Photo Stream /pics/dimaging/809497 SQUARESPOT ANTHIAS (MALE) (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) Family Name: SERRANIDAE Size:This species attains a maximum length of 20 cm (7.8 inches). Distribution: Philippines south to the Great Barrier Reef and east to Samoa. Habitat: This species is found at depths from 10 to 180 m (33 to 594 feet), but is most common at depths exceeding 30 m (98 feet). For example, at Enewetak, this species is most abundant between 60 and 120 m (198 to 396 feet). It occurs on steep reef slopes and walls, and is most often encountered at the upper edge of the drop off. It is most common in areas affected by tidal currents. Reproduction: This species has been known to crossbreed with the twinspot anthias (Pseudanthias bimaculatus). Feeding: Individuals in these groups feed well above the bottom on zooplankton. Behavior: This species forms loose aggregations consisting of several males and numerous females. At the depths that this species normally occurs at, the pink blotches of the male glows like a blue neon light. This conspicuous marking, plus the acrobatic swimming display of the territorial male, serves as a signal to rival male conspecifics and potential mates. Occasionally males form aggregations, usually for a short period of time. Distinguishing Characteristics: As the name implies, the males of this species have a large pink spot or square on the side of the body. However, an occasional specimen may lack this blotch. The redgirdled anthias (Pseudanthias rubrozinotus) has a red smudge on the side of the body, but otherwise is very different in color. Likewise male Cooper's anthias (Pseudanthias cooperi) also have a narrow red bar on their side. Remarks: Shen's anthias (Pseudanthias sheni) is only known from Rowley Shoals off the northwestern coast of Australia and differs from the squarespot in color and in the number of gill rakers. Male Shen's anthias lack the distinct square blotch on the side, while females of these two species are difficult to distinguish. Female Shen's anthias are more orange, with a lavender belly. There is also an apparent color form of the squarespot anthias that has been reported from the reefs of Flores, Indonesia. This unusual morph, which was originally dubbed the Flores' basslet, suddenly appeared after a massive earthquake struck the area in 1993. It occurs in shoals at depths of 1 to 50 m (3.3 to 163 feet), and inhabits reef slopes anddrop-offs. References: Kuiter & Debelius (1994), Myers (1999) http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=83230&1=1 I recieved a new Alienware Area 51m 7700 loaded for $4500 and it came out of the box with a dead pixel and they will not replace the LCD screen. If anybody wants to email them on my behalf at support@alienware.com they might change their mind. I share a lot of images with all and would apprciate it. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=84207&1=1 LEMON SHARK (Negaprion brevirostris) Size: The lemon shark is born at about 63 cm (24.8 inches) and attains a maximum length of 3.4 m (11.2 feet). Males reach sexual maturity at about 224 cm (7.3 feet), while females are sexually mature at a length of 239 to 285 cm (7.8 to 9.4 feet). This shark reaches sexual maturity at approximately 6.5 years and reaches a maximum age of about 27 years. Distribution: Western Atlantic, from New Jersey to southern Brazil, the east African coast and the Eastern Pacific, from the Sea of Cortez to Ecuador. Habitat: The lemon shark occurs in shallow intertidal areas to 92 m (303 feet). The juveniles are common on sand flats and mangrove areas of lagoons, while adults are found in lagoons as well as off the fore reef in deeper water. It is also found in saline rivers and river mouths, and will occasionally enter freshwater, swimming short distances up rivers. Reproduction: The lemon shark exhibits placental viviparity. This species drops its young in shallow bays and lagoons, often in mangrove swamps, with mating and parturition occurring in the spring and summer. Lemon shark litters range in size from 4 to 17. When these sharks copulate the male swims alongside the female. The male also bites the female during courtship. Feeding: The primary food of juvenile lemon sharks is bony fishes and shrimp. Cortes & Gruber (1990) examined 78 young lemon sharks and found that bony fishes (including, in order of importance, snappers, porgies, halfbeaks, jacks, snake eels and toadfishes) were the most important prey, followed by turtle grass blades (which are probably eaten incidentally), crustaceans (mainly penaeid shrimp), elasmobranchs (yellow stingrays) and octopuses. Other bony fishes eaten by young lemon sharks include killifishes, grunts, barracuda, and silversides. These prey species include smaller fishes that school and are swallowed whole, and larger predatory fishes that the lemon sharks bite into pieces. Adults feed mainly on bonyfishes (including catfish, mullet, jacks, croaker, spiny boxfish and cowfish) and elasmobranchs (including guitarfish, southern and yellow stingrays, and other sharks), but also eat crabs, lobsters, sea birds and conchs. Adult specimens sometimes have the tail spine of stingrays broken off in their upper jaws. Larger lemon sharks have also been found with sea turtle remains (flippers) in their stomachs. Feeding apparently occurs throughout the day and night, although this species is most active at during twilight periods. Young lemon sharks feed intermittently, feeding for approximately 11 hours and then waiting 33 to 47 hours before feeding again. The daily ration for this species is 0.5 to 3 % of its total body weight, with juveniles having a larger daily ration than adults. This shark usually has one or two prey items in its stomach at any one time. Behavior: This is typically a solitary species, although it will aggregate in preferred habitats (as many as 20 individuals have been observed in loose aggregations). The lemon shark is often observed in association with schools of jacks. This shark covers a home range of from 18 to 93 square km (7 to 36 square miles), with younger sharks ranging over a smaller area than adults. The lemon shark may move into deeper water and/or south in early winter. It displays a possible agonistic display consisting of figure-eight swimming and jaw gape. Distinguishing Characteristics: This species is easily recognized by its two similar sized dorsal fins, set forward on the body, its broad, rounded snout and its light, often yellowish, body color. The related sicklefin lemon shark has more falcate fins and the teeth of larger individuals are more deeply serrated than the lemon shark. Also, the geographical range of this shark and the sicklefin lemon shark do not overlap. Remarks: References: Cortes & Gruber (1990), Schurdak & Gruber (1989) http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=85944&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=87344&1=1 BLACKSPOTTED PUFFER (VARIANT) (Arothron nigropunctatus Taken in Palau http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=116161&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=121832&1=1 ROCK BEAUTY (ADULT) (Holacanthus tricolor Family Name: POMACANTHIDAE Click Name for Family Profile Size: This species attains a maximum length of 20 cm (7.9 inches). Distribution: Georgia, Bermuda and northern Gulf of Mexico banks to Brazil. Habitat: Adults of this species are most common on deep fore reef terraces and drop-offs, where there are dense growths of sponges, gorgonians and the occasional massive coral head. Smaller individuals are often found in shallower water among the branches of fire coral (Millepora spp.). Reproduction: The rocky beauty is a protogynous hermaphrodite (females change sex to males) that begins spawning at about 10 cm (3.9 inches) in length. This species displays sexual size dimorphism, with a male being larger than the females in its harem. However, females in some harems may be larger than the males in other harems. Feeding: Food habit studies have demonstrated that this fish eats large amounts of sponges. However, this species also spends a considerable amount of time nipping at algae, and will consume the occasional zoanthid. In some locations large aggregations of adults have also been observed raiding the nests of Sergeant Major damselfish (Abudefduf saxatilis) to feed on their eggs. The young of this species do not remove parasites from other fishes, like some of the other angelfish species, but instead specialize in feeding on fish mucus. For example, I have seen individuals nip at other angelfishes, damselfishes and the goldentail moray. In the case of the moray, the juvenile rock beauty persistently picked at the slime of the eel. When you consider the fact that morays produce copious amounts of mucus and that they occupy a similar habitat as the juvenile H. tricolor, it may be that eel slime is an important source of nutrition for small rock beauties on the reef. They have also been observed nipping at nocturnal fishes, like squirrelfishes, that occupy caves and crevices during the day. Behavior: The rock beauty is shyer than its close relatives, spending a considerable amount of time during the daylight hours hiding in holes and crevices in the reef. Males defend an area that overlaps the feeding territories of two to four females. Females defend their territories from similarly-sized consexuals, but do not exclude smaller females. It has been suggested that the advantage in not driving off smaller females is that when a larger female changes sex it will already have a harem of its own occupying its territory. Distinguishing Characteristics: This species is easily recognized by its color pattern - adults are yellow overall with a large black saddle and blue pigment on the mouth. Juveniles have a blue-edged black eye spot on the upper back, which gradually expands and covers up to two-thirds of the body and the median fins. Juveniles also lack the dark-colored "lips." Interaction with Divers: This species varies in its approachability. In some areas they are very shy and will seek shelter if approached. In other areas they curious and/or bold, and are easy to get close too. Remarks: References: Hourigan & Kelly (1985), Moyer at al. (1983) http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=122032&1=1 Neon Goby on coral.Notice the individual polups and you can see their alive. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=128124&1=1 Grey Angel http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=128131&1=1 Grey Reef Shark http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=129262&1=1 Back underwater again in the Maldives http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=140377&1=1 Yellow Boxfish. I had to do a 20 min deco stop because of this little guy. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=140378&1=1 Proboscis a liitle closer http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141020&1=1 Scorpion Leaf Fish Maldives Baa Atoll http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141270&1=1 PYGMY SEAHORSE (Hippocampus bargabanti ) Size: 2.5cm New Caledonia, Great Barrier Reef, Solomon Islands and Indonesia Habitat: The pygmy seahorse is found on coastal and fore reef slopes. It usually occurs at depths in excess of 30 m (98 feet), clinging to the branches of the a gorgonian of the genus Muricella. Feeding: They apparently feed on tiny zooplankton that are entrapped in the gorgonian's polyps or slime. Behavior: From one to dozens of these tiny syngnathids may be found residing on an individual gorgonian. Distinguishing Characteristics: This species is unmistakable, that is if you can find it! Interaction with Divers: Unconcerned. Relies on its marvelous camouflage to avoid being eaten. Will change position or even leave its gorgonian if threatened or harassed http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141290&1=1 Giant Frogfish http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141334&1=1 ORNATE GHOST PIPEFISH (Solenostomus paradoxus) This species comes in a rainbow of different hues, which include white, black or transparent body and fins, with yellow, red or orange blotches. There are two large spots on the first dorsal fin, which in some color morphs looking like fried eggs (i.e., white with yellow centers). It apparently displays sexual size dimorphism, with females attaining a large size than males. Unlike the other ghost pipefishes this species has deeply incised membranes between the caudal fin rays. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141355&1=1 Plucked Chicken Pygmy Seahorse Hippocampus Denisei Very Very small critter http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141365&1=1 Another shot of the Petronas Towers. Taken from the 30th floor observation deck with a tripod and using live view and a shutter release. I had the camera above the safety glass http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141393&1=1 Baby Painted Frogfish.Shot with a 2X Tele on a Nikor 60mm http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141407&1=1 Giant Frogfish http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141507&1=1 Petronas Towers- View from my room. Had to straighten the shot out and clone the bottom left. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141537&1=1 Hairy Squat Lobster (Lauriea siagiani) 1cm!! http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141593&1=1 Nudibranch (sea slug)Shot in Borneo http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141594&1=1 Baby Proboscis Monkey. Borneo http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141596&1=1 Reef Octopus trying not to be seen. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141696&1=1 Ghost Pipefish http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=141887&1=1 The eye of the Giant Cuttlefish. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=143270&1=1 The eye of the Crocodile Fish. Borneo http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=143273&1=1 Just got back from the Philippines. The hairy frogfish. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=145597&1=1 Playing around with the 24-70 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=145751&1=1 Nudibrach n the Philippines. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146066&1=1 http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146393&1=1 Nudibranch http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146615&1=1 Anemome Crab http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146616&1=1 Peacock Mantis Shrimp http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146643&1=1 Pregnant Pygmy Seahorse. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146675&1=1 Hermit http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146698&1=1 The Devil Scorpion Fish. Touch it and you will feel like your in hell. http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146702&1=1 Puffer http://www.dslreports.com/showpic/dimaging?lid=146735&1=1