This is another photo diary meant to provide a brief respite from the stuggles of the day and as a reminder that we share this planet with all matter of amazing critters. These photos were taken this past weekend, including sunrise at Lanai Lookout at the eastern end of Oahu and during four dives on the west side of the island. I hope you enjoy your visit here.
Pre-Dawn
Spotted Eagle Rays (Aetobatus narinari)
It is always nice to see a flock of these beauties flying overhead.
Day Octopus (Octous cyanea)
The amazing cephalopod.
A closeup of the rectangular eye of the octopus.
I personally like this photo because I think it shows the octopus amazing camouflage ability. I was following this octo as it moved around and it slipped over the edge of the reef and then stuck its head up, colored just like the reef around it.
Wire Coral Goby (Bryaninops yongei)
These tiny fish live on this species of wire coral (Cirrhipathes anguina). The long coral gets them away from the reef wall where they can feed on plankon floating by.
Barred Wire Coral Shrimp
These tiny shrimp live on red wire coral (Stichopathes echinulata). They have not been scientifically named.
Another Barred Wire Coral Shrimp. I have no idea if this is the same or a different species.
I call this spot the Cauldron.
MORAYS
Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris)
They look much fiercer than they are. They are great photographic subjects. Hawai'i has a relatively large number of eels and wrasses because both groups of fish have very long-lived planktonic stages that allowed them to reach this remote island group.
Whitemouth and Stout Morays'
This was an interesting sight, two different species of eels in one spot.
Yellowmargin Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
This young eel really shows where they got their name. Most large adults are only yellow (or green) on their tails.
Viper Moray (Enchelynassa canina)
The nastiest looking eel in Hawai'i. I wouldn't get my fingers too near this mouth.
The Cauldron
NUDIBRANCHS
Whitetip Nudibranch (Flabellina exopata)
These tiny molluscs feed on hydroids (reef-bound relatives of jellyfish) and incorporate the stinging cells into their bodies for defense.
Kangaroo Nudibranch (Ceratosoma tenue)
Named for their relatively long tails, I have only seen this species in one area of Oahu.
A closeup of a Kangaroo Nudi's face.
Trembling Nudibranch (Chromodoris vibrata)
The Cauldron
Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus)
There are many species of butterflyfish in Hawai'i.
Potter's Angelfish (Centopyge pitteri)
Angelfish on the other hand are not common with only a handful of species here. The beautiful Potter's Angel is the most common.
Marbled Shrimp (Saron marmoratus)
I have to say that this critter really blows my mind. I spotted this tiny shrimp while looking in an area where we previously found a pair of harlequin shrimp. I shot a few frames of what was obviously an interesting critter but when I pulled the image up from processing on the computer and saw the color and detail I was quite impressed. Even with magnifiers (like reading glasses) in my mask I don't see all that well underwater. This thing looks like it was designed in 1969 for a Dead concert. Wow.
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Aloha