ula-papapa

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

sculptured slipper lobster                            Parribacus antarcticus

Striped Clown Crab

Photo copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

striped clown crab                                        Xanthias sp.

Tiny bug. Smaller than a thumbnail.

Night Bugs

Photos Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

marbled shrimp                             Saron marmoratus

Blue-eyed Crab

Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

rainbow swimming crab                      Charbdis erythrodactyla

Marbled Shrimp - night dive

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

marbled shrimp                    Saron marmoratus

camel shrimp

Fuller brush shrimp

Ghost Shrimp

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

ghost shrimp                    Stenopus pyrsonotus

fountain shrimp

flameback coral shrimp

Peeping Crab

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

red swimming crab                     Charybdis paucidentata

Big Bug Eyes

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

marbled shrimp           Saron marmoratus

Bug

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

Regal Slipper Lobster               (Arctides regalis)

Mystery Crab

I saw this tiny crab on a recent twilight dive at Honaunau and have been unable to identify it. It seems like the distinctive heart-shaped white area on the carapace would make ID simple, but I haven't seen anything like it in my reference books or on the web. Any help in making the identification would be greatly appreciated!

Photos Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler

Sea Star Shrimp

On a coral reef, one life tends to be layered on another life. Aside from the prey/predator relationship, the reef abounds with examples of symbiosis and commensalism.

Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler

The cushion star (Culcita nova guineae) is a common echinoderm on Hawaiian reefs. A casual look shows nothing more than a puffy-looking "starfish". But closer examination reveals the presence of tiny sea star shrimp (Periclimenes soror) clinging to the sea star's bristly skin.

Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler

These commensal shrimp live in small groups on a sea star and change color to match that of their host.

Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler

Bloody Hermit Crab

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

Today I'm posting some photos I took recently of a hermit crab that let me take some extreme close-ups. This particular species is called a Bloody Hermit Crab, owing to the red markings on its claw-bearing extremities. This one appears to be inhabiting the shell of a Textile Cone, but the shell is so heavily encrusted that it's difficult to be certain.

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

The last photo is my favorite. It's kind of a profile portrait and the crab looks a little wistful, a quality seldom associated with crustaceans!