Category Archives: Scientific finds

Coral Conservation Art Show & Fundraiser 2018 – Okinawa, Japan

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coral conservation fundraiser

Coral conservation fundraiser

For all that will be in Okinawa Sunday, October 28, 2018, visit the Corals Art Show & Fundraiser! This year is the International Year of the Reef, and that’s why the 3rd edition of Okinawa’s Art Show & Fundraiser (started by Julia Janicki) will be for CORALS!

Enjoy this great mix of art, artists and scientists, live music, nice beers, and a ‘touch table’ to play around with some real science. The auction of the art is until 5:30 PM, this is your chance to find some unique local artwork and donate to a good cause.

Flyer Design – Photos by Shawn Miller, Calligraphy and Illustration by Nicolas Baldwyn, Japanese Calligraphy by Tetsuhiro Hokama, Design by Mirijam Neve.

The Purpose – To educate others about these amazing creatures and the major threats they are facing. To donate some of the profits from the art pieces to conservation organizations (Conservation International to support their CTI)  

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment.

I will be offering five high-quality underwater fluorescence photographs printed on metal for the fundraiser. A percentage of the sales will be donated to coral conservation awareness.

Mpix metal prints for fundraiser

Coral conservation fundraiser prints

The event was a huge success. Thank you all for your support. Here are a few photographs of the event.

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

The science and education table for the adults and children by Maggi Mars.

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

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Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC

Live music by CJ & Friends. Thank you!

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The band – CJ & Friends

A big thanks to all the artists and contributors. Mirijam Nerve, Sylvia Beauchain, and Julia Janicki did a great job organizing the art show and fundraiser.  Have a great day!

 

 

The benefits of changing your colors by Shawn Miller

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How cool would it be to have the ability to change colors in a matter of seconds?  In the beautiful waters of Okinawa,  we have a few fish that are capable of changing color quickly.

The Arrow Bulleye (Priacanthus sagittarius) is a stunning dark ruby red when its hiding from predators. It stays close to the coral reef and blends in well.

Red Bigeye ( Pricanthus sagittarius )

Red Bigeye ( Pricanthus sagittarius )

When the Arrow Bullseye is threatened, it flees into open water and changes to a lighter color.

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Red Bigeye ( Pricanthus sagittarius )

It eventually changes to silver in a matter of three seconds

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Red Bigeye ( Pricanthus sagittarius )

Another example of color change happens at the cleaning station. A cleaning station is a designated location where fish come to get their skin, fins, eyes, mouth, teeth, and gills cleaned by cleaner fish. This is an example of Mutilism. The cleaner fish gets fed fresh parasites and the client gets cleaned. All fish swim into the cleaning station and patiently wait to get cleaned.

The blue-lined surgeonfish and rabbitfish (video below) pull into the station and immediately turn dark in color. The purpose of this is so the cleaner fish can spot the parasites easier and speed up the process.

Fish cleaning station

Fish cleaning station

They naturally change back to their lighter color when the exit the cleaning station.

Nice and clean

Check out this rare event in nature, that few will ever see in the wild.

 

Could the increase in tourism contribute to fish disease and parasites? Is it possible the cleaner fish can’t keep up?

Isopods and copepods are bloodsucking parasites commonly found at Maeda point. In the recent years, tourism has increased and some days thousands of snorkelers enter the water. Parasites occur naturally but with the increase in tourism, I believe they are becoming more abundant.

One possible reason is due to guided fish feeding tours. They often feed the marine life large amounts of fu (harvested wheat rolls) and other manmade items. In the past, it was popular to feed the fish processed sausage.  I have been diving Maeda point since 1992. I have observed a decline in healthy coral colonies and other marine life. I have also seen more fish with skin disease and parasites in recent years.  Below are some fish with parasites photographed at Maeda point.

Isopod- Renocilla bollandi

Isopod- Renocilla bollandi

Rhabdamis sp

Rhabdamis sp

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Filefish with tiny parasites

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Twin spot lionfish and parasites

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Pennantfish and parasite

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Firefish with parasites

Butterfly fish

Butterflyfish and parasites

Infested with parasites

Parasite infestation

Damselfish

Damselfish with parasite

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

 

Dinah’s Goby – living in glass homes by Shawn Miller

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Brightly colored gobies are popular subjects for underwater macro photographers in the beautiful waters of Okinawa.  The Dinah’s goby (Lubricogobius dinah) adapts by using man-made objects as a protective shelter. Discarded glass bottles and cans are prime real-estate for a variety of Marine life in the Ocean.

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  • Scientific name:  (Lubricogobius dinah)
  • Common Name: Dinah’s goby
  • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: Sandy bottom, living in shells and bottles 
  • Depth: 20-50meters
  • Diet: Plankton
  • Average Size: 25mm

You will need a designated macro lens to photograph this beautiful Goby. Approach slowly and avoid any sudden movement.

Goby glass bottle © Shawn Miller

When threatened,  the Goby will retreat into the glass bottle.

The Dinah’s goby © Shawn Miller

The Dinah’s goby © Shawn Miller

I was fortunate to have the goby pose for a photograph.

The Dinah’s goby © Shawn Miller

I used the Light&Motion Sola Nightsea to light up the mouth of the bottle to create this beautiful image.

46985777982_f95bc7c3e9_bThe shy goby in a more natural home.

DSC_9499 Know your nature with Shawn Miller. Have a great day!

Psychedelic Spiders of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

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I have been photographing fluorescence for over five years now. Mainly underwater but lately I have been testing the technique on land.  I often find insects, spiders, and plants that fluoresce using a specialized Light&Motion Sola Nightsea light.  Some of the micro-spiders fluoresce brightly under blue light, the challenge is to get an acceptable photograph.

Below are some comparison photographs of spiders. The first photograph was taken under blue light and the second under white light using on-camera flash. All the spiders were photographed in their natural habitat on the beautiful Island of Okinawa.

Jumping spider

Jumping spider -Fluorescence © Shawn Miller

Jumping spider - flash

Jumping spider – flash © Shawn Miller

Yanbaru jumping spider

Yanbaru jumping spider

spider - flash

Spider and fluorescence© Shawn Miller

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Spider under white light © Shawn Miller

Onomustus kanoi © Shawn Miller

Onomustus kanoi

Onomustus kanoi © Shawn Miller

Onomustus kanoi shadow

Onomustus kanoi & shadow © Shawn Miller

The custom Light & Motion fluorescence setup for these land-based subjects.

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

Fluorescence photography setup © Shawn Miller

The giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata) of Okinawa fluoresce under UV light.

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giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata)

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Giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata)

I used my nauticam underwater setup with NIGHTSEA’s fluorescence excitation filters to photograph the wood spiders.

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Nauticam Fluorescence setup

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Light&Motion exploration lights – https://www.lightandmotion.com/the-perfect-light

 

 

White Jawed Frog – Amphibians of the Ryukyu Islands by Shawn Miller

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The White Jawed Frog (Polypedates leucomystax leucomystax) is an invasive species found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. I have photographed this introduced tree frog on Okinawa, Ie, Izena, Kume island.

  • Scientific name: Polypedates leucomystax leucomystax
  • Common name: White Jawed Frog
  • Distribution: Okinawa, Kume, and Iheya and Ie Island.
  • Habitat: Forest, farm fields, drainage ditches, and ponds
  • Diet: Insects
  • Average size: 45mm-70mm
  • Color: Brown with a white line on the upper lip
White Jawed Frog

White Jawed Frog © Shawn Miller

I often find these frogs hanging out on fences, concrete walls, farming buckets and other manmade structures. They usually stay up high to avoid the threat of snakes.

The White Jawed Frog on a fence

The White Jawed frog hunting © Shawn Miller

Sometimes habu snakes climb these fences in search of a meal. Majority of the time the snakes are unsuccessful.

Venomous Habu Snake

Venomous Habu Snake © Shawn Miller

Tree frogs have the ability to inflate into a defensive posture, making themselves appear too large to eat.

Frog defensive posture

Frog defensive posture © Shawn Miller

It is extremely rare to see snakes eating in the wild.  If you catch this moment in nature consider yourself lucky.

Snake Predation

Snake Predation © Shawn Miller

The breeding season in Okinawa stretches from May through August.

Frogs mating in Yanbaru forest

Mating pair Yanbaru forest © Shawn Miller

Mating fogs © Shawn Miller

Mating fogs © Shawn Miller

They construct a foam nest above a still water source. The foam liquefies when the eggs are ready to hatch.

Cluster of mating frogs ,Iphone 8 and Light and Motion sola 1200

A cluster of mating frogs © Shawn Miller

Photographed on white for the Meet Your Neighbours Global Biodiversity Project. All images are used for awareness and educational purposes.

White Jawed Frog (Polypedates leucomystax leucomystax)

MYN Project Okinawa © Shawn Miller

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically  to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support.  Shawn M Miller.

 

Gall Crabs – Coral-Inhabiting Micro Crabs of Okinawa

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Gall crabs are coral-dwelling crabs that spend their entire life living inside a hole of the hard coral. These micro crabs are only 7mm-10mm in size.  They are hard to find and photograph due to their small size.

Gall crab in coral

Gall crab in Favia Coral © Shawn Miller

These tiny crabs are considered to be safe keepers or guardians of the hard coral. The gall crabs defend against coral eating predators such as starfish and snails. The coral provides shelter and food, making it an ideal habitat for the micro coral-dwelling gall crab. I have found these crabs in a variety of coral species in Okinawa. They are usually found in shallow water corals, but recently I found a healthy colony of crabs at sixty-five feet.

Gall crab, Maeda point

Gall crab claws out © Shawn Miller

Large algae covered gall crab

Large algae covered gall crab © Shawn Miller

Gall crab closeup by Shaw Miller

Gall crab closeup © Shawn Miller

If you’re lucky you might see a gall crab searching for food during the night.

Unidentified gall crab

Unidentified gall crab © Shawn Miller

Gall crab searching for food

Gall crab searching for food © Shawn Miller

Unidentified gall crab © Shawn Miller

Unidentified gall crab © Shawn Miller

The only reason I found this beauty was because she was leaving the gall to release her eggs.

DSC_6209Some of the gall crabs fluoresce using the specialized Light & Motion Nightsea underwater blue light.

Gall crab fluorescence

After the crabs die, the galls become a new shelter opportunity for snails, fish, and reef crabs.

Prime Coral real estate

Prime Coral real estate © Shawn Miller

Bicolor blenny in coral - fish of okinawa

Bicolor blenny in coral © Shawn Miller

Yaeyama blenny

Yaeyama blenny © Shawn Miller

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Blenny in coral gall © Shawn Miller

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Blenny in coral gall © Shawn Miller

I found this hard coral washed up on Iheya Island. Look close and you can see that hole made by the gall crab.

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Stony coral and gall

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically  to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Searching for The Blue Ringed Octopus at Maeda Misaki -Okinawa

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The Blue Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) is one of the most beautiful marine animals in Okinawa. It’s only the size of a golf ball, but extremely venomous.

    • Scientific name: Hapalochlaena lunulata

 

    • Common name:  Blue-ringed octopus

 

    • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands

 

    • Habitat: Tide pools and shallow water coral reefs

 

    • Diet: Crabs, shrimps, and fish

 

    • Average size: 8-12cm

 

  • Color: Golden-yellow with blue rings
Blue Ringed Octopus

Blue Ringed Octopus © Shawn Miller

Interesting facts about octopuses in general 

  1. Yes- you got it. The plural of octopus is octopuses.
  2. They are capable of producing a dark cloud of ink to escape from predators
  3. They have a parrot-like beak used for eating prey
  4. Octopuses have eight arms and are capable of regrowing them
  5. They use jet propulsion to move quickly through the water
  6. The Blue-ringed octopus can kill a human with one bite

I first photographed the Blue-ringed octopus at Maeda point in 2011.  This intense octopus was published on National Geographic Your Shot Daily Dozen.

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Blue-ringed octopus -Nat Geo © Shawn Miller

They are hard to find due to their small size. Persistence, patience, luck and a diving with a buddy with good eyes will increase your chances.

Blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed octopus © Shawn Miller

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Blue-ringed octopus on a shell © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed octopus blending in © Shawn Miller

Blue Ringed Octopus

Blue Ringed Octopus © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed Octopus spread out © Shawn Miller

Mating season occurs in the summer months. A rare event that happens quickly.

Octopus mating

Octopus mating © Shawn Miller

People often ask me what is your most memorable experience underwater.  Definitely swimming along the reef with a Blue-ringed Octopus.

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Blue-ringed octopus swimming © Shawn Miller

The difficult part is locking on focus and photographing it when the moment happens.

Blue-ringed octopus in open water

Blue-ringed octopus in open water © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus in open water © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus in open water © Shawn Miller

Cephalopods can produce a cloud of ink to confuse and escape from predators when threatened

Cephalopod ink

Cephalopod ink blob © Shawn Miller

My dive & jive buddy spotted this Blue-ringed octopus feeding on a crustacean during a night dive recently.

Blue ringed Octopus feeding

Blue-ringed Octopus feeding © Shawn Miller

The two-part parrot-like beak cephalopods use for feeding.

Cephalopod Beak

Cephalopod Beak © Shawn Miller

The single Blue-ringed Ocellated octopus (Octopus ocellatus) is scarce in Okinawa. I have seen and documented only one live animal.

Ocellated Blue ringed Octopus

Ocellated Blue-ringed Octopus © Shawn Miller

If you would like to increase your chances of getting better photographs of Cephlapods, I recommend using the Light & Motion Sola 1200 underwater modeling light. The red light feature allows the user to get in close without disturbing the marine life.

Underwater setup with sola 600

Underwater setup with sola 600

Anyone in Okinawa that would like to try a Light&Motion Sola light, I will gladly let you test one of my personal lights on a night dive.

Learn more about the Light & Motion Sola series.   http://www.lightandmotion.com/choose-your-light/sola

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Searching For The Strawberry Conch in Okinawa By Shawn Miller

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The Strawberry conch (Strombus luhuanus) is a popular food source found on the Island of Okinawa. Locals know as uchinanchu (sea people) search for this marine snail during extreme low tides. The sweet tasting meat of the conch shell is sought after during the summer months.

The beautiful people of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

The beautiful people of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

After harvesting and consuming the conch meat, the shells are giving back to the ocean in large piles. This will provide shelter for marine-based hermit crabs and eventually stabilize the sediment.

Thousands of sea shells

Thousands of conch shells © Shawn Miller

Marine hermit crab

Land hermit crabs are often found next to these onshore shell piles, scavenging on conch meat remains.

Hermit crabs of the Ryukyu Islands The beautiful people of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

Hermit crabs of the Ryukyu Islands The beautiful people of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

The beautiful conch shells are commonly confused with the hazardous cone shells. The main difference is that conch shells have a stromboid notch. A small side slit or indentation which allows the animal to see while moving.  The conch shells movement is much different as well, they travel using a jumping style movement instead of a steady crawling motion.

Strawberry conch shells © Shawn Miller

Ryukyu shell art © Shawn Miller

The animal has strange eyes located at the end of long eye stalks.  The eyes color is usually a vibrant green, yellow and orange combination.

Strawberry conch shell © Shawn Miller

Strawberry conch shell © Shawn Miller

Take a close look at this strawberry conch below. What do you see?   I see two extra eyes poking out of the stromboid notch.  The marine snail naturally has two eyes, not four.

Strawberry conch shell © Shawn Miller

Four-eyed Strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

What is the cause of this?  Could this deformity be caused by nutritional deficiencies, a genetic disorder or pollution?

Strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

Four-eyed Strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

Photographed on white for the meet your neighbours project

Conch shell MYN technique

Four-eyed Strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

The strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

The strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

Regardless of the cause, I hope these images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive impact in the environment.  We all depend on the ocean in some form. Let’s work together to make a difference.

Wajii- on top of the world

Protect what we love © Shawn Miller

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

– If you would like to use any of my photographs for a publication or website please contact me directly.  Do not use any of my images without permission!   Shawn Miller

True Fluorescence – Underwater photography by Shawn Miller

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” Fluorescence is the absorption of electromagnetic radiation (light) at one wavelength and its re-emission at another, longer wavelength ” Dr Charles Mazel. I attached a link to his website at the bottom of the page for more info.

In order to photograph fluorescence you will need a excitation source (blue light), barrier filter and a camera.

Shawn Miller fluorescence setup

Shawn Miller fluorescence setup

Underwater equipment used – Night dive at Kadena north, Okinawa.

  • Canon 70d * Canon 100macro lens
  • Ikelite underwater housing
  • 2 x Light&Motion Sola Nightsea blue lights
  • 1 Light & Motion Sola 1200 red * 1 Sola 3800
  • Light&Motion barrier filter and mask

Some of my favorite photographs from our night dive with the crew

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

Palythoa heliodiscus under blue light © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True fluorescence

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

True underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

* Please check out my older posts on Fluoro-diving, Capturing fluorescence and Fluoro fingerprinting 

* Learn more about fluorescence with Dr Charles Mazel  https://www.nightsea.com/

**Light&Motion Dive lights https://www.lightandmotion.com/choose-your-light/sola

Have a great day!