Hawaiian invertebrates

Hawaiian Spiny Lobster

The Hawaiian Spiny Lobster (Panulirus marginatus), which is endemic to Hawaii, is distinguished from its Hawaiian congener by its dark legs.

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).

Cusion Star detail

Lateral detail of a Cusion Star (Culcita novaeguineae).

Antler Coral closeup

Closeup of Antler (Pocillopora grandis) Coral revealing individual poyps.

Living pearl osyter

A Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritifera), which is now a protected species, living in a Hawaiian reef. This is the animal that generates the precious pearls used in jewlery.

Antler Coral and Hawaiian Squirrelfish

This large Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) head provides a place fpr a Hawaiian Squirrelfish (Sargocentrum xantheryrum) to hide from predators

Spiral Wire Coral

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

Red Slate Pencil and Needle-spined urchins

Red Slate Pencil and Needle-spined urchins (Heterocentrotus mamillatus and Echinostrephus aciculatus) perched 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

Backwall Reefscape

A view to the surface at Molokini Carter's backwall. Two Antler Coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) heads surrouned by other corals, coraline algae, and enrusting sponges are in the foreground.

Kona Porites reef

A Kona coast (Hawaii) reef comprized of several species of porites coral, both live and dead. The whitish marks on dead Porites are evidence of parrotfish feeding on epiphytic algae.

Rice Coral

Patches of encrusting Rice Coral (Montipora capitata) surrounded by pink corraline algae on a submergd lava wall on the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii.

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.

Tornaria larva of an Acorn Worm

Tornaria larva of an Acorn Worm (Phylum Hemicordata) photographed in situ during a blackwater dive off Kona, Hawaii.

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.

A contrast in texture

This isolated head of the Hawaiian endemic coral species Brigham's Coral (Porites brighami) contrasts in texture with the salt and pepper sand (from a mixture of lava and coral sources) substrate on which it rests, located off south Kona, Hawaii.

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.

Green Linckia Seastar

Green Linckia Seastar (Linckia guildingi) resting on dead Cauliflower Coral (Pocillopora meandrina) that has been colonized by turf algae and microinvertebrates.

Winged Pearl Oyster growing on Hawaiian Black Coral

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