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  • Pictured here is a 3cm female skeleton shrimp (Caprella bispinosa) with her small white babies clinging to her body. The magenta-red spikes on her body take on this coloration during this time of year. The spines contain venom. Females carrying young are thought to use these spines to ward off potential predators targeting the young. This may include males of her own species, which may attempt to kill the young in order to mate with the female, similar to the behavior of cats. Males of this species and other skeleton shrimps, which are actually amphipods, also have venom-laden spikes, which they use for competition between males.
    caprella-bispinosa-female-carrying-y...tif
  • Zebra crab (Zebrida adamsii) on venomous fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) in Ambon, Indonesia
    zebra-crab-Zebrida-adamsii-venomous-...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
  • Demon stinger (Inimicus didactylus) sitting on the sand with venomous spines on full display
    inimicus-didactylus-on-sand-indonesi...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
  • 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
  • This is a blue ocean slug (Glaucus atlanticus) that was washed ashore with a mass, multi-day stranding of thousands of blue bottles (Physalia utriculus). These 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-201711...tif
  • Top-down view of an Indo-Pacific Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia utriculus). This is one of many thousands that were part of a mass stranding in South Africa. Such strandings happen from time to time, bringing these colonial siphonophores to shore, along with other associated animals such as Velella velella, Janthina janthina, and Planes major from the rarely seen open-ocean, blue-water community of life. The beautiful blue and green skirt surrounding the air pocket (pneumatophore) are loaded with nematocysts, which deliver potent venom
    blue-bottle-indo-pacific-portuguese-...tif
  • 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
  • Two large tassled scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephala) engaged in a territorial dispute. The two fish stared at one another and made gestures of intimidation for a few minutes prior to this sudden conflict, which ended as quickly as it commenced. Ambon, Indonesia
    fighting-tassled-scorpionfish-Scorpa...tif
  • Stampede of oncoming striped catfish, kicking up a cloud of dirt as they forage through the muck. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    stampede-feeding-striped-catfish-Plo...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
  • Bright red and orange pitted stonefish (Erosa erosa ) in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Red-orange-pitted-stonefish-Erosa-er...tif
  • Yellow flasher scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis macrochir) in the muck of Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
    yellow-flasher-scorpionfish-scorpaen...tif
  • Pair of Coleman shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) on fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium). Ambon, Indonesia
    Periclimenes-colemani-Coleman-shrimp...tif
  • Synanceia verrucosa stonefish engaging in a threat display by puffing out its throat to enlarge its appearance. Ambon, Indonesia
    Synanceia-verrucosa-stonefish-ambon-...tif
  • Yellow weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) looking down on the camera lens
    Yellow-Rhinopias-frondosa-weedy-scor..tiff
  • This is a purple-pink weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) sitting on the ocean floor. In the absence of artificial illumination from strobe lights, the fish blends-in perfectly with its surroundings.
    rhinopias-frondosa-weedy-scorpionfis...tif
  • A flower hat jelly (Olindias formosus) is a hydrozoan, not a true jellyfish. They grow up to about 15cm and are characterized by brilliant, multicolored tentacles trailing from a translucent, pinstriped bell. These semi-benthic animals have relatively short life spans, usually estimated at between four and six months. They are found primarily in the waters off Brazil, Argentina, and southern Japan.
    flower-hat-jelly-olindias-formosus-j...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
  • Bright red and orange pitted stonefish (Erosa erosa ) in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Erosa-erosa-pitted-stonefish-lembeh-...tif
  • Colorful raggy scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis venosa) resting among multicolored tunicates and algae on the reef in Ambon, Indonesia
    Scorpaenopsis-venosa-raggy-scorpionf...tif
  • Yellow weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) camouflaged in a patch of soft corals and rubble in the muck. Ambon, Indonesia
    yellow-Rhinopias-frondosa-weedy-scor...tif
  • Beautiful purple weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) in Ambon, Indonesia
    Rhinopias-frondosa-purple-weedy-scor...tif
  • Tangerine-orange Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis), photographed in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    orange-ambon-scorpionfish-pteroidich...tif
  • Hidden in plain sight, a yellow weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) showing why it is difficult to find these elusive camouflage specialists. Ambon, Indonesia
    yellow-Rhinopias-frondosa-weedy-scor...tif
  • Pale leaf scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) perfectly camouflaged against muck background. Ambon, Indonesia
    Taenianotus-triacanthus-leaf-scorpio...tif
  • Yellow weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) looking down on the camera lens
    yellow-weedy-scorpionfish-Rhinopias-..tiff
  • 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 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 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
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