Mad as a Marine Biologist

High-res rhamphotheca: This beautiful image displays a four-way assocation between creatures: The hermit crab is associated with the soft coral (with its polyps retracted). The hermit crab is also associated with an episymbiontic anemone - the snail shell provides a home to both animals. Image captured by the Little Hercules ROV at 422 meters depth on ‘Site K’, explored July 11, 2010 during the INDEX SATAL 2010 Expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010.

rhamphotheca:

This beautiful image displays a four-way assocation between creatures:

The hermit crab is associated with the soft coral (with its polyps retracted). The hermit crab is also associated with an episymbiontic anemone - the snail shell provides a home to both animals. Image captured by the Little Hercules ROV at 422 meters depth on ‘Site K’, explored July 11, 2010 during the INDEX SATAL 2010 Expedition.

Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010.

High-res Giant Clam mantle by Samantha Craven The mantle of the Giant Clam is home to zooxanthellae, dinoflagellate algae whose metabolic products provide nutrition to the animal. The algae are also responsible for the vibrant colours of the mantle tissue (similarly with coral polyps).  The Giant Clam is much sought after for it’s meat, a delicacy in many parts of SE Asia but intense harvesting has contributed to significant population declines that result in it’s listing as ‘Vulnerable’ to extinction by the IUCN.

Giant Clam mantle by Samantha Craven

The mantle of the Giant Clam is home to zooxanthellae, dinoflagellate algae whose metabolic products provide nutrition to the animal. The algae are also responsible for the vibrant colours of the mantle tissue (similarly with coral polyps). 

The Giant Clam is much sought after for it’s meat, a delicacy in many parts of SE Asia but intense harvesting has contributed to significant population declines that result in it’s listing as ‘Vulnerable’ to extinction by the IUCN.

High-res pleurothallis: The Flashlight Fish : Photoblepharon palpebratus It is a nocturnal fish of the Indo-Pacific with bioluminescent organs under its eyes that serve to attract prey and help it evade predators. The bean-shaped photophores under their eyes contain bioluminescent bacteria, which live with the fish in a symbiotic relationship. The photophores glow in the dark, attracting zooplankton and small fish, on which the flashlight fish feed.

pleurothallis:

The Flashlight Fish : Photoblepharon palpebratus

It is a nocturnal fish of the Indo-Pacific with bioluminescent organs under its eyes that serve to attract prey and help it evade predators. 
The bean-shaped photophores under their eyes contain bioluminescent bacteria, which live with the fish in a symbiotic relationship. The photophores glow in the dark, attracting zooplankton and small fish, on which the flashlight fish feed.

High-res iheartnudibranchs: Mating Pteraeolidia ianthina’s. Adult Pteraeolidia are able to consume and harvest microscopic dinoflagellates that were in a previous symbiotic relationship with Pteraeolidia ‘s food, Hydroids. The nudibranch farms these zooxanthellae within its own digestive diverticula. It is those symbiotic dinoflagellates that give the species such a variety of colours, from brown to blue and purple. Juveniles of the species are white, having not incorporated any zooxanthellae yet.

iheartnudibranchs:

Mating Pteraeolidia ianthina’s.

Adult Pteraeolidia are able to consume and harvest microscopic dinoflagellates that were in a previous symbiotic relationship with Pteraeolidia ‘s food, Hydroids. The nudibranch farms these zooxanthellae within its own digestive diverticula.

It is those symbiotic dinoflagellates that give the species such a variety of colours, from brown to blue and purple. Juveniles of the species are white, having not incorporated any zooxanthellae yet.