Nature: Wildlife (PROFESSIONAL) - HONORABLE MENTION
The Hidden Lives of Small Ocean Parents
Photo © Henley Spiers
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The oceans smaller inhabitants have evolved incredible ways of keeping their future offspring safe. A Goby, under an inch long, lays its eggs on a small tunicate and will then stay by their side until hatching. Yellowhead Jawfish will mouth brood their young for about a week, forsaking their own sustenance until the eggs are ready to hatch. Banded Jawfish share this trait, as well as the need to periodically shuffle the eggs in and out of their mouth to keep all suitably oxygenated (a process which takes a split second). Finally, with a punch that has the power of a bullet and arguably the greatest set of eyes in the animal kingdom, there is no place safer for a Peacock Mantis Shrimp's eggs then draped on their mother.
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The oceans smaller inhabitants have evolved incredible ways of keeping their future offspring safe. A Goby, under an inch long, lays its eggs on a small tunicate and will then stay by their side until hatching. Yellowhead Jawfish will mouth brood their young for about a week, forsaking their own sustenance until the eggs are ready to hatch. Banded Jawfish share this trait, as well as the need to periodically shuffle the eggs in and out of their mouth to keep all suitably oxygenated (a process which takes a split second). Finally, with a punch that has the power of a bullet and arguably the greatest set of eyes in the animal kingdom, there is no place safer for a Peacock Mantis Shrimp's eggs then draped on their mother.
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Underwater photographer, photo-journalist and ocean lover.BACK TO GALLERY
