Underwater photography - unusual and rare marine life

Underwater photography - unusual and rare marine life

Clown Anglerfish (Antenarius maculatus). Like all anglerfish, this animal has a built-in "fishing pole" on its forehead. Actually a modified dorsal spine, it is used to wiggle a "lure" that attracts its prey. Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

This Squat Lobster (Lauriea siagiani) lives exclusively on Xestospongia barrel sponges. Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

image reference code: frog 19

image reference code: lobst 11

Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), resting just under the surface. Solomon Islands, South Pacific.

The ancient looking Bowmouth Guitarfish (Rhina ancylostomus) is a sort of "missing link" between sharks and rays. Its ventrally located mouth and gill openings are typical of rays, yet its streamlined body and powerful tail are distinctly shark-like. Rarely seen. Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

image reference code: croc 1

image reference code: bmgf 3

Rarely seen alive in its natural environment, this Paper Nautilus (Argonauta hians) is clinging to a jellyfish. Using the jelly as cover, the Argonaut can maneuver its host to hide it from predators. . Mergui Archipelago, Andaman Sea, Myanmar.

Giant guitarfish or shovelnose ray (Rhynchobatus djiddensis), another ray that is distinctly shark-like in appearance. Richelieu Rock, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

image reference code: nautjelly 1

image reference code: snr 2

This rare photo shows an adult and a juvenile Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita), sharing the same burrow. Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Painted anglerfish (Antenarius pictus), imitating a sponge as it waits to ambush unwary fish. Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

image reference code: bre 13

image reference code: frog 141

Harlequin Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), blending in with a fan coral. Close relatives of the sea horses, ghost pipefish are experts at camouflage. Mergui Archipelago, Andaman Sea, Myanmar.

Merlet's Scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes), a rarely seen bottom dweller. Like most scorpionfish, it is a master of camouflage. Mergui Archipelago, Andaman Sea, Myanmar.

image reference code: gpf 58

image reference code: scorp 63

The world's smallest sea horse, the Pigmy Sea Horse (Hippocampus bargibanti) reaches an adult size roughly the same as a grain of rice. Its tiny size, along with superb camouflage, makes it almost impossible to find among the branches of its preferred habitat of Gorgonian corals.

image reference code: shp 1

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