Esther's photos with the keyword: Netherland Antilles

This Caribbean reef octopus resides at the Curacao Seaquarium and can rapidly change color and texture in order to blend into its surroundings, using specialised skin cells known as chromatophores. ODT: Part of the full picture AIMG_0625

Explore - October 20, 2010 #201 Although I normally cringe seeing animals as intelligent as dolphins in captivity. I had to admit that the dolphins at the Curacao Seaquarium did not seem to be miserable. They seemed to enjoy interacting with their trainers, even when they did not receive fishy treats and they swam in a large, natural setting. A number of them, including mothers with babies, would leave the Seaquarium with their trainers to swim in the open ocean with divers and then willingly return to the Seaquarium. ODT: Upside down AIMG_0496

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

Shete Boka National Park in Curacao, Netherland Antilles ACuracao 2009 279

Boka Tabla at Shete Boka National Park, Curacao P6130192E

Wild goats forage for food in the arid land that forms Shete Boka National Park in Curacao, N.A. ODT: spotted P6130206E

This Bare Eyed Dove in Curacao is only too happy to pose for a picture while waiting for a handout. P6080053EE

The ocean waves are fierce at Shete Boka National Park in Curacao, N.A. They dwarf the motor vehicles on top of the rocky ledge. ODT: Salty P6130208

Pelican, Curacao P6090105E