Esther's photos with the keyword: underwater

Lionfish are voracious predators with beautiful but venimous sharp spines which they use for defense. They are native to the Indian Pacific Ocean region, not the Caribbean. They began appearing in great numbers after Hurricane Andrew damaged a Florida aquarium in 1992 and allowed six lionfish to escape. The first lionfish in Curacao was spotted in 2009 and since then, they have started appearing with great frequency. This specimen was captured and can be seen at the Curacao Seaquarium. Sharing its tank is Valonia ventricosa (green ball algae), AIMG_0620

Although they look like flowers, they are in fact, social feather duster tube worms. They live in calcareous tubes that they secrete and their feather duster tops are really tentacles attached to the top of their heads that they use for respiration and to trap food. The tentacles are about one inch in diameter and can be instantly retracted into the tube at any sign of danger. Photograph taken at the Curacao Seaquarium. ODT: Soft AIMG_0623

Boring clam - Tridacna crocea - Low Isles, Great Barrier Reef, Australia My husband took this photograph, but I am posting it for him since he does not have an ipernity account.. AAustralia2012 012

Giant clams are are the largest mollusks on Earth. They can grow up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length and weigh more than 500 pounds (227 kg). This one was about 3 feet long. I patted his exterior shell which caused him to clam up and shut his shell. Low Isles, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. My husband took this photograph, but I am posting it for him since he does not have an ipernity account.. AAustralia2012 010

The Melbourne Aquarium in Melbourne, Australia has a marvelous collection of Southern Ocean and Antarctic species, as well as a large variety of sharks and rays. AIMG_5818

The Melbourne Aquarium in Melbourne, Australia has a marvelous collection of Southern Ocean and Antarctic species, as well as a large variety of sharks and rays. AIMG_5844

The Melbourne Aquarium in Melbourne, Australia has a marvelous collection of Southern Ocean and Antarctic species, as well as a large variety of sharks and rays. AIMG_5826

Cuttlefish have an internal shell, known as the cuttlebone, eight arms and two tentacles. They eat molluscs including other cuttlefish, crustaceans, fish, octopi and worms. The Melbourne Aquarium in Melbourne, Australia has a marvelous collection of Southern Ocean and Antarctic species, as well as a large variety of sharks and rays. AIMG_5823