The Most Beautiful Bivalve In The World – Pedum spondyloideum

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Admin11

The Coral scallop (Pedum spondyloideum) is the most beautiful animal I have encountered underwater. The delicate bivalve lives within the hard coral its entire life.

Scientific name: Pedum spondyloideum
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Hard corals in shallow water
Diet: Filter feeders
Average Size: 35mm-55mm

What purpose do they serve in the ecosystem? Researchers believe these beautiful bivalves serve a beneficial function among hard corals.

Provide circulation for feeding coral
Defend the host by expelling water when threatened by corallivorous marine life

The hard coral provides the bivalve with support and protection. The shell is very thin and fragile. Below is a great example of a protected piece of coral with an army of coral scallops.

The crown of thorns starfish is the most devesting predator of the coral. If the coral (host) dies the bivalve will not survive.

The coral scallop is very thin and fragile. The living animal is much more beautiful than the protective shell it produces. These specimens were given to me by a fellow researcher.

I first started photographing these beauties in 2010, below are some of my favorite images taken throughout the Ryukyu Islands.

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

The Red Coral of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Admin11

One of my favorite types of coral is the red knotted sea fan ( Melithaea ochracea ). Mainly because of the color and the branching pattern. The vibrant red coral, white polyps and the blue water compliment one another. There are many small marine animals that thrive on the red tree of life. This beauty was photographed in the blue waters between Izena and Iheya Island.

April 4th 2019, I stumbled upon some colorful micro flatworms that I have never seen before. Leslie Harris informed me that these fast moving slugs were potentially undocumented benthic ctenophores.

Name: Coeloplana sp
Benthic ctenophore
Size: 8mm-10mm
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Depth: 40feet

Can you see how well the benthic ctenophore blends in with its host? This is a great example of mimicry.

Look close at the tiny chamber mounds. These mounds hold the stinging tentacles that are used for catching food and possibly for protection.

I found this strange benthic ctenophore (Coeloplana sp) on a dive near Ikea Island. When I first saw the ctenophore, the long stinging cells were extended out in hunting mode.

Some benthic ctenophores live on starfish (Echinaster luzonicus), look close and you can see the stinging cells.

A blue starfish (Linkia laevigata) infested with benthic ctenophores

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

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.

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands – – – – SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Cowrie Shell Eating Octopuses of Okinawa

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Admin11

In 2010, a friend sent me some beautiful cowrie shells from Hawaii. I noticed that a few specimens had tiny pin holes between the teeth on the underside of the cowrie shell. I asked him what caused this and he stated an octopus. So I decided to test this, I collected a small octopus and placed it in aquarium with no other marine life in the tank.

I placed only live cowrie shells in the tank to see if this octopus would eat the mollusks. I was completely surprised to find out that he was 100% correct.

The tiny drill holes are difficult to see without a magnifying glass.

Strangely, two of the cowrie shells had a drill hole on the top and another on the bottom side. The other eight specimens only had one drill hole on the bottom side. Is it possible that the octopus learned a new behavior? Did it it figure out the most efficient way after the two previous attempts?

All octopuses have a two-part beak used to immobilize and feed on their prey. The beak looks fragile but it one of the toughest and most durable substances made by marine animals.

Cephalopod Beak

My curiosity led me to the questions below Why does the octopus have to drill a hole when there is already a large aperture to feed from? Does the octopus use venom to paralyze the mollusk inside the shell after it drills the hole? If so, does the venom narcotize the mollusk which could allow the octopus to suck out the animal from the shell aperture like a shotgunning effect?

Have you ever wondered how the Okinawans catch small octopuses? Below is a colorful handmade lure made from cone shells and beads. I found it years ago at Awase flats.

My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations

If you would like to help me make a difference Please check out my Patreon Site https://www.patreon.com/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

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands – – – – SUBSCRIBE BELOW

The Fastest Fish Jaws on the Planet by Shawn Miller

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Admin11

The Sling-jaw wrasse is my favorite fish to observe underwater. The large wrasse is fairly common in the beautiful waters of Okinawa. It primarily swims using its pectoral fins, similar to the way a bird uses its wings. It can be seen at all of the popular snorkeling and diving locations on Okinawa.

Scientific name: Epibulus insidiator
Common Name: Sling-jaw wrasse
Distribution: Indo-Pacific
Habitat: Coral reefs
Diet: Small fish, crabs, and shrimp
Average Size: 29cm
Threats: Habitat loss and overfishing

The Sling-jaw wrasse looks very strange when viewed head-on. It has the ability to rotate its eyes 360 degrees.

The sling-jaw wrasse looks like a pretty average fish from its side but has a hidden ability. The Sling-jaw wrasse has the ability to protrude its jaw longer than any other fish in the ocean. Its jaw is used to extend its reach and suck in prey. The scientific term for this is known as jaw protusion. It uses suction feeding to catch small animals in tight cracks and crevices on the reef.

To increase its chances of catching prey the wrasse will team up with other fish and the octopus. It’s pretty amazing to watch this team hunting take place. The scientific term for this is known as nuclear hunting.

Sometimes a still photograph just can’t capture the behavior taking place. In order to really appreciate this animal behavior, it must be seen in the wild. Nuclear hunting at Maeda point.

Hundreds of fish washed ashore after Typhoon trami. This mature wrasse could not cope with the devastating power of Typhoon trami.

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.

If you would like to use any of my photographs, please contact me directly.

Have a great day!

Frogfish of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Admin11

Frogfish are found throughout the Ryukyu Islands in shallow water. They are popular subjects for underwater macro photographers in Okinawa. They are masters of camouflage and mimicry so they can be difficult to find. The juveniles resemble toxic nudibranchs, tunicates, seaweed, algae, soft corals, and sponges.

Warty clownfish (Antennarius maculatus) © Shawn Miller

Spotted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) © Shawn Miller

Scarlet frogfish (Antennarius coccineus) © Shawn Miller

Painted clownfish (Antennarius maculatus)

Painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) © Shawn Miller

They are also known as anglerfish. They spend most of their time staying in one location using a specialized fishing pole and lure to attract prey. They are vicious hunters and are capable of swallowing fish larger than itself.

Spotted clownfish fishing (Antennarius pictus) © Shawn Miller

They move slowly, crawling over the reef with their pectoral fins or by using jet propulsion in open water.

Sargassum Frogfish (Histrio histrio) © Shawn Miller

On several occasions, I have seen large anglers the size of a football at Maeda point” Meet Frogzilla ”

Giant frogfish (Antennarius commersoni) © Shawn Miller

Sometimes humans see random faces on natural objects. The scientific term for this is Pareidolia. Can you see the frogfish resemblance?

Sponge or Frogfish © Shawn Miller

Faces in the Yanbaru forest © Shawn Miller

Linchens and frogfish © Shawn Miller

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

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

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Admin11

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Bicolor blenny in coral - fish of okinawa

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

Stony coral and gall

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

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

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: Scientific Photographers of Okinawa

The Most Beautiful Bivalve In The World – Pedum spondyloideum

The Red Coral of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Cowrie Shell Eating Octopuses of Okinawa

The Fastest Fish Jaws on the Planet by Shawn Miller

Frogfish of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Gall Crabs – Coral-Inhabiting Micro Crabs of Okinawa