Underwater Photos

Symbiotic relationship between fish
This photograph shows a perfect example of symbiotic relationship between fish. The larger Atlantic Spadefish approaches a coral head where the smaller Sharknose Goby and the larger juvenile Spanish Hogfish frequent. Hovering motionless the Atlantic Spadefish allows the cleaner fish to pick at parasites on its body. The Atlantic Spadefish gets a cleaning and the cleaner fish get a free meal - the perfect symbiotic relationship between fish.

Extreme macro photograph of the Sharknose Goby - Elacatinus evelynae
Most gobies, such as this Sharknose Goby, are carnivorous, preying on small invertebrates. Measuring in at less than an inch in length this photograph shows an extreme macro photograph of the Sharknose Goby on a Great Star Coral.

Bluethroat Pike Blenny with eggs (Chaenopsis ocellata)
A close look around the burrow of this Bluethroat Pike Blenny (Chaenopsis ocellata) shows a number of eggs developing. Tiny eyes can be seen on the developing larvae.

Fish colors as a means of visual communication
Fish use colors as a means of visual communication; to attract a mate or warn predators of their distastefulness. And while water quickly absorbs the colors in the spectrum, it is believed that fish can see ultra violet (UV) light. Allowing them to see color patterns at depths up to 300 feet that a human's vision can not perceive.

Pederson Cleaner Shrimp cleaning behavior (Periclimenes pedersoni)
The Pederson Cleaner Shrimp cleaning behavior is quite unique. In order to display to potential clients its interest in cleaning, the Pederson Shrimp (Periclimenes pedersoni) rocks its body side to side and waves its white antennas. This unique dance helps make the Pederson Cleaner Shrimp presence known to nearby fish.

Female Sharknose Gobies clean more often than males (Elacatinus evelynae)
Female Sharknose Gobies (Elacatinus evelynae), when sharing a cleaning station with a male, are believed to spend more time cleaning their host than males. This is likely because of the extra expenditure of energy in producing eggs; although it is the male Sharknose Goby who will guard the nest.

Parrotfish are capable of generating over one ton of sand a year
Parrotfish are responsible for a large amount of the sand around a tropical reef. Although it was thought that parrotfish destroy the reef, in fact they are promoting a healthy environment by controlling algae growth. One large parrotfish is capable of generating over one ton of sand a year.

Rare deep water Pastel Soft Coral photograph (Neospongodes portoricensis)
This brightly colored rare Pastel Soft Coral (Neospongodes portoricensis) live on steep reef walls in areas of fast currents. When the current is running the Pastel Soft Coral expands to full size and their polyps , located at the branches end, extend out to feed.

Rare deep water soft coral (Neospondodes portoricensis - family Nephtheidae)
This rare deep water soft coral goes by the common name of Pastel Soft Coral (Neospondodes portoricensis). This particular soft coral was found at a depth of 183 feet. Rarely are they seen shallower than 120 feet in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Many species of deep water soft coral have yet to be identified
Many species of deep water soft corals, such as the orange-colored Pastel Soft Coral (family Nephtheidae) in the center of this photograph, have yet to be identified.

The Masked Goby is one of the few gobies that swims in midwater (Coryphopterus personatus)
The Masked Goby is one of the few gobies that is normally found swimming in midwater near a coral head. Using a specialized pair of fused pelvic fins that they use as a suction cup, gobies normally are found resting on coral heads.

Locate a Yellowheaded Jawfish carrying eggs (Opistognathus aurifrons)
An easy way to locate a male Yellowheaded Jawfish who is carrying eggs is to look for one with two dark black lines on the underside of its mouth.

Yellowheaded Jawfish cares for the eggs in its mouth (Opistognathus aurifrons)
The male Yellowheaded Jawfish cares for the eggs in its mouth. The clutch of eggs is aerated and protected inside its mouth until the juvenile Yellowheaded Jawfish hatch in approximately five to seven days.

Tiny eyes in the developing eggs of the Yellowheaded Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)
A close look at the mouth of this Yellowheaded Jawfish and you can see a batch of eggs. Dozens of tiny eyes can be seen in the developing eggs of the larvae Yellowheaded Jawfish.

Monogamous French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)
French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) are commonly seen throughout the reefs of the Atlantic in what is believed to be a mating pair. Studies suggest they are monogamous and will defend their territory from other pairs.