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  • This is a Japanese stream toad (Bufo torrenticola) walking beside a mountain stream. Although they can hop, toads often use their sturdy legs to walk. This male was making its way down to a river where others of its kind gather for a few days each year to spawn. Photographed in Mie Prefecture, Japan.
    bufo-torrenticola-japanese-stream-to...tif
  • Shown here are threadfin wrasses (Cirrhilabrus temminckii) consuming gametes of a male black sea cucumber (Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota) engaged in broadcast spawning. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    cirrhilabrus-temminckii-wrasse-consu...tif
  • Exceptionally low numbers of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) showed up in the rivers of Japan during the breeding season of 2024. Though the reason for this stark absence is not clear, it is possible that warmer than normal ocean temperatures played a role. Despite the discouraging circumstances, this lone male and a handful of females gathered beneath a small waterfall in preparation for spawning, providing some hope for the future. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    oncorhynchus-gorbuscha-pink-salmon-2...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 is a female humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) playing at the ocean surface, her mother visible in the background. The calf has just used her powerful fluke to spin herself in a circular motion, pivoting around her center of mass. The calf's mammary slits are visible. Exuberant activity like this is vital to the calf's physical development in preparation for the long journey to the feeding grounds. Photographed in the Kingdom of Tonga.
    humpback-whale-female-calf-playing-2...tif
  • This is a male Liparis tanakae snailfish protecting his eggs. Males of this species spawn with as many females as possible. The males do not eat during reproductive season. The energy needed to protect eggs and fend off rivals means males have limited time controlling favored spawning spots. Generally after 10 days to two weeks, males die or are displaced by rivals, meaning eggs in a given location may be from more than one male. These snailfish live for only one year, usually found between 50m to 120m. Photographed in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
    liparis-tanakae-snailfish-male-prote...tif
  • Liparis tanakae snailfishes have a lifespan of one year. Their final task is move to shallow water from their normal depths of 50m to 120m in order to spawn with as many females as possible. Males establish spawning terrority and protect eggs from predators. Their strength drains over time. Other males challenge them for coveted breeding sites. Eventually the males die, ceding spawning sites to the next male in turn. This male was still alive at the time of this photo and able to swim when needed to protect his territory. He died three days later. The fish's adhesive disk, formed from modified pectoral fins, is visible. There is a white circular scar visible on the fish's left, just above the adhesive disk. This might be the result of an encounter with an octopus. Photographed in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
    liparis-tanakae-snailfish-male-dying...tif
  • This is a pair of Liparis tanakae snailfish pictured moments prior to spawning. The male on the right has his fins flared and in pointing at his clusters of eggs to direct the female's attention. The female inspects and either spawns or moves on. In this location, there is no natural substrate for spawning, so the fish use ropes, nets and other discarded fishing gear. Once spawning takes place, the male protects the eggs until he dies. Another male then takes his place, meaning that the eggs in any given spawning location can represent many males. This species lives in deep water, generally in the 50m to 120m range. Photographed in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
    liparis-tanakae-snailfish-courtship-...tif
  • Pictured here are freshly spawned Liparis tanakae snailfish eggs, with cell division having commenced in some of the eggs. Each egg is about 1.5mm in diameter. Photographed in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
    liparis-tanakae-snailfish-eggs-20240...tif
  • This is a dead fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) being consumed by northern pacific seastars (Asterias amurensis), an arthritic neptune (Neptunea arthritica) and other scavengers. The yellow color of the fish indicates that it was a mature male in breeding coloration. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    hexagrammos-otakii-being-eaten-by-sc...tif
  • This is an egg raft spawned by a pair of red lionfishes (Pterois volitans). The pair produced two egg rafts of approximately equal size, each around 10cm in length. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    pterois-volitans-lionfish-eggs-japan...tif
  • Shown here is spawning of Gymnothorax meleagris moray eels. The eels have just released a cloud of of eggs and sperm and are rushing back to the safety within the folds of Pavona decussata leaf coral. The entire process spanned less than a second. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    gymnothorax-meleagris-moray-eels-spa...tif
  • This is an adult female humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) asleep at the ocean surface, with her calf in the background. Photographed in the Kingdom of Tonga.
    humpback-whale-female-with-calf-2006...tif
  • This is a common least weasel (Mustela nivalis nivalis) in Hokkaido, Japan. The Japanese name is kita-iizuna.
    mustela-nivalis-nivalis-common-least...tif
  • These variegated lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) have come together in preparation for spawning. There were dozens in the area. Spawning takes place in the evening, with a female rushing towarding the surface, males following.
    synodus-variegatus-lizardfish-japan-...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
  • This is a pair of pharoah cuttlefish (Acanthosepion pharaonis), female in the foreground. Having copulated with the male, the female is preparing an egg via internal fertilization, which she will then deposit under a nearby rock. The male in the background stands guard to ward off other males that might approach.
    acanthosepion-pharaonis-cuttlefish-r...tif
  • This is a juvenile Takifugu niphobles grass puffer patrolling extremely shallow water at night.
    takifugu-niphobles-grass-puffer-juve...tif
  • This is a head-on view of juvenile Takifugu niphobles grass puffer, about 4cm in length.
    takifugu-niphobles-grass-puffer-juve...tif
  • This is a female broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) depositing eggs among branches of table coral (Acropora sp.) shortly after mating.
    sepia-latimanus-cuttlefish-depositin...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel gliding through the forest early in the morning.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel flying through trees.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This is a Periclimenes magnificus commensal shrimp waiting for larger animals to visit to be cleaned. This species is one of many types of shrimps that earn their keep by providing cleaning services to larger reef residents.
    periclimenes-magnificus-commensal-sh...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel consuming male catkins from an Erman's birch tree (Betula ermanii).
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel has just started to consume male catkins from an Erman's birch tree (Betula ermanii).
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This is a pair of Ural owls (Strix uralensis japonica) from the population found in Hokkaido, Japan. The male on the left is grooming the female. The female will soon lay eggs and raise chicks in the coming spring.
    strix-uralensis-japonica-ural-owl-ez...tif
  • This is a red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki) scavenging the carcass of a Japanese deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis).
    vulpes-vulpes-schrencki-fox-scavengi...tif
  • These are Japanese cranes (Grus japonensis) in flight.
    grus-japonensis-japanese-red-crowned...tif
  • This is a young Strix uralensis japonica owl resting in front of its nest.
    strix-uralensis-japonica-ural-owl-ez...tif
  • This is a pair of Ural owls (Strix uralensis japonica) that have come together at the end of winter in preparation for the spring reproductive season.
    strix-uralensis-japonica-ural-owl-ez...tif
  • This is a female Strix uralensis japonica owl perched at the entrance to her nest during snowfall. A smaller male was inside the nest.
    strix-uralensis-japonica-ural-owl-ez...tif
  • This is an Ezo chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus lineatus), recently emerged from winter hibernation.
    tamias-sibiricus-lineatus-ezo-chipmu...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel bathed in the cool light of an early winter morning. These animals are normally nocturnal.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel emerging from a hideaway at the base of a tall tree. This individual was just digging its way out after snowfall had accumulated and blocked the entrance.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • The frustrating moment when a Pteromys orii volans flying squirrel passed directly over my head from behind. I spun around and pressed the shutter on instinct from waist height as the squirrel flew past mere centimeters above my head.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel defecating, having assumed a comfortable seated position at the entrance of its nest for the purpose. It is clear from the dark trail below the droppings that the residents of this nest also urinate here. This is unusual. In most cases, these squirrels relieve themselves outside, some distance from their nests.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This is a harlequin crab (Lissocarcinus laevis) comfortably ensconced in a tube anemone.
    lissocarcinus-laevis-harlequin-crab-...tif
  • This is a juvenile Japanese horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) climbing up and out of the substrate where it had just hatched with dozens of siblings. When spawning takes place, eggs are deposited, fertilized and buried. Upon hatching, the young horseshoe crabs need to burrow up through 10-20cm of sand, mud and muck.
    tachypleus-tridentatus-horseshoe-cra...tif
  • These are developing embryos of endangered Japanese horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus), 3mm to 4mm in size. Eggs molt during the development, as can be seen here. The stage of development is perhaps four to six weeks after spawning took place.
    tachypleus-tridentatus-horseshoe-cra...tif
  • This is a juvenile endangered Japanese horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) swimming into the water column after birth. Measuring about 7mm, this little crustacean and siblings burst forth from their nest in a frenzy of activity approximately two months after spawning by the adults.
    tachypleus-tridentatus-horseshoe-cra...tif
  • Pictured here are developing embryos of endangered Japanese horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus). These eggs are on the cusp of hatching, approximately two months after they were deposited. The embryos are mobile inside the eggs, moving their legs and turning in circles. By this stage, the eggs are about 5mm in diameter.
    tachypleus-tridentatus-horseshoe-cra...tif
  • This male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny is looking out from his home in the coral reef during breeding season. He is searching for females that are ready to spawn. Normally dull and drab in color, this male had donned a bright yellow, blue and orange pattern for this purpose. When a female approaches, he performs an elaborate, somewhat comical dance to entice her.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a humpbacked scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis neglecta) sitting on a muddy bottom in shallow water, with a number of Japanese silver-biddy fishes (Gerres equulus) swimming past in the background.
    scorpaenopsis-neglecta-humpbacked-sc...tif
  • This is a female whitespotted pygmy filefish (Rudarius ercodes) tending to a clutch of eggs that she has deposited on a rope. Development of this species is rapid, with the juveniles hatching in approximately three days.
    rudarius-ercodes-tending-eggs-whites...tif
  • These feathery structures are modified<br />
prostomial palps (mouth appendages) of Spirobranchus giganteus  polychaete worms. These spiral radioles are lined with cilia and are used by the worm for feeding and breathing. These worms have a mutual symbiotic relationship with their host corals.<br />
The corals provide structural support and protection, while the worms enhance water circulation which helps corals feed.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • These feathery structures are modified<br />
prostomial palps (mouth appendages) of Spirobranchus giganteus  polychaete worms. These spiral radioles are lined with cilia and are used by the worm for feeding and breathing. The circular structure in the foreground is the operculum, which the worm uses to seal its burrow.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • This is a yellow-green wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens) male engaging in courtship display. He spawned several times while I observed, each time with a different female. He also chased away a number of other males.
    thalassoma-lutescens-banana-wrasse-m...tif
  • This 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 male and female Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels have paired up for the reproductive season. They had just finished foraging for food high in the canopy and were sitting together like this during light snow. The pair mated a few days after this photograph was taken. The male is on the right, female left.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii) flying through the forest on a cold winter day. Usually nocturnal, these animals sometimes become active in the day during reproductive season.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a head-on view of a Neoclinus lacunicola chaenopsid blenny, a species that can be found in shallow waters of the northwest Pacific. The species reaches a maximum length of about 6cm. The Japanese name for this fish is iwa-ana-kokeginpo. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    neoclinus-lacunicola-chaenopsid-blen...tif
  • Juvenile painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus), about 3cm in length
    antennarius-pictus-painted-frogfish-...tif
  • This is a Shiho’s seahorse (Hippocampus sindonis), a species that is endemic to Northwest Pacific coastal waters of Japan and southern Korea. The Japanese name is hanatatsu.
    hippocampus-sindonis-seahorse-japan-...tif
  • This male Neoclinus bryope blenny has an unusual dorsal fin with two prominent blue spots. Most individuals of this species have one spot. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-unusual-dors...tif
  • Close-up profile of a male Neoclinus bryope chaenopsid blenny during the winter breeding season. This species is known as koke-ginpo in Japanese. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-japan-202101...tif
  • This is a male Neoclinus bryope chaenopsid blenny, active during the winter reproductive season. This species is known as koke-ginpo in Japanese.
    neoclinus-bryope-blenny-male-reprodu...tif
  • Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) visiting wintering grounds in Hokkaido, Japan
    cygnus-cygnus-whooper-swan-japan-202...tif
  • Juvenile Chinese pond turtle (Mauremys reevesii) playing inside an old slipper
    mauremys-reevesii-chinese-pond-turtl...tif
  • Juvenile 10cm female Chinese pond turtle (Mauremys reevesii) at 2.5 years of age. This species is semiaquatic in the wild, found in marshes, ponds, streams and similar bodies of shallow water. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, threatened by several causes, including competition from introduced species, loss of habitat, and use in Chinese medicine. This species is also popular in the global pet trade. This individual was found on a road in Japan, far from water, when it was only 2.8cm, perhaps picked up and transported by a crow shortly after birth. Though the species had earlier been considered native to Japan, genetic testing in recent years suggests multiple introductions from outside Japan.
    mauremys-reevesii-chinese-pond-turtl...tif
  • This is a juvenile of an endangered tri-spine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus). It measured about 37mm, which suggests that this juvenile was at the fifth instar of development, about a year since hatching. This species takes 15 years to mature, molting 18 times during that period. The estimated lifespan for this species is 25 years.<br />
<br />
These horseshoe crabs are generally only active when the water temperature exceeds 18 degrees Celsius. As such, they are dormant for much of the year, resting in deeper water until the ocean warms again.<br />
<br />
Though habitat loss and overharvesting of these animals for food are primary contributors to the population decline of horseshoe crabs, the biomedical industry is also a major factor. Horseshoe crabs are bled for their amoebocytes (akin to white blood cells), which are used to derive an extract that reacts in the presence endotoxin lipopolysaccharide, which is found in the membranes of gram-negative bacteria. Estimates suggest that between three and 30% of the animals die as a result. There have also been suggestions that taking up to a third of each animal's blood adversely affects their ability to undertake vital functions, such as procreation, even if the animals survive.<br />
<br />
Synthetic substitute tests have been available since 2003. The biomedical industry has however been reluctant to discontinue the practice of bleeding live animals.
    tachypleus-tridentatus-juvenile-tri-...tif
  • Horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) generally move in a measured, relatively slow manner, when they move at all. When females emerge after spawning however, they occasionally do so with surprising speed and force, as seen here. The female in the foreground has lifted herself out of the gravel and mud in one rapid motion, creating this momentary effervescence from the release of small pockets of air that had been trapped in the substrate.
    tachypleus-tridentatus-horseshoe-cra...tif
  • This is a pair of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in spawning. The lighter-colored female on the left is depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male (right, looking toward the camera). The male’s pouch is swollen and distended to make room for the eggs, which he fertilizes once they are deposited. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-sp...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 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. Image 2 in a sequence of 3, showing the bird breaking a piece off from the tip of the icicle.
    long-tailed-tit-aegithalos-caudatus-...tif
  • This is a Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii) that has found a comfortable place to perch, just as mid-afternoon sunlight broke through a cloud-filled sky. These animals are nocturnal, but occasionally emerge from their nests during daylight hours.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-20200...tif
  • This is a male Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii). This sub-species of Siberian flying squirrel, found only in Hokkaido, Japan and known locally as ezo-momonga, is primarily nocturnal. This imdividual was active during the day because it was competing for the attention of a female in oestrous. The squirrel’s paddle-like tail is visible from this angle, flopped over its back. This animal uses its tail somewhat like a rudder during flight, helping to adjust direction.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-male-...tif
  • This is a Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii) grooming itself while resting in a tree in the golden light of late afternoon. Although this species is primarily nocturnal, individuals occasionally emerge from their nests during daylight hours. This individual was well hidden in a shaded area covered by a tangle of small branches.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-groom...tif
  • A female Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys volans orii) in oestrus often attracts the attention of more than one male. When that happens, males chase one another, leap from and glide among trees, and sometimes engage in physical skirmishes. The male in the background of this image is stalking the male in the foreground in an attempted sneak-attack during one such contest for an eligible female.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-males...tif
  • This is a male fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) protecting eggs. The eggs comprise several clutches from a number of females. During the autumn to winter breeding season, mature males like this one establish territories and adopt a brilliant yellow-orange coloration. The males court passing females, which can choose to spawn with or to ignore a given male.
    hexagrammos-otakii-fat-greenling-mal...tif
  • This is an aerial panorama of Maninita Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. The island sits atop an extensive coral reef structure, which is for the most part not visible from the surface of the ocean. The reefs extend into the background, reaching the smaller island of Fonuafo’ou. This photograph was taken a few days before the full moon. The pinkish-red threads visible on the ocean surface are billions of gametes, perhaps spawned from the coral around Maninita and other nearby reefs.
    maninita-island-aerial-panorama-tong...tif
  • Aerial panorama of Fangasito Island in the Vava’u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga, with Fonua’one’one island visible in the background. From this perspective, the extent of the coral reef surrounding the island is visible.
    fangasito-island-aerial-panorama-ton...tif
  • This is the view from beneath a male humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae) playing at the ocean surface. The calf had just lifted its caudal region out of the water, then flipped over so that his belly was facing upward while he spun his body around. This had the effect of whipping his fluke in a circle, leaving a wake of bubbles, froth and whitewater as seen here. This type of play behavior is typical among healthy humpback whale calves.
    humpback-whale-calf-male-playing-ton...tif
  • This bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is a part of the endangered Sea of Okhotsk subpopulation, with population estimates in the low hundreds. This individual was turned upside-down while performing loud percussive slaps on the ocean surface with the dorsal surface of its fluke. Orca rake marks are visible on the corners of the whale’s fluke. The whale was part of a large social gathering, comprising well over 50 whales. This whale’s tail slapping could be heard for a long distance. When this whale stopped, the gathering dissolved, with whales breaking moving away as singles and in smaller groups.
    balaena-mysticetus-endangered-okhots...tif
  • This is a pair of spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) engaged in spawning. The female on the right has just released a clutch of eggs, and the male is fertilizing them. Wisps of the male’s sperm are visible. both coming out of the male and around the eggs. After fertilization, the male moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. He will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting the eggs in his mouth. While avoiding these charges by the female, the male spits out and takes the eggs back into his mouth multiple times. This occurs at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-coital behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) commencing a dive. Note the muscularity powering the whale’s fluke, and the visibility of the rib structure. Classification of Bryde’s whales is difficult and uncertain due to insufficient study and information.
    balaenoptera-edeni-brydes-whale-2013...tif
  • A dandelion flower (Taraxacum sp.) ripe for its seeds to float away in the next strong breeze
    dandelion-taraxacum-japan-201505-154...tif
  • This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout (the orange fish) wrapping her caudal fin around the head of a male eelpout occupying a hole in the reef. The female is preparing to try to displace the male from the hole. Image 1 in a sequence of 4 photographs.
    zoarchias-major-eelpout-female-displ...tif
  • This is a male humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) launching partially out of the water with his mouth open while playing together with his mother. The little whale’s baleen is clearly visible.
    humpback-whale-calf-mouth-open-20180...tif
  • This sequence depicts a veined octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) using a broken bottle as a portable shelter. The octopus was carrying a small crab that it had caught for a meal. Image 3 in a series of 15.<br />
.
    amphioctopus-marginatus-bottle-indon...tif
  • This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout attempting to dislodge a male from a hole in the reef. Females sometimes approach males and curl up next to them, rub against their bodies. This has been misinterpreted as behavior suggesting affection, in the courtship context. Males do the same to females as well. In reality, one fish is attempting to dislodge the other from a prime piece of real estate. Sometimes the intruder succeeds, sometimes not. Image 3 of 6 in a sequence illustrating this behavior.
    zoarchias-major-female-pulling-male-...tif
  • This is a female humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) swimming together with her mother at depth, ventral surfaces of both whales clearly visible. The proximity of the calf to mother and similarity of body language underscores the bond between the two. This mother and calf were accompanied by at least three escort whales in a dynamic situation.
    humpback-whale-mother-calf-tonga-201...tif
  • This humpback whale was part of a bubble-net feeding group in Icy Strait, Alaska. This breach was one of a series of breaches and pectoral slaps that occurred in tandem with the end of social foraging, with the whales going separate ways.
    humpback-whale-breaching-alaska-2018...tif
  • Two male Zoarchias major eelpouts with mouths wide open facing off in the middle of Sargassum hemiphyllum algae. The fishes blend-in well with both the coloration and texture of these brown algae and other surrounding vegetation and substrate, providing some measure of protection in the form of camouflage from larger fish patrolling the reef.
    zoarchias-major-eelpouts-fighting-sa...tif
  • Breaching humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) demonstrating incredible power as it launches itself from the ocean
    humpback-whale-breaching-201608-3916.tif
  • This sequence of 17 images shows a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) executing a forward breach. As the whale emerges from the ocean, water streams off the animal’s body, as well as from the sides of the whale’s mouth. The whale exhales with great force as it surfaces, creating a cloud of water vapor, then inhales through open nostrils before plunging back into the water. The entire sequence spans just over one second of time. Image 3 of 17.
    humpback-whale-forward-breaching-seq...tif
  • Inaba-san, the last active Ama diver in Futo harbor, searching for shellfish. The hose supplies air to her, as well as audio communication with her husband, who is on the boat. Inside the yellow net basket are Turbo sazae sea snails, which are a popular food item in Japan.
    ama-diver-izu-japan-201006-0074.tif
  • Hasegawa-san bathed in the warm light of sunrise while preparing bait for deep-sea fishing, the silhouette of his son working on the foredeck of the fishing vessel visible behind him,
    deep-sea-fishing-suruga-bay-japan-20...tif
  • Hasegawa-san father and son team working on their fishing vessel. Here the son is organizing the day’s catch of deep-sea king crabs.
    fishing-for-deep-sea-king-crabs-suru...tif
  • Exhausted from a long night and morning of fishing in Suruga Bay, Hasegawa-san dozing off on the way back to port
    hasegawa-san-dozing-off-after-fishin...tif
  • Jawfish (Opistognathus sp.) taking a look around after spitting out sand and rubble while maintaining its burrow
    jawfish-opistognathus-cleaning-burro...tif
  • This is a 7mm-long juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) sitting on Colpomenia sinuosa algae. The white crystals are grains of sand, which provide a sense of scale. This fish grows to a size of around 40cm and is known from Northern Pacific waters down to 1700m depth. It is the only known member of its genus.
    aptocyclus-ventricosus-juvenile-smoo...tif
  • Whale bacon and whale sashimi for sale at the Tore Tore Market in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture. The labels indicates that the whale products are sourced from the research whaling in the Southern Ocean.
    whale-bacon-and-sashimi-research-wha...tif
  • This is the internal shell of a deep-water cephalopod called a Ram’s horn squid, also known as a little post horn squid (Spirula spirula). This cephalopod is the only known member of its genus. The internal shell is both robust and buoyant, so often found on beaches. This one washed up during a mass stranding of thousands of Physalia utriculus amd other animals of the open-ocean, pelagic community. Attached to the shell were pelagic goose barnacles (Lepas sp.).
    rams-horn-shell-spirula-goose-barnac...tif
  • Top-down view of an Indo-Pacific Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia physalis). 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 minutus 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
  • This is an adult female humpback whale that repeatedly held her fluke above the surface of the ocean while resting in a head-down position, such that her body was oriented vertically in the water. There was significant peeling or shedding of skin from the fluke’s dorsal surface, as seen in this photo. Though the peeling was most likely due to normal sloughing off of skin, it was reminiscent of how human skin peels when sunburned. I speculate that another possibility could be that the whale may have had sunburn as a consequence of her resting behaviour. Date of encounter was 18 August 2017. See separate detail photograph of skin recovered from the fluke of this whale.
    humpback-whale-fluke-sunburn-peeling...tif
  • A male and female humpback whale pair, with the female above showing her abdomen and the male below.
    humpback-whale-male-female-courtship...tif
  • These are two mature male Asian sheepshead wrasses (Semicossyphus reticulatus) fighting over territory during the breeding season. During this season, the mature males take on a whitish coloration, particularly when they are approaching female wrasses and when they engage in territorial disputes with other males. The male on the left in this image is Yamato, the dominant male in this area. He is the successor to Benkei. Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that all individuals start life as females, then eventually turn into males. This image is licensed on an exclusive basis to BBC through 29 October 2021.
    asian-sheepshead-wrasse-males-fighti...tif
  • Slender Sandgoby (Fusigobius gracilis) watching over a clutch of eggs hanging from the ceiling of an extremely narrow burrow. The silver reflection from the eggs are the eyes of the embryonic fish. The goby was about 4cm in length, the burrow at 15m depth.
    slender-sandgoby-fusigobius-gracilis...tif
  • Male tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) with his characteristic tuft clearly on display
    tufted-duck-male-aythya-fuligula-jap...tif
  • This is an Indian anchovy (Stolephorus indicus), one of the anchovy species that Eden’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) feed upon in the Gulf of Thailand. It is also a primary ingredient for fish sauce, as well as many other foods in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
    indian-anchovy-stelophorus-indicus-g...tif
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