Can you see the tiny shrimp with the purple legs and the purple antennae near the top of the photo? That's a Bubble Coral Shrimp (Vir philippinensis). He lives among the vesicles of Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sp.). I wrote about Bubble Coral here.
I took this macro photo in the Bunaken National Marine Park, near Manado, Indonesia.
I've seen the shrimp before, but I'd never even heard of bubble coral, let alone seen any! It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this one! And, your photo is fantastic!
Thank you all for visiting. We enjoy reading your comments.
@ Chris and CatSynth - The Bubble Coral vesicles are sort of rubbery. They inflate during the day, as in the photo, and at night they deflate.
@ Cathy (tundratantrum) Now that you mention it, the ones in the photo do resemble uncooked scallops.
@ Martie - If you have not seen Bubble Coral, you have not seen this particular shrimp, since it only lives in Bubble Coral. The shrimp does have a lot of 'cousins' that look very similar.
@ Mary (The Teach) - This coral doesn't usually grow above about 15 meters (50 feet) depth, so I am not surprised that you never saw it while snorkeling.
@ NDG - The shark finning article you link to is shocking. Shark finning is a gruesome and wasteful practice.
BNSullivan.jpg "Bubble coral with tiny shrimp")
Can you see the tiny shrimp with the purple legs and the purple antennae near the top of the photo? That's a Bubble Coral Shrimp (Vir philippinensis). He lives among the vesicles of Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sp.). I wrote about Bubble Coral here.
ReplyDeleteI took this macro photo in the Bunaken National Marine Park, near Manado, Indonesia.
Bobbie
What a great macro shot! I can almost feel the texture of the coral!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. The texture "looks" very soft, but I am guessing it would feel quite different.
ReplyDeleteHmmm....interesting. Looks like scallops.
ReplyDeletehi there, how's things?
ReplyDeletei'm back for more under-the-sea-photos!
this is a great shot!!
Happy WW!
Amazing shot. That shrimp is so tiny.
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful photo. You always have superbs work. Happy WW
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I feel small, too!
ReplyDeleteI've seen the shrimp before, but I'd never even heard of bubble coral, let alone seen any! It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this one! And, your photo is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI would not have known that was a shrimp without you telling me. Thanks for a view of the underwater world. I have water today too, and sea shells.
ReplyDeleteTink *~*~*
My Mobile Adventures *~*~*
This is a great shot, unusual too. Happy WW
ReplyDeleteinteresting picture...but i just can't figure out what it is.
ReplyDeletemine is up too. hope you can check it out too.
http://www.myplanetpurple.com/2008/05/wordless-wednesday-6-lets-play.html
http://howellabie.blogspot.com/2008/05/wordless-wednesday-1-discovery.html
happy WW!
For all the snorkeling that I've done, I've NEVER seen such unusual creatures as this! :D
ReplyDeleteI see the tiny shrimp! I think the coral looks like fingers. With fingerprints!
ReplyDeleteWow, awesome shot. Love it.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you have seen this story yet, just doing our little part to spread the word.
ReplyDelete><)))*>
Keep diving!
_ndg
Thank you all for visiting. We enjoy reading your comments.
ReplyDelete@ Chris and CatSynth - The Bubble Coral vesicles are sort of rubbery. They inflate during the day, as in the photo, and at night they deflate.
@ Cathy (tundratantrum) Now that you mention it, the ones in the photo do resemble uncooked scallops.
@ Martie - If you have not seen Bubble Coral, you have not seen this particular shrimp, since it only lives in Bubble Coral. The shrimp does have a lot of 'cousins' that look very similar.
@ Mary (The Teach) - This coral doesn't usually grow above about 15 meters (50 feet) depth, so I am not surprised that you never saw it while snorkeling.
@ NDG - The shark finning article you link to is shocking. Shark finning is a gruesome and wasteful practice.
Bobbie
@ Daisy - I see what you mean about the vesicles looking like fingers, and the striations do indeed look like fingerprints.
ReplyDeleteBobbie
Wonderful image Bobbie, I could see the little guy right off, there are such great details and textures in this. Beautiful work !!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bernie.
ReplyDelete