This is another one of these things wherein I show you some critters that I have photographed under the waves off the island of Oahu. It is meant to remind you that we share this planet with some amazing creatures, even some that are not covered in oil and dying. It has been a while since I have posted because I am been buried at work this week. I hope you enjoy this little respite from the stuggles of the day.
Sunset
Dwarf Moray Gymnothorax melatremus
Blue Dragon Nudibranch Pteraeolidia ianthina
This is its head or "face" with two tentacles at the front and two rhynophores, the rabbit ear like sensory organs common to nudibranchs. These blue dragons differ from most nudis in that it gets some nutrition form algae living in its tissues.
Tiger Snake Moray Scuticaria tigrina
This moray is a predator of other species of eels. Apparently when it was named in the 19th century all large cats were called tigers, including leopards which would be a better name for this spotted critter.
Day Octopus Octopus cyanea
The locals call them Tako and they hunted mercilessly. I have to admit we harrassed this little guy a bit to get the photos but it was released unharmed.
Octo
Jetting away
Yellowmargin Moray with Shrimp Gymnothorax marginatus I am not sure of the species of shrimp.
Barred Wire Coral Shrimp (not scientifically described according to my Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates book. This critter is exceedingly tin, maybe 1/8th inch long if that.
Fourspot Butterflyfish Chaetodon quadrimaculatus
They obviously count the spots from both sides.
Wire Coral Goby Bryaninops yongei
These tiny fish live on the surface of long wire corals which enable them to get away from the reef wall and into the current where they feed on plankton. This poor little fish is probably sick of me taking its photo almost every weekend.
Red Reef Lobster Enoplimetopus occidentalis
These small lobsters only grow to about five inches.
Before closing I am going to go off in another direction entirely and post a few shots from a couple of years ago that I have recently reprocessed:
The Brothers
Convict Horse
Who You Callin' Republican?
The Hunter
Thanks so much for visiting. Please feel free to use this as a community photo diary and please be good humans. If you have a problem with this diary I refer you to the Complaint Department:
Aloha