Hawaiian invertebrates

Hawaiian Black Coral

Hawaiian Black Coral (Cirrhipathes anguina) living on the backwall of Molokini Crater, near Maui, Hawaii.

Cat's-Tongue Spiny Oyster

The Cat's-Tongue Spiny Oyster (Spondylus gloriosus) is an endemic Hawaiian bivalve mollusk.

Cusion Star detail

Aboral surface detail of a Cusion Star (Culcita novaeguineae).

Spiral Wire Coral

Spiral Wire Coral (Cirrhipathes spiralis) living on the backwall of Molokini Crater, near Maui, Hawaii.

Patches of Rice Coral (Montipora capitata)

Encrusting patches of Rice Coral (Montipora capitata) growing on the backwall of Molokini Crater off Maui, Hawaii, USA.

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.

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

encrusting Rice Coral

Patches of encrusting Rice Coral (Montipora capitata).

Sea gooseberry (Pleurobrachia sp.)

A tentaculate ctenophore a.k.a. comb jelly or sea gooseberry (Pleurobrachia sp.) opens its mouth to ingest zooplankton prey during a blackwater dive off the Kona Coast, The Big island, Hawaii, USA.

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.

Venus' Girdle (Cestum veneris)

A Venus' Girdle (Cestum veneris) glides by during a blackwater dive of the Kona Coast, The Big island, Hawaii, USA.

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.

Lobe Coral (Porites lobata)

Lobe Coral (Porites lobata)

Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla)

Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) attached to the underside of an encrusted overhang formed by lava rock off the Big Island, Hawaii.

Crown Jellyfish (Cephea cephea)

Crown Jellyfish (Cephea cephea) drifts by duing a blackwater dive off the Kona Coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA.

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.

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.

Winged Pearl Oyster growing on Hawaiian Black Coral

Winged Pearl Oyster (Pteria brunnea) growing on Hawaiian Black Coral (Antipathes griggi).

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.

Banded Coral Shrimp

Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) perched on the ceiling of a moray eel's lair

Plate and Knob Coral

Plate and Knob Coral (Porites moniculosa).

Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

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.

Tufted Spiny Lobster crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

Tufted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) crawling about on a Hawaiian reef.

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.

Siphonophore Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater scuba dive

Underwater photograph of the putative Siphonophore species Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater (bluewater at night) scuba dive off Kona, Hawaii.

Siphonophore Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater scuba dive

Underwater photograph of the putative Siphonophore species Agalma okeni taken during a blackwater (bluewater at night) scuba dive off Kona, Hawaii.