Seconded By: Frank Meo,
What compels us to pause and truly see? In a world of constant motion and instant gratification, we often glide past the extraordinary, missing the intricate worlds that hide in plane sight. The Underwater World of Mangroves” reveals the hidden, inspires the curious, and reminds us that these worlds exist all around – they’re simply waiting for someone to notice.
A Berghia nudibranch rests on a piece of seaweed tangled between the roots of the mangroves. These sea slugs are known to feed exclusivly on glass anemones (aiptasia pallida).
A blue crab sits in a bed of seaweed as the sun sets along the horizon. Its front pinchers are missing, likely lost in a recent battle, in the molting process or escaping a trap.
A yellow sea cucumber feeds on ditritus in the shallows of the mangrove forest.
An orb weaver rests on its web strung low between the mangrove roots. It pulls its legs together in a defensive stance, waiting for dinner to be served.
Two lettuce nudibranchs – named for their lettuce like appearance – meet in the grassy shallows around the mangrove forest.
Cooler winter weather brings vibrant colors to the underwater world of mangroves. A glass anemones takes the spotlight amidst fuzzy pink Cotton Candy algae (Callithamnion).
Sea grass, tube worms, snails, and various macro algae create a mosaic of life just below the water’s surface.
A tulip snail rests on a bed of green chaetomorpha algae, its galazy patterend flesh peaks out behind its lid-like operculum.