Hawaiian invertebrates - Salmonography.com

Hawaiian invertebrates

Underwater photographs of Hawaiian marine invertebrates

Patches of Rice Coral (Montipora capitata)
Encrusting patches of Rice Coral (Montipora capitata) growing on the backwall of Molokini Crater off Maui, Hawaii, USA.
Acroporidae Class Anthozoa Cnidaria ERDA Hawaii Invertebrate Maui Maui County Molokini Crater dive site Montipora capitata Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing Slides Subclass Hexacorallia United States Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate rice coral scuba scuba dive site scuba diving underwater underwater photography winter
Patches of encrusting Vermillion Clathria Sponge (Clathria sp.)
Patches of encrusting Vermillion Clathria Sponge (Clathria sp.) colors the living rock on Molokini Crater's backwall, off Maui, Hawaii USA.
Class Demospongiae Clathria sp.ERDA Hawaii Invertebrate Maui Maui County Microcionidae Molokini Crater dive site Order Poecilosclerida Phylum Porifera Seacam underwater housing Slides United States Vermilion Clathria scuba scuba dive site scuba diving sponge underwater underwater photography winter
Ridgeback Slipper Lobster (Scyllarides haanii)
Ridgeback Slipper Lobster (Scyllarides haanii) hiding in its lair between lava rocks on Molokini Crater 's backwall off Maui, Hawaii, USA
arthropod Arthropoda Class Demospongiae Class Malacostraca Clathria sp.ERDA Hawaii Infraorder Achelata Invertebrate Macrura Maui Maui County Microcionidae Molokini Crater dive site Order Decapoda Order Poecilosclerida Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Porifera Scyllaridae Scyllarides haanii Seacam underwater housing Slides Subphyllum Crustacea United States Vermilion Clathria ridgeback slipper lobster scuba scuba dive site scuba diving sponge underwater underwater photography winter
Sea gooseberry (Pleurobrachia sp.)
A tentaculate ctenophore a.k.a. comb jelly and sea gooseberry (Pleurobrachia sp.) opens its mouth to ingest zooplankton prey during a blackwater dive off the Kona Coast, The Big island, Hawaii, USA.
BID Big Island Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Cydippida Phylum Ctenophora Pleurobrachia sp.Pleurobrachidae Sea Gooseberry Seacam underwater housing The Big Island United States blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography winter
Lobed comb jelly (Bolinopsis sp.)
Lobed comb jelly (Bolinopsis sp.) observed expanding its feeding lobes during a black water dive off the Kona Coast, Hawaii, USA.
BID Big Island Bolinopsidae Bolinopsis sp.Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Lobed Comb Jelly Order Lobata Phylum Ctenophora Seacam underwater housing The Big Island United States blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography winter
Venus' Girdle (Cestum veneris)
A Venus' Girdle (Cestum veneris) glides by during a blackwater dive of the Kona Coast, The Big island, Hawaii, USA.
BID Big Island Cestum veneris Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Cestida Phylum Ctenophora Seacam underwater housing The Big Island United States Venus' Girdle blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography winter
Red-Spot Comb Jelly (Eurhamphaea vexilligera)
A Red-Spot Comb Jelly (Eurhamphaea vexilligera) passes by during a blackwater dive off the Kona Coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA.
BID Big Island Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Eurhamphaea vexilligera Eurhamphaeidae Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Lobata Phylum Ctenophora RedSpot Comb Jelly Seacam underwater housing The Big Island United States blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography winter
Crown Jellyfish (Cephea cephea)
Crown Jellyfish (Cephea cephea) drifts by duing a blackwater dive off the Kona Coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA.
BID Big Island Cephea cephea Cepheidae Class Scyphozoa Cnidaria Crown Jellyfish Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Rhizostomae Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing The Big Island United States blackwater bluewater dive cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography winter
Box Jellyfish a.k.a.Sea Wasp (Alatina alata)
Box Jellyfish a.k.a. Sea Wasp (Alatina alata) swims by duing a blackwater dive off the Kona Coast, the Big island, Hawaii, USA. While not fatal like its Australian relatives, this box jellyfish can deliver a nasty sting
Alatina alata Alatinidae BID Big Island Class Cubozoa Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Carybdeia Phylum Cnidaria Sea Wasp Box Jellyfish Seacam underwater housing The Big Island United States blackwater bluewater dive cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography winter
The colors of sponges
Encrusting sponges (Phylum Porifera) in a multitude of colors corresponding to different taxa (Orange Hydroid Sponge: Timea sp., Vermilion Clathria: Clathria sp., Yellow Hyrtios: Dactylospongia sp., and Green Encrusting Sponge: Batzella sp.) line the ceiling of a lava tube off South Kona, The Big Island, Hawaii.
BID Batzella sp.Big Island Class Demospongiae Clathria sp.Dactylospongia sp.Green Encrusting Sponge Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Microcionidae Orange Hydroid Sponge Order Dictyoceratida Order Poecilosclerida Phoriospongidae Phylum Porifera Seacam underwater housing South Kona dive site The Dome Spongiidae The Big Island Timea sp.United States Vermilion Clathria Yellow Hyrtios scuba scuba dive site scuba diving sponge underwater underwater photography winter
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboiensis) that was photographed underwater while scuba diving the Kona Coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA during the summer.
arthropod Arthropoda Big Island Class Malacostraca Hawaii Hawaii Island Hippolytidae Infraorder Caridea Invertebrate Kona Coast Lysmata amboinensis Order Decapoda Phylum Arthropoda Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp Seacam underwater housing Subphyllum Crustacea Summer Superfamily Alpheoidea The Big Island United States nature scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Banded Coral Shrimp
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) perched on the ceiling of a moray eel's lair
arthropod Arthropoda Banded Coral Shrimp Big Island Class Malacostraca Hawaii Hawaii Island Infraorder Stenopodidea Invertebrate Order Decapoda Phylum Arthropoda Seacam underwater housing Stenopodidae Stenopus hispidus Subphyllum Crustacea The Big Island United States scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Plate and Knob Coral
Plate and Knob Coral (Porites moniculosa).
Big Island Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Plate and Knob Coral Porites monticulosa Poritidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia The Big Island United States Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
arthropod Arthropoda Big Island Class Malacostraca Hawaii Hawaii Island Infraorder Achelata Invertebrate Macrura Order Decapoda Palinuridae Panulirus penicillatus Phylum Arthropoda Seacam underwater housing Subphyllum Crustacea The Big Island United States scuba scuba diving tufted spiny lobster underwater underwater photography
Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
arthropod Arthropoda Big Island Class Malacostraca Hawaii Hawaii Island Infraorder Achelata Invertebrate Macrura Order Decapoda Palinuridae Panulirus penicillatus Phylum Arthropoda Seacam underwater housing Subphyllum Crustacea The Big Island United States scuba scuba diving tufted spiny lobster underwater underwater photography
Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
arthropod Arthropoda Big Island Class Malacostraca Hawaii Hawaii Island Infraorder Achelata Invertebrate Macrura Order Decapoda Palinuridae Panulirus penicillatus Phylum Arthropoda Seacam underwater housing Subphyllum Crustacea The Big Island United States scuba scuba diving tufted spiny lobster underwater underwater photography
Tufted Spiny Lobster
Head-on view of a Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) showing its tufted legs that was photgraphed while scuba diving the Kona Coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA during the summer.
arthropod Arthropoda Big Island Class Malacostraca Hawaii Hawaii Island Infraorder Achelata Invertebrate Kona Kona Coast Macrura Order Decapoda Palinuridae Panulirus penicillatus Phylum Arthropoda Seacam underwater housing Subphyllum Crustacea Summer The Big Island United States nature scuba scuba diving tufted spiny lobster underwater underwater photography
Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.
arthropod Arthropoda Big Island Class Malacostraca Hawaii Hawaii Island Infraorder Achelata Invertebrate Macrura Order Decapoda Palinuridae Panulirus penicillatus Phylum Arthropoda Seacam underwater housing Subphyllum Crustacea The Big Island United States scuba scuba diving tufted spiny lobster underwater underwater photography
Siphonophre tentacles and various organs close-up
Close-up underwater photograph showing the tentacles and various organs of the putative Siphonophre species Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater (bluewater at night) scuba dive off the Kona Coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA during the summer.
Agalma okeni Agalmatidae Big Island Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Kona Kona Coast Order Siphonophorae Paired Bell Siphonophre Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing Subclass Leptolinae Suborder Physonectae Summer The Big Island United States cnidarian coelenterate nature scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Siphonophore Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater scuba dive
Underwater photograph of the Siphonophore putative species Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater (bluewater at night) scuba dive off Kona, Hawaii.
Agalma okeni Agalmatidae Big Island Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Siphonophorae Paired Bell Siphonophre Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing Subclass Leptolinae Suborder Physonectae The Big Island United States cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Siphonophore Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater scuba dive
Underwater photograph of the Siphonophore putative species Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater (bluewater at night) scuba dive off Kona, Hawaii.
Agalma okeni Agalmatidae Big Island Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Siphonophorae Paired Bell Siphonophre Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing Subclass Leptolinae Suborder Physonectae The Big Island United States cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Siphonophore Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater scuba dive
Underwater photograph of the Siphonophore putative species Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater (bluewater at night) scuba dive off Kona, Hawaii.
Agalma okeni Agalmatidae Big Island Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Siphonophorae Paired Bell Siphonophre Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing Subclass Leptolinae Suborder Physonectae The Big Island United States cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Siphonophore Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater scuba dive
Underwater photograph of the Siphonophore putative species Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater (bluewater at night) scuba dive off Kona, Hawaii.
Agalma okeni Agalmatidae Big Island Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Order Siphonophorae Paired Bell Siphonophre Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing Subclass Leptolinae Suborder Physonectae The Big Island United States cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Heart-shaped Pillow Zoanthid
Heart-shaped Pillow Zoanthid (Palythoa caesia).
Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Invertebrate Kauai Island Order Zoantharia Palythoa caesia Phylum Cnidaria Pillow Zoanthid Seacam underwater housing Sphenopidae Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Fisher's Sea Star
Fisher's Sea Star (Mithrodia fisheri), a Hawaiian endemic species, was photographed while scuba diving near Kauai Island, Hawaii
Class Asteroidea Echinodermata Fisher's Sea Star Invertebrate Kauai Island Mithrodia fisheri Mithrodiidae Order Valvatida Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa echinoderm scuba scuba diving sea star starfish underwater underwater photography
Feather Hydroids
Feather Hydroids (Gymnangium hians) strongly resemble their namesake.
Aglaopheniidae Class Hydrozoa Cnidaria Feather Hydroid Gymnangium hians Hawaii Invertebrate Ni'ihau Island Order Hydroida Phylum Cnidaria Seacam underwater housing United States cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Winged Pearl Oysters live attached to Wire Coral
Winged Pearl Oysters (Pteria brunnea) live attached to Wire Coral (Cirrhipathes anguina).
Cirrhipathes anguina Class Anthozoa Class Bivalvia Cnidaria Hawaii Invertebrate Mollusca Ni'ihau Island Order Antipatharia Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Mollusca Pteria brunnea Pteriidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia United States Winged Pearl Oyster Wire Coral Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate mollusk scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Juvenile Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
Juvenile Crown-of-Thorns (Acanthaster planci) Starfish spread out on live rock at Ni'ihau Island, near Kauai, Hawaii, USA during the spring.
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae COTS Class Asteroidea CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Echinodermata Hawaii Invertebrate Kauai Island Ni'ihau Island Order Valvatida Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Spring Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa United States echinoderm nature scuba scuba diving sea star starfish underwater underwater photography
Orange Lacy Bryozoan
The original description of the Orange Lacy Bryozoan (Reteporellina denticulata), the species shown here, was made from specimens collected in Hawaii during the Challenger expedition of the 1870's.
Challenger Expedition Class Gymnolaemata Hawaii Invertebrate Ni'ihau Island Orange Lacy Bryozoan Order Cheilostomata Phidoliporidae Phylum Bryozoa Reteporellina denticulata Seacam underwater housing United States moss animals scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Day Octopus lurking
Day Octopus (Octopus cyanea) lurking under Antler Coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) cover.
Antler Coral Class Anthozoa Class Cephalopoda Cnidaria Day Octopus Hawaii Invertebrate Mollusca Ni'ihau Island Octopdidae Octopus cyanea Order Octopoda Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Mollusca Pocillopora eydouxi Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia United States Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate mollusk scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish or Sea Star
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) resting near the entrance to a lava tube off the Kona coast, The Big Island, Hawaii, USA.
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Big Island COTS Class Asteroidea CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Echinodermata Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Kona Order Valvatida Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa The Big Island United States echinoderm scuba scuba diving sea star starfish underwater underwater photography
Day Octopus resting in a crevice
Day Octopus (Octopus cyanea) resting in a crevice
Big Island Class Cephalopoda Day Octopus Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Kona Mollusca Octopdidae Octopus cyanea Order Octopoda Phylum Mollusca Seacam underwater housing The Big Island United States mollusk scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Plate and Pillar Coral detail
Plate and Pillar Coral (Porited rus) detail
Big Island Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Kona Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Plate and Pillar Coral Porites rus Poritidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia The Big Island United States Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Colors of Antler Coral
Colors of Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis (formerly Pocillopora eydouxi)) vary according to the color of its symbiot. A single coral head may contain genetically distinct dinoflagellate symbiots.
Antler Coral Big Island Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Hawaii Hawaii Island Invertebrate Kona Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora eydouxi Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia The Big Island United States Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
crab megalops larva
This tiny (width ~ 1 cm) crab megalops larva was photographed several miles offshore of Hawaii Island during a blackwater scuba dive. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
arthropod Arthropoda Class Malacostraca Infraorder Brachyura Invertebrate JDL Order Decapoda Phylum Arthropoda Seacam underwater housing Spring Subphyllum Crustacea blackwater bluewater dive crab megalops larva megalopae scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Depredated slate pencil sea urchin
Depredated slate pencil sea urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) resting on the bottom off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island
Air Tanks BID Class Echinoidea Echinodermata Echinometridae Heterocentrotus mammillatus Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Echinoida Phylum Echinodermata Red Slate Pencil Urchin Seacam underwater housing Spring echinoderm predation scuba scuba dive site scuba diving slate pencil sea urchin underwater underwater photography
Tiny medusa
Unidentified tiny medusa (diameter ~2 cm) that was photographed several miles offshore of Hawaii Island during a blackwater scuba dive. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
JDL Seacam underwater housing Spring blackwater bluewater dive scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Bolinopsid comb jelly
Bolinopsid comb jelly (ctenophore) that was photographed several miles offshore of Hawaii Island during a blackwater scuba dive during the spring.
Bolinopsidae Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Invertebrate JDL Order Lobata Pacificstock RF Phylum Ctenophora Seacam underwater housing Spring blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Blue-grey zoanthid surrounded by lobe coral
Blue-grey zoanthid (Palythoa caesia) surrounded by lobe coral (Porites lobata) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Bluegrey Zoanthid Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Invertebrate JDL Kaloko Arches Kona coast dive site Lobe Coral Order Scleractinia Order Zoantharia Palythoa caesia Phylum Cnidaria Pillow Zoanthid Porites lobata Poritidae Seacam underwater housing Sphenopidae Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate scuba scuba dive site scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Ctenophore details
Lobate ctenophore or comb jelly (Leucothea multicornis) that was photographed close-up several miles offshore of Hawaii Island during a blackwater scuba dive during the spring.
arthropod Arthropoda BID Class Malacostraca Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Invertebrate Leucothea multicornis Leucotheidae Order Amphipoda Order Lobata Pacificstock RMA Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Ctenophora Seacam underwater housing Spring Suborder Hyperiidea Subphyllum Crustacea blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore hyperiid scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Ctenophore details
Lobate ctenophore or comb jelly (Leucothea multicornis) with several small hyperiid amphipods that was photographed close-up several miles offshore of Hawaii Island during a blackwater scuba dive.
arthropod Arthropoda BID Class Malacostraca Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Invertebrate Leucothea multicornis Leucotheidae Order Amphipoda Order Lobata Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Ctenophora Seacam underwater housing Spring Suborder Hyperiidea Subphyllum Crustacea blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore hyperiid scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Ctenophore details
Lobate ctenophore or comb jelly (Leucothea multicornis) that was photographed close-up several miles offshore of Hawaii Island during a blackwater scuba dive during the spring.
arthropod Arthropoda BID Class Malacostraca Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Invertebrate Leucothea multicornis Leucotheidae Order Amphipoda Order Lobata Pacificstock RMA Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Ctenophora Seacam underwater housing Spring Suborder Hyperiidea Subphyllum Crustacea blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore hyperiid scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Ctenophore details
Lobate ctenophore or comb jelly (Leucothea multicornis) that was photographed close-up several miles offshore of Hawaii Island during a blackwater scuba dive during the spring.
arthropod Arthropoda BID Class Malacostraca Class Tentaculata Ctenophora Invertebrate Leucothea multicornis Leucotheidae Order Amphipoda Order Lobata Pacificstock RMA Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Ctenophora Seacam underwater housing Spring Suborder Hyperiidea Subphyllum Crustacea blackwater bluewater dive comb jelly ctenophore hyperiid scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Phronima with young in Salp
A Phronima amphipod (length ~ 3 cm) with young in the remains of its salp host that was photographed during a blackwater scuba dive several miles offshore of Hawaii Island at night during the spring.
arthropod Arthropoda BID Chordata Class Malacostraca Invertebrate Order Amphipoda Pacificstock RF Phronima Phronimidae Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Chordata invertebrate portion of Salp Salpidae Seacam underwater housing Spring Suborder Hyperiidea Subphyllum Crustacea Superfamily Phronimoidea blackwater bluewater dive chordate hyperiid scuba scuba diving underwater photography
Phronima with young in Salp
A Phronima amphipod (length ~ 3 cm) with young in the remains of its salp host that was photographed during a blackwater scuba dive several miles offshore of Hawaii Island at night. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
BID Seacam underwater housing Spring blackwater bluewater dive scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography
Freckled Hawkfish lurking in antler coral
Freckled Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) lurking in antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi). A cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae) is at the coral's base. Photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island during the spring.
Antler Coral BID Cirrhitidae Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Culcita novaeguineae Echinodermata Freckled Hawkfish Golden Arches Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Order Valvatida Oreasteridae Pacificstock RF Paracirrhites forsteri Perciformes Percoidei Phyllum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Pocillopora eydouxi Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Teleost Vertebrate Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate cushion seastar cushion star echinoderm scuba scuba dive site scuba diving sea star starfish underwater underwater photography
Double jepardy: coral bleaching and seastar predation
Antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming being attacked by a Crown of Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster planci) photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae BID COTS Class Asteroidea Cnidaria CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Echinodermata Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Valvatida Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Touch of Grey cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching echinoderm scuba scuba dive site scuba diving sea star starfish underwater underwater photography
Yellowstriped Coris in front of a partially bleached antler coral
Yellowstriped Coris (Coris flavovittata) in front of a partially bleached antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Antler Coral BID Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Coris flavovittata Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Labridae Labrioidei Order Scleractinia Perciformes Phyllum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora eydouxi Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Touch of Grey Vertebrate Yellowstriped Coris Zoantharia anthozoa cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching endemic scuba scuba dive site scuba diving underwater underwater photography

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