Lembeh & Raja Ampat, Indonesia Nov-Dec 2006

Also from this trip:    Topside photos     Luke's Photos (with my little Lumix point-and-shoot camera)   

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Emperor Shrimp pair hitching a ride on a nudibranch Emperor Shrimp Flamboyant Cuttlefish Pygmy Cuttlefish Coconut Octopus Coconut Octopus - since he couldn't find a whole coconut shell to hide in, he is making the most of natural and manmade materials! Juvenile Blue Ribbon Eel Sanddiver Cockatoo Waspfish Devilfish (also called Demon Stinger) buried in sand waiting for small fish to swim close enough to swallow Devilfish in rare fully exposed and flared position Mantis Shrimp (4-6 inches long) has two front claws (folded under here) are used to lash out and stun/kill prey. This action is supposedly one of the fastest movements in all of nature, capable of shattering the bones in a human hand (hence it's nickname "Thumb-cracker"). Mantis Shrimp Mantis Shrimp eyes are supposedly the most complex in the animal kingdom, with thousands of receptors (color, shape, light, etc.), and capable of swiveling separately, as can be seen here. Orangutan Crab on white sponge Orangutan Crab on anemone Winged Pipefish head Winged Pipefish eye - I was using a 150mm macro lens with a 2X teleconverter, for an effective focal length of 300mm, so I couldn't easily fit his whole head in the picture. See next photo for the rest... Winged Pipefish snout (see previous photo for explanation) Anglerfish (frogfish) with his "lure" extended and wiggling to attract small fish, which he then gulps down when they come close to investigate Anglerfish (commonly called "frogfish") Anglerfish (frogfish) Anglerfish (frogfish) Hairy Anglerfish (frogfish) Anglerfish (frogfish) often make their bodies resemble sponges so prey don't see them. This little fellow (less than 2 inches long) perfectly matches the white sponge he is on. Anglerfish (frogfish) Fish aerobics class Rhinopeas Scorpionfish Rhinopeas Scorpionfish Banded Shrimp Goby Goby Filefish Seahorse Sand Dollar - uses his "hairs" to dig down in the sand Long-horned Cowfish Young Batfish looking like a leaf Barramundi grouper Harlequin Shrimp pair Filefish Robust Ghost Pipefish Robust Ghost Pipefish Whip Goby Whip Goby Whip Gobies Pygmy Seahorse (about 1/2 inch high) Pygmy Seahorse (about 1/2 inch high) Pygmy Seahorse (about 1/2 inch high) Giant clam Giant clam Giant clam Giant clam Shrimp Goby (perhaps more aptly called "Bulldog Goby") Shrimp Goby with his companion shrimp - the goby watches for trouble while the shrimp excavates "their" hole Spanish Dancer eggs Rockmover Wrasses Scorpionfish Scorpionfish Scorpionfish Scorpionfish Emperor Angelfish Hawksbill Turtle Hawksbill Turtle Hawksbill Turtle Lionfish Crinoid Unicornfish Unicornfish Porcupine Puffer Cleaner Wrasse Map Puffer with Cleaner Wrasse Map Puffer eye Sweetlip Snapper Batfish in a cavern Cavern with two divers (Doug and Judy) B&W version of previous photo DEJA VU! This was the exact spot (at Cape Kri) where I took the photo that appears as the April photo in my 2007 PKD Calendar. I was shocked to recognize it as the place I spent nearly 1/2 hour last year trying to get that shot! Archerfish, which swim just below the surface where jungle overhangs the water, watching for insects on the foliage above. They "spit" drops of water in an attempt to knock the insects off into the water, where they eat them. Needlefish - another fish that spends its time just below the surface - here with its own reflection in the surface above Soft coral with jungle foliage above Soft coral with jungle foliage above