Photo Stream /pics/dimaging/809497 Just left Borneo and have internet access in KL. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=140978&1=1 Playing around with my D3 and 14-24 on land since I do not have a U/W housing for it yet. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=140983&1=1 Monkey in Borneo Rain Forest http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141521&1=1 Spotted Grouper http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=143393&1=1 Fish of the day. Who can name it? http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=147357&1=1 Pink Anemone Fish http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=81770&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=127397&1=1 SOUTHERN STINGRAY (Dasyatis americana) http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=128019&1=1 At full resolution. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=128327&1=1 Sleeping parrot fish. Taken at night. It is a hell of a lot easier to get a decent shot when my subject isn't swimming around, but you definately loose something in the image. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141797&1=1 Nudibranch http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146736&1=1 The Giant Black Frogfish. One of the more challenging shots i have taken due to the particulate in the water and having to light a black subject, plus a lot of currant. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146808&1=1 Maldivian Skunk Anenome http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=140481&1=1 Petronas Towers- shot from he street and did not get run over http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141538&1=1 This is one of my favourite Fish. Napoleon wrasses are big fish. Really big fish. Alongside their neighbours on coral reefs, few fish come close. They can even outsize turtles and sharks. With sad-looking lips and inquisitive eyes their faces are decorated with intricate blue-green scribbles resembling New Zealand Maori war paint, hence their other name is Maori wrasse. Napoleon wrasses are found on reefs across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Sadly it is becoming increasingly rare to catch a glimpse of the majestic Napoleon wrasse in the wild. You are more likely to see them swimming around tanks in expensive seafood restaurants in Hong Kong or Singapore. Since the 1970's it has become a prestigious delicacy to dine on large, colourful coral reef fish that are killed moments before cooking. The Napoleon wrasse is an especially favoured status symbol. A plate of their rubbery lips sells for 250 US dollars and a magnificent 40 kilogram specimen can cost as much as 10,000 US dollars. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82099&1=1 Jellyfish http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82901&1=1 http://www.blueplanet-imaging.cm http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=149092&1=1 Blue Spotted Boxfish Maldives http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=143105&1=1 Napoleon Wrasse http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82598&1=1 These fish are one of the holy grails of underwater photography. They are called Mandarinfish. They move like hummingbirds and are about 1 inch in length. They live in coral and hover above the coral head every dusk to mate and then dart back in to the coral. This shot was taken in Palau in Micronesia. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=81930&1=1 BLUESTRIPED GRUNT (Haemulon scirurus) Family Name: HAEMULIDAE Click Name for Family Profile Size: This species attains a maximum length of 45 cm (17.7 inches). Distribution: South Carolina, Bermuda and Gulf of Mexico to southeast Brazil. Habitat: The bluestriped grunt occurs in coral and rocky reefs. It is found on patch reefs, bank reefs, reef faces and drop-offs at depths of 0.5 to 20 m (1.6 to 65 feet). Juveniles are more common in inshore habitats. Distinguishing Characteristics: This species is yellow overall with blue stripes on the body and a black tail and dark posterior dorsal fin. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=125225&1=1 Juvenile Spotted Drum http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=128894&1=1 Lionfish reef shot with sunburst. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141293&1=1 Two Giant Frogfish walking along http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=142163&1=1 Yellow Ornate Harlequin Ghost Pipefish http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=147166&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=86665&1=1 PINK SKUNK ANEMONEFISH (Amphprion periderion) Alternate Common Names: skunk clownfish, pink anemonefish Family Name: POMACENTRIDAE Size: This species attains a maximum length of 10 cm (3.9 inches). Studies in the field documented that the mean growth rate of this species was 0.3 to 2.9 mm. The dominant adult pair grow more rapidly, while the growth of the subordinates is “stunted.” Distribution: Cocos Keeling and Christmas Islands and southeast Thailand in the eastern Indian Ocean, east to Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef. Habitat: The pink skunk is found over a depth range of 3 to 30 (10 to 98 feet), in lagoons, reef faces and on fore reef slopes. It typically occurs below the influences of surge. Although it occurs with a handful of anemone species (including Heteractis crispa, Macrodactyla doreensis and Stichodactyla gigantea), it seems to “prefers” the magnificent anemone (Heteractis magnifica,/i>). Individuals rarely migrate from one sea anemone to another. Reproduction: The pink skunk anemonefish spawn on a rock or rubble near the base of their anemone. The pair will engage in side-by-side swimming and belly touching prior to spawning. The female presses her abdomen against the nesting site and moves over the area depositing her eggs. The male will swim behind her a fertilize the eggs. He may also revisit the nest when the female is absent and fertilize them again. The male will mouth and fan the clutch. This species lays an average egg clutch of 300, with an estimated annual fecundity of 2000 to 4000 eggs. The males of this species can be differentiated from the females by the presence of pink on the rear dorsal and caudal fin margins. This species will hybridize with the similar skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) around the island Bali. Feeding: Food habit studies indicate that this fish feeds most heavily on algae, although copepods are also an important constituent of the diet. Worms, anemonefish eggs, crustacean fragments, amphipods, tunicate larvae, crustacean larvae, isopods, crabs, barnacle appendages and gastropods fragments are much less important (most less than 5% of total volume of stomach contents in one study). It will also nip at the tentacles and disc of its host, ingesting waste products and possibly zooplanktors tuck to their host. Individuals of this, and other anemonefish species, are opportunistic and their diet’s can vary over time and from one individual to the next. For example, a pink skunk anemonefish may feed heavily on copepods for a while and then switch to algae. Dietary preferences are in part a function of the availability of suitable prey items. Behavior: Studies have demonstrated that this fish is not innately protected from all anemones, and may be stung by certain potential host species. A single anemone will usually contain an adult pair and a group of subordinate individuals (e.g., groups numbering up to eight individuals have been reported from Okinawa). Although they normally live harmoniously, the adults will occasionally behave aggressively towards conspecifics. There is a definite “pecking order” in skunk anemone fish groups, with size determining an individuals position in the dominance hierarchy. Larger individuals will chase smaller fish,which engage in “head shaking,” “dorsal dipping,” “headstanding,” “substrate biting” and vocalization. These are submissive behaviors that function to reduce the chances that the subordinate fish will be attacked. Smaller individuals (6 to 15 mm in standard length) almost never leave the shelter of the anemone’s tentacles. At about 20 mm they are driven from the tentacles by the adult pair, and spend more time near the edge of the sea anemones tentacles. Adults rarely stray farther than 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches) away from their host. It will occasionally make quick forays of up to 50 cm (20 inches) away from the anemone when feeding. In certain areas this species regularly co-inhabits sea anemones with the larger, and more aggressive Clark’s anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii). Those adult pink skunk anemonefish sharing a host with A. clarkii rarely spawn. Distinguishing Characteristics: It is pink overall with white line down the back and a white head bar. This species will interbreed with the similar skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos). Remarks: References: Allen (1972), Elliot & Mariscal (1997), Fautin & Allen (1994), Hattori (1995) http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82760&1=1 Since everybody with the execption of 'debbieandjon' liked the night shot of the Pink Anenomefish i am posting another from that night. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82035&1=1 I posted a video clip of me interacting and photographing the fish. Look how the Napoleon eats the egg and then spits out the shell. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82166&1=1 Jellyfish- Lots of them! http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82527&1=1 MANTA RAY (Manta birostris) Breaching the surface while feeding. Size: This fish is born at a disc width of about 1.2 m (3.9 feet) and attains a maximum disc width of 6.7 m (21.9 feet). It may get larger than this. Distribution: Circumtropical. Habitat: This species often occurs in nearshore waters and occasionally is found in more oceanic environments. It is seen near both coral and rocky reefs. Reproduction: This ray gives birth to 1 or 2 pups per litter. This species has been observed mating in the wild. Two males, which were smaller than the female, chased the female for 20 to 30 minutes. A male grasped the tip of the female’s pectoral fin and then swung underneath her, so they were in a venter-to-venter orientation. The male then inserted a single clasper. Chasing seems to be a common element in courtship and mating of mobulid rays. At least one species of devil ray is known to display sexual dimorphism in the dentition, which may enable the males to better hold the females. One harpooned specimen expelled a pup when it breached and it may be this behavior is part of "normal" birthing. Feeding: When feeding the cephalic fins are uncurled, spread apart, and the animal moves about in various directions and sometimes somersaults in the water column. Its food includes planktonic crustaceans and small schooling bony fishes. Behavior: It occurs singly or in loose aggregations numbering up to 50 individuals. This species is never seen in true schools. It is often observed in association with other marine vertebrates, including: dolphins, sea birds, sharks and other rays (spotted eagle ray, Ateobatus nari nari). They often are hosts to one or more discfishes. Mantas breach, but adult specimens do not completely clear the water surface. Instead they drive their bodies part way out of the water and fall back into sea, with individuals sometimes performing several consecutive jumps. Distinguishing Characteristics: This species has a terminal mouth, the head is broad and the cephalic (head) fins are long. The dorsal coloration is black or reddish brown, and sometimes the black morph has white shoulder patches. There are reports of albino specimens. Remarks: References: Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara & Hillyer (1989), Yano et al. (1997 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=85780&1=1 This is a Orange Hairy Hermit Crab the size of a softball. I was not able to find a good species description. It is very nice to see that many of you are inetested in the animals and not just the images. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=82360&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=127843&1=1 YELLOWMARGIN MORAY (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus) Shot at Baa Atoll, Maldives http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141558&1=1 http://www.blueplanet-imaging.com http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=148969&1=1 These are two crocodile fish laying on top of each other. A pretty rare photo opportunity to have two like this posing. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=81983&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=81827&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=86542&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=87003&1=1 Shark http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=129349&1=1