in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.
    flamboyant-cuttlefish-eating-sandper...tif
  • Painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) eating another fish, possibly a species of cardinalfish. Photographed in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.
    painted-frogfish-eating-cardinalfish...tif
  • Thecacera picta nudibranch feeding on bryozoans. Ambon, Indonesia
    Thecacera-picta-nudibranch-feeding-b...tif
  • A family of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) resting at the ocean surface, with the lead female holding Architeuthis giant squid in her mouth. There was a calf in this family group that was unable to dive deep for extended periods of time with the adults. It is possible that the adults were teaching the calf to consume giant squid, as the family group played with the squid for an extended period of time, with the whales shredding the squid to pieces in the process. Photographed in Ogasawara, Japan.
    sperm-whales-eating-giant-squid-phys...tif
  • Snake eel (Ophichthus sp.) emerging from the muck to scavenge a dead striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Ophichthus-snake-eel-eating-striped-...tif
  • This is a brown booby (Sula leucogaster) grabbing a sardine from a group of fish that had swum into very shallow water.
    sula-leucogaster-brown-booby-eating-...tif
  • An adult female sperm whale carrying a large piece of giant squid, which this group of whales had brought up from the deep trench. They were playing with the leftover bits of squid, shredding their meal, perhaps in the process of weaning the juvenile sperm whale pictured swimming alongside the female. I followed this group for several days, and this female was the dominant individual, swimming by and using sonar to check out my boat and people in the water.
    sperm-whales-eating-giant-squid-phys...tif
  • Snake eel (Ophichthus sp.) emerging from the muck to scavenge a dead striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Ophichthus-snake-eel-eating-striped-...tif
  • Pteromys volans flying squirrels often peek out from their nests prior to exiting. This behavior might serve to minimize risk of predation, as well as to allow the animal's eyes to acclimate to ambient light levels. Narrow apertures like this one provide protection from predators.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • During summer months, bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) like the one pictured here often visit shallow water, which provides a shelter from potential predation by orcas. As seen in this photograph, the whales can swim in water that is only just deep enough for them not to become stranded. This individual is a member of the endangered Sea of Okhotsk subpopulation.
    balaena-mysticetus-endangered-okhots...tif
  • Pictured here are freshly spawned eggs of hound needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus), draped across the top of Pavona decussata leaf coral. Exposed as they are, the eggs were prone to predation. They disappeared wtihin a few days, likely consumed by other reef residents. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    tylosurus-crocodilus-houndfish-eggs-...tif
  • This is the moment when a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) sent 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. Such behavior is perhaps necessary to minimize predation. This male was about 4cm in length.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • Zoarchias major eelpouts engaged in competitive fighting within a mass of Sargassum hemiphyllum algae. These fish, known as ookazunagi in Japanese, blend-in well with the coloration of this and other algaes and seaweeds, providing them with some protection from predation by larger fish.
    zoarchias-major-male-eelpouts-compet...tif
  • Leftover piece of a deep-water seven-arm octopus floating at the ocean surface in Ogasawara, perhaps remnants of predation by sperm whales or other toothed cetaceans. The octopus has eight arms, but the hectocotylus (a specially modified arm used in egg fertilization) is coiled in a sac beneath the right eye. Due to this species' thick gelatinous tissue, the arm is easily overlooked, giving the appearance of having only seven arms.
    seven-arm-octopus-haliphron-atlantic...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-from-predators-tong...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
  • 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. Here, the sun was just peeking over the horizon.
    sardines-fleeing-from-predators-tong...tif
  • This is a comet (Calloplesiops altivelis), an elegant, cryptic fish that possesses a false eye on its dorsal fin, probably to mislead predators. When alarmed, comets poke their heads into a hole or crevice and expose their tail ends in order to discourage potential predators by mimicking the head of the moray eel.
    comet-fish-Calloplesiops-altivelis-l...tif
  • Bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) protruding from its burrow in the muck of the Lembeh Strait. Bobbit worms are ambush predators, lunging out to grasp prey with their pincers.
    bobbit-worm-Eunice-aphroditois-lembe...tif
  • Rear view of an adult female humpback whale with her calf swimming above her head. This female and calf were the center of attention during a competitive group heat run that took place during a torrential downpour. There were at least three adult males accompanying this female and calf. The primary escort, partially visible in the lower left corner, had white pectoral fins, as did the calf. Note the rake marks along the trailing edge of the female’s fluke, scars left by predators such as orcas or false killer whales.
    humpback-whale-female-calf-rear-view...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
  • Scarring on the dorsal surface of a female humpback whale’s fluke, most likely rake marks left by marine mammal predators such as killer whales (Orcinus orca) or false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). This female was seen with calves in Tonga in 2008 and 2009. The scarring on her fluke made her easy to recognize. Her 2009 calf is visible in this photo, hiding under the adult’s body.
    scarred-fluke-humpback-whale-with-ca...tif
  • Shown here is a cluster of Pharoah cuttlefish (Acanthosepion pharaonis) eggs that were deposited five days prior to this photograph being taken, far back in a narrow crevice among rocks. Despite the concealed location, many of the eggs had been already consumed by predators. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    acanthosepion-pharaonis-cuttlefish-e...tif
  • This fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) male is tending to several clutches of eggs, which are the result of spawning with multiple females. The bright yellow-orange coloration of the male is indicative of reproductive season. The multiple clutches and large number of healthy eggs show that this is a successful male, meaning that he has attracted many females and has done well protecting the eggs from predators.
    hexagrammos-otakii-fat-greenling-pro...tif
  • This Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii) is just emerging from its nest in the trunk of a tree at dusk to prepare for a night of foraging. Found only in Hokkaido, Japan, these animals prefer small holes to their nests, as this provides a measure of protection from predators like owls and martens. This particular nest entrance is also partially covered by a large white fungus, which obscures it from view. This animal is a sub-species of Siberian flying squirrel and is known locally as ezo-momonga.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-emerg...tif
  • This is a species of flying squirrel called Ezo Momonga in Japanese (Pteromys volans orii). It is a sub-species of Siberian flying squirrels that is found on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. These squirrels are primarily nocturnal and usually shy, though the squirrels can occasionally be seen during the day. They prefer to take up residence in holes made by woodpeckers, as seen here. This individual is just emerging from a hole in a Sakhalin fir tree (Abies sachalinensis) at dusk, in preparation for a night of foraging. These small animals are particularly wary when they emerge, as they must be on the lookout for predators like owls and weasels. Their diet primarily comprises leaves, seeds, cones, buds, sprouts, nuts and berries. This species does not hibernate.
    ezo-momonga-pteromys-volans-orii-fly...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel peeking out from its nest just after a major snowstorm. These animals prefer small and narrow entrances like this in order to prevent entry by potential predators.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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