This is another in a series of photo diaries intended as a brief respite from the struggles of the day and as a reminder that we share this planet with an amazing variety of critters. I hope you enjoy your visit here.
Spotted Eagle Ray
This is a case of trying to salvage a low-contrast technically flawed photo using some software tools to give a different look. Maybe not entirely successful but better than the original.
Kahuna Nudibranch
This is a tiny little sea slug. I was amazed that my dive buddy spotted it. Young (relatively) eyes.
Gold Lace Nudibranch
Cushion Star and Brittle Star
You can see the legs of a tiny brittle star on the underside of this cushion star.
Marbled Shrimp
Last week was the first time I had seen one of these. Apparently they are not that uncommon when you look for them. Amazing patterns.
Flattened Coral Shrimp
As a side note did anyone see this article in the Opinionater section of the New York Times today: THE MEAT EATERS? Jeff McMahon, a philosophy professor at Rutgers proposes that in order to stop the suffering of animals that are being killed by predators.... well here is a quote near the end that sums it up...
It would be good to prevent the vast suffering and countless violent deaths caused by predation. There is therefore one reason to think that it would be instrumentally good if predatory animal species were to become extinct and be replaced by new herbivorous species, provided that this could occur without ecological upheaval involving more harm than would be prevented by the end of predation.
He is literally arguing in favor of allowing or even forcing the extinction of all predatory animals. Wow. This is really the most ill informed, myopic, and frankly, insane thing I have recently read (short of those who believe the earth is 6,000 years old). I can only take solace in the fact that 98% of the comments are calling this wackjob out for his lunacy. This kind of stuff gives institutions of higher education a bad name. The human-centered hubris and ignorance of natural systems is just astounding.
Ok.. my rant is over. Back to the critters...
Whitetip Reef Shark
A predator.
Yellowmargin Moray
A predator. Ok.. I will stop now.
Day Octopus
These shots were taken seconds apart as the octopus went into camouflage mode. They change color and texture instantly. You can also see a small Golden Green Goby.
Convex Crab and Golden Green Goby
This is about the fourth time I have gotten home and discovered one of these small gobies hanging upside down at the top of the frame when I process the image.
Whitemouth Moray
Note the relatively even spotted pattern on this eel. This is their typical appearance.
Whitemouth Moray
This whitemouth has a very unusual pattern that in my experince is quite rare.
Dwarf Scorpionfish
You often see these and a couple other species of small scorpionfish hiding in the arms of branching coral.
Hawaiian Green Lionfish
This beautiful scorpionfish relative was also hiding down in a the recesses of a branching coral. It is sad to hear that lionfish have become an invasive pest in the Caribbean. We have two species in Hawaii and neither one is common. They are probably highly prized by the aquarium collectors that have taken so many fish from our waters. I recently heard that the incredibly beautiful dragon moray brings $1,500 for one specimen. No wonder I haven't seen one in sixteen years.
Thanks for visiting. Feel free to treat this as community photo diary and please be good humans. If you have a problem with this diary I refer you to the Complaint Department:
Aloha
The Cauldron
Oh wait.. I almost forgot...
Lots of Boobies!
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
