Discover Kwajalein’s Living Reef

by

Scott Johnson Jeanette Johnson In-Depth Images

Kwajalein, Marshall Islands The rich coral reefs of the west central Pacific atoll of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, are nearly ideal for watching marine life. The atoll is composed of a roughly boomerang-shaped ring of reef nearly 200 miles in circumference. The reef is dotted with lush, green, low islands that are typically long and narrow, following the line of the shallowest part of the reef. On the seaward sides of the atoll, the reef slopes off gradually for a short distance, then drops off abruptly to very deep water; in some places the slope of the drop is nearly vertical. The outer reef encloses a lagoon of nearly 1000 square miles. While the average lagoon depth is greater than 100 feet and bottoms out at twice that depth, it is scattered with literally thousands of coral pinnacles: coral-rich reefs that thrust upward from the lagoon floor, sometimes all the way to the surface. Seemingly innumerable fish and invertebrates inhabit all of these atoll reefs. The lagoon and even the seaward slopes are interspersed with stretches of sand that are home to an entirely different menagerie of marine creatures So much reef makes diving Kwajalein an endless experience of discovery. Even after many years and thousands of hours in the water here, we still are routinely surprised by the sight of some new fish or crab or nudibranch or coral or whatever: the list goes on and on. It is not possible to ever truly finish discovering Kwajalein’s Living Reef. This document is a guide to the video Discover Kwajalein’s Living Reef by In-Depth Images. Included is a scene-by-scene listing of the video, each entry listing the starting time of the scene and the scientific and common names, where available, of the animals shown. The starting times assume that your VCR counter was reset to 0 just as the first scene of the video fades into view. For most scenes, additional information describing the activity shown follows the scientific and common names. Every few scenes, a screen captured image is included to help the reader keep the text in sync with the video. The top of the picture lines up with the scene description it accompanies. For example, the top of the first picture below is lined up with the scene that begins at counter 0000, and it is indeed a captured scene from the beginning of the video. 0000 Acropora Table coral A diver’s bubbles rise from a gap in a table coral covered reef. 0015 Acropora Table coral Table coral grows on a lagoon pinnacle slope, surrounded by gorgonians. 0020 Acropora and diver Table coral A diver swims over a large table coral.

0030 Acropora Table coral This large table coral has a resident Chevron butterflyfish and lined tangs swimming by. 0038 Acropora Table coral Elongate Needlefish float above the reef. 0044 Acropora Branching coral 0048 Porites rus Crinkly coral This tall colony of crinkly coral grows upward from the base of a seaward reef surge channel. 0100 Reef scene A colony of blue coral (Heliopora) is visible just left of center. 0107 Coral and fish scene Corals, primarily Acropora and stalk coral, and fish on a lagoon reef. Three Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) swim past the coral. 0114 Abundant corals on lagoon pinnacle There are some areas with nearly 100 percent live coral cover. This is on the slope of a lagoon pinnacle. Most of the corals are staghorn and other Acropora, stalk (Lobophyllia), and crinkly (Porites rus) coral. 0126 Diver on the steep seaward slope. 0133 Isolated lagoon reef with lots of fish. In foreground, a school of bluestreak fusiliers (Pterocaesio tile) swim downward. 0137 Coralhead occupied by a dense school of cardinalfish. The cluster of brownish bubbles in the lower left side of the frame is bubble or grape coral (Pleurogyra sinuosa). The coral’s hard skeleton is hidden beneath the water filled balloons, which are the coral’s tentacles. 0142 Coralhead occupied by a dense school of cardinalfish. Other fish visible include at least two kinds of damsels, wrasses, and small snappers. 0147 A school cardinalfish in front of the soft coral Xenia. When growing in shaded areas, Xenia develops elongate polyp stalks, as if reaching out in search of sunlight. In bright, unshaded areas, the stalks tend to be much shorter. Like most other reef corals, Xenia houses within its tissue unicellular algae called Zooxanthellae. These algal cells use sunlight and some of the waste products of the coral animal to produce oxygen and carbon compounds, which in turn are used by the coral. This is a case of symbiosis: two different kinds of organisms living in close association. This particular kind of symbiosis, where both parties obtain some benefit or the survival of both is somehow enhanced by the relationship, is termed mutualism. 0152 Apogon cyanosoma Bright yellow cardinalfish These bright yellow fish school in the shade of a table Acropora.

0157 Cardinalfish cluster in a gap in a small reef. Blue damsels swim by in the foreground. On the upper left top of the coralhead is a sea anemone with Apricot anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion). 0205 Pomacentrus pavo Blue damsels Damsels cluster around a colony of the coral Pectinia peonia. 0210 Pomacentrus pavo Blue damsel A Blue damsel hovers over purple and yellow-brown Acropora colonies. 0217 Chromis viridis Schooling blue-green damsels Damselfish find refuge in a colony of the coral Stylophora mordax. 0226 Dascyllus reticulatus Reticulated damsels Juveniles hover over their hideaway, a colony of Acropora coral. 0230 Dascyllus reticulatus Reticulated damsels Larger damsels interact over a colony of Pocillopora coral. 0236 Fish around fire coral Amblyglyphidodon curacao Staghorn damsels These damsels and other fish hide among the branches of a colony of fire coral, Millepora. A Pennant bannerfish (Heniochus chrysopterus) moves in from the right and out at the bottom. 0243 Zanclus cornutus Moorish idols A school of Moorish idols stream along the seaward reef slope. Most often, idols are seen alone, in pairs, or in small groups, but occasionally large schools can be seen moving up and down the reef. We have wondered if some individuals are simply prone to forming schools and are always found that way, or if they aggregate for purposes of mating. 0248 Zanclus cornutus Moorish idols Several Moorish idols form a small group. 0253 Platax orbicularis Batfish A medium sized Batfish investigates the photographer near the North Loi shipwreck. 0301 Acanthurus achilles Achilles tangs Achilles tangs are hard to find at Kwajalein. Thirty years ago there was a small group on a shallow lagoon reef near the pass south of Omelek, but they have not been seen in recent years. These two were part of a small group found on the shallow reef front of the ocean side of Ebadon Island, near the far western tip of Kwajalein Atoll. 0308 Acanthurus nigrofuscus Calico brown tang Typically mostly brown as an adult, the Brown tang is sometimes yellow when juvenile. Occasionally, these yellow ones seem to go through a blotchy, yellow and brown stage; in this stage, we refer to them as Calico tangs. Having watched some of these over time, it appears as though the extent of the blotchiness

varies over time, with the brown gradually winning out over the yellow. This individual is doing what tangs spend most of their daylight hours doing: grazing on the thin algae sheet that covers most rocks. 0313 Acanthurus lineatus Lined tang Like many other algae grazers, the Lined tang spends most of its day scraping the thin layer of algae from dead coral rocks. It takes a lot of scraping to fill the fish’s stomach. These tangs are most common on shallow reefs where there is some water movement. Swim into the shallows on the seaward reef and you’ll see lots of them. They move continually, so they are hard to film; rarely do they slow down as much as shown here. 0320 Acanthurus hepatus Blue tang The Blue tang is a rare resident of Kwajalein. There have been a few adults inhabiting the shallow reeftop near Sar Pass for some years, and there are two or three other locations where a specimen might be encountered. Juveniles such as this one-inch long individual are rare. It was observed on a shallow lagoon reef, mixed in with some blue damselfish. Early in the scene, numerous garden eels can be seen in the background stretching up out of the sandy bottom. 0327 Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis Chevron tangs Chevrons live primarily on the seaward reef slope at Kwajalein. Adults, which are dark gray with find lighter colored lines, are relatively common. Juveniles, which possess this orange coloration with chevron-shaped markings, are quite uncommon. These young specimens are very attractive in aquaria, but grow relatively quickly into drab-colored adults. 0336 Acanthurus nigricans Whitecheek tang A common fish throughout the atoll is the Whitecheek tang, and they can often be seen engaging in these circular tail chases. It appears to be some sort of aggressive posturing, but I’m not sure why they do it. Most often, they seem to share their spaces with many others. Sometimes, such as in the next scene, they will even form tightly packed schools with no sign of aggression. 0342 Acanthurus nigricans Whitecheek tangs A school of Whitecheek tangs feeds voraciously on algae-covered rocks. 0349 Naso hexacanthus Blacktongue unicornfish These large, round-headed fish are another species of tang, the Blacktongue unicornfish. These relatively large fish school along the ocean side slope and on lagoon pinnacle reefs, especially those pinnacles that are near atoll passes and are swept with currents that bring in the Nasos’ planktonic food. 0355 Naso annulatus Longhorned unicornfish One of the most bizarre-looking tangs has to be this Longhorned unicornfish. It looks as though those long pointed horns could be used to spear a diver. Fortunately, this fish is an innocuous plankton eater. They tend to live relatively deep on the seaward reef slope and are relatively difficult to get close to. The closest one in this scene is having its parasites picked by a cleaner wrasse.

0403 Naso hexacanthus Blacktongue unicornfish Caesio teres Yellowback fusilier Tangs and fusiliers often school in the same areas, usually because those areas are good plankton feeding grounds. 0409 Pterocaesio tile Bluestreak fusiliers A school of small Bluestreak fusiliers swarm slowly around some table corals on a lagoon reef. 0417 Pterocaesio tile Bluestreak fusiliers Fusiliers swim over a seaward reef slope covered with colonies of Porites, with fans of pink coral (Stylaster) nestled within the reef crevices. 0423 Pterocaesio tile Bluestreak fusiliers Fusiliers school over a colony of staghorn coral (Acropora) on a lagoon pinnacle reef. 0428 Pterocaesio trilineata Three-lined fusiliers Members of a school of Three-lined fusilier feed on plankton along a lagoon reef. 0433 Pterocaesio tile Bluestreak fusiliers Tiny juvenile fusiliers, probably Pterocaesio tile, “mob” a diver on a shallow lagoon reef. 0440 Caesio teres Yellowback fusiliers Fusiliers swim down from above. These fish sometimes seem rather curious about divers. 0448 Caesio teres Yellowback fusiliers 0453 Pterocaesio tile Bluestreak fusiliers Pterocaesio tile swarm over table corals on a pinnacle reef. 0458 Pentapodus caninus Blue whiptail This species is usually seen in the lagoon, along interisland reefs and on pinnacles. 0503 Elagatis bipinnulatus Rainbow runners Rainbow runners school along the edges of the seaward reef and on lagoon pinnacles. 0515 Decapterus macarellus Mackeral scad 0519 Decapterus macarellus Mackeral scad 0524 Caranx melampygus Bluefin trevally or Blue ulua Blue ulua swarm around the camera. It seems like this kind of experience happens less often nowadays. While you can still see schools of these ulua racing up and down the reef, they now seem to stay away from divers. It is almost as though they have learned that those bubbling creatures they see on the reefs might be carrying spears.

0532 Carangoides plagiotaenia Barcheek trevally 0540 Caranx lugubris Black ulua A pair of Black ulua swims along the slope of a west reef pass. A Gray reef shark is visible in the distance behind. Black ulua commonly cause ciguatera fish poisoning when eaten. 0545 Alectis ciliaris African pompano These fish with their long streaming fins are relatively shy. They only rarely come close enough to divers to be captured on film. 0550 Fish school above crinkly coral (Porites rus) Panning a large stand of crinkly coral on the seaward reef slope reveals numerous fish swimming above. Most of these are various fairy basslets and purple queens, who hide within nooks and crannies of the coral colony upon approach of danger, or at night while sleeping. 0558 Pseudanthias pascalis Purple queens Purple queens zip around in front of a reef outcrop upon which are several feather stars. 0605 Pseudanthias dispar Peach fairly basslet Most of the fairy basslets emerging from this hideyhole on the reef belong to the species Pseudanthias dispar. There is at least one damselfish fairy basslet mimic (Lepidozygus tapienosoma), recognizable by its darker coloration. Near the end, a male Bartlett’s fairy basslet (Pseudanthias bartlettorum) shows up. 0615 Pseudanthias bartlettorum Bartlett’s fairy basslets Fairy basslets hover over a colony of crinkly coral. The large one in the approximate center with the tall thread extending upward from the front of its dorsal fin is a male. 0624 Pseudanthias randalli Randall’s fairy basslet This species prefers deeper sections of the seaward reef, and is usually not seen shallower than about 30 meters. The single individual visible early in the scene is a male; he is then joined by two females. Among the fairy basslets, the males are typically more flamboyantly colored, which probably serves to impress both potential mates and potential rivals. 0630 Pseudanthias pascalis Purple queens A group of the purple queens interact on a lagoon pinnacle coral reef. Late in the scene, a couple of males do somersaults, which probably a display to other males. 0641 Hipposcarus longiceps Pacific longnose parrotfish A school composed of mostly white parrotfish cruises by at the edge of the seaward reef slope. A few individuals of other species are interspersed within the school. Parrots feed on algae, which they scrape off reef rock with their parrot-like beaks, which are composed of usually fused teeth. In the process of scraping the algae, they also get the top layer of rock, which passes through their gut and drops out the rear end as fine sand. Parrotfish feeding is an important factor in the erosion of reefs, and these fish are

among the biggest producers of coral sand in an atoll. It might be worth considering, next time you’re out at the beach, the exact source of a good portion of that sand you are walking or laying on. 0646 Scarus rubroviolaceus Redlip parrotfish A school primarily composed of females swims over a channel. Parrots will occasionally form such schools, which wander around feeding on the algae growing on dead reef rocks. When such a school drops to the bottom and starts scraping the algae from the reef with their parrot-like bills, it can cause quite an underwater racket. This particular school, or one very much like it, can often be seen around this set of channels, suggesting that they do maintain some kind of home range and do not wander randomly up and down the reef. 0652 Acanthurus olivaceus Orange-shouldered tangs Other important reef grazers are the tangs. Unlike parrotfish, tangs usually don’t wear down the reefs much when they graze. Like parrots, however, they will often form schools and wander around to feed, much to the dismay of resident territorial algae eaters such as damselfish, who often try to protect their patches of algae. 0700 Siganus argenteus Forktail rabbitfish 0706 Siganus argenteus Forktail rabbitfish Schooling forktail rabbitfish graze algae from the reef. Later in the scene, a resident lined tang (Acanthurus lineatus) arrives and chases the rabbitfish away. That many feeding mouths can quickly denude an area of algae that the resident grazers depend on. Even though the reef looks nice and peaceful and friendly, many reef dwellers face a continual struggle to maintain their territories and sources of food. When you watch carefully, it is not hard to spot these frequent battles for turf. 0716 Gnathodentex aureolineatus Yellowspot snappers A few staghorn damsels (Amblyglyphidodon curacao) are also visible, and in the background, a group of squirrelfish (Neoniphon) hovers over the coral. 0724 Mulloides vanikolensis Yellowfin goatfish

Gnathodentex aureolineatus Yellowspot snappers 0732 Mulloides vanikolensis Yellowfin goatfish This school of goatfish is accompanied by a few Yellowband parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli). 0741 Heniochus chrysostomus Pennant bannerfish Usually, this species is found in pairs, but occasionally they will form small schools that seem to persist over time. One such school has been present on a patch of seaward reef dropoff near Sar Pass for several years. 0746 Heniochus chrysostomus Pennant bannerfish This cooperative bannerfish moved in front of a pink coral frame for the camera. 0751 Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflyfish This species is generally found singly or in pairs rather than groups such as this one.

0758 Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflyfish A single threadfin butterflyfish pecks at a colony of living Goniopora coral. Note the filament trailing from the dorsal fin, which gives this fish its common name of “threadfin.” This species feeds on a variety of corals and benthic invertebrates such as minute shrimps and worms. While butterflyfish frequently do not fare well in aquaria, the threadfin, because of its rather varied diet, is one that often can do fairly well. 0805 Chaetodon unimaculatus Teardrop butterflyfish A teardrop butterflyfish pecks at coral. The scientific name of this species, Chaetodon unimaculatus, refers to the single spot on each side. The often-used common name, teardrop, or even inverted teardrop, stems from the resemblance of that side spot to an upside down teardrop. 0812 Chaetodon ulietensis Pacific double saddle butterflyfish Like many butterflies, this species usually travels in pairs. In this scene, a third individual is visible in the background, but it is a member of a separate pair of fish that happened to be in the same area. Some butterflyfish aggressively defend their feeding territories against others of the same species, and even sometimes against different species with similar feeding habits. The double saddle is one that does not have a defended territory; instead, it wanders over a fairly wide range, feeding in a variety of places. It spends a fair bit of time being chased off by territorial butterflies or damsels into whose territories they happen to wander. This species has a varied diet and can do well in healthy aquaria. Young individuals tend to live on shallow, coral rich lagoon reefs. 0819 Chaetodon punctatofasciatus Spot banded butterflyfish One of the smaller butterflies, this is another that tends to wander in pairs over a fairly wide area rather than defending a particular territory. 0824 Chaetodon rafflesi Lattice butterflyfish Another wandering butterfly is the lattice. Usually in pairs, they get chased from territory to territory, stopping to peck as they go. Somewhat omnivorous, they will eat a combination of corals and anemones, as well as worms and other benthic invertebrates. It seems to do fairly well in aquaria. 0829 Chaetodon trifascialis Chevron butterflyfish This species feeds exclusively on a few kinds of Acropora corals. Highly territorial, an individual will vigorously defend its “own” colonies of coral from other coral eaters. Most often you’ll see these butterflies alone, although sometimes they form pairs and very occasionally will gather in small groups, possibly for mating. 0836 Chaetodon mertensii Merten’s butterflyfish Merten’s butterflies usually travel in pairs on the seaward reef and lagoon pinnacles. They feed by pecking a variety of invertebrates and algae from the bottom.

0841 Chaetodon meyeri Meyer’s butterflyfish Since the late 1960s, there have generally been some avid fish watchers and photographers among the numerous divers at Kwaj. Therefore, we know that throughout most of that period, Meyer’s butterfly has been very rare. We searched for several years for a single specimen to photograph. However, in May of 1999, Kwaj’s reefs were treated to a substantial settling of young Meyer’s. “Settling” is a biological term. The spawn of many marine fish and other animals hatch out and begin life as plankton. The larvae (very young juveniles) drift with the water currents feeding on planktonic plants or animals until they get to a certain stage, which varies among different species. Once they get to this stage, they are ready to convert from a planktonic to a reef dwelling existence. If a larval animal is lucky enough to be near a reef where it can survive, it will “settle out” of the plankton to the bottom. Most of them are not so lucky. The vast majority of larvae will be eaten, or will fail to come near enough a reef during the period while it is capable of settling, and will ultimately die as plankton. The settling of May 1999 spread small Meyer’s butterflies along the western seaward reef and on various pinnacles and patch reefs in the lagoon. May 2000 saw another, but apparently smaller, settling of these butterflies. Now it is not at all unusual to see two or three individuals on a single dive. Members of the 1999 settling are getting large enough to pair up. While most of those are pairing with conspecifics (another biological term meaning members of the same species), some are pairing up with the apparently closely related Ornate and Reticulated butterflyfish. These kinds of pairing errors have happened before. There are several obviously hybrid butterflies generated from a mating between Meyer’s and Reticulated butterflies. One can often be seen on Troy’s coralhead. 0848 Chaetodon meyeri/ Meyer’s butterflyfish Chaetodn. ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish These juvenile specimens of both of these species are too young to begin pairing up to mate. They may have come together because both felt comfortable with a familiar appearance. Both of theses species are strict coral feeders and are not appropriate for home aquaria. Their live coral food is difficult to maintain in all but certain specialized aquarium systems, and without live coral, both of these species will starve. 0853 Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish The coral feeding Ornate butterfly is moderately uncommon at Kwaj, but can be seen in a variety of lagoon and seaward reef habitats. 0858 Chaetodon lunula Raccoon butterflyfish The Raccoon butterfly is common on the upper slope of the seaward reef. During the day, they typically hover just above the reef or under small coral overhangs. They are reportedly most active at night, when they feed on small nocturnal invertebrates such as shrimp and mollusks. 0905 Chaetodon lunula Raccoon butterflyfish Generally, Raccoon butterflies travel in pairs, but several will occasionally gather in small schools.

0910 Chaetodon semeion Dotted butterflyfish These butterflies are relatively rare at Kwajalein. They prefer relatively quiet, shallow lagoon reefs, and are usually found singly or in pairs. One of the best places to see them is on the Mar Fill coralhead, which has at least two resident pairs. 0917 Chaetodon bennetti Bennett’s butterflyfish Bennett’s butterfly prefers quiet lagoon reefs and pinnacles, but also occasionally inhabits the seaward slope. Young juveniles can often be seen in the shallow water on the lagoon side of Kwajalein among staghorn corals. The figured individual was on a lagoon pinnacle, eating razor coral (Fungia). Primarily coral eaters, they do not do well in aquaria. 0922 Chaetodon melannotus Black backed butterflyfish This butterfly can be found on lagoon and seaward reefs. It usually travels in pairs. It is often seen pecking at leather type soft corals, then pulling back and shaking its head as though it just tasted something bitter. 0927 Chaetodon lunulatus Oval butterflyfish Another species that feeds strictly on live coral, the Oval butterfly should not be attempted in aquaria. 0932 Chaetodon ephippium Saddleback butterflyfish The Saddleback butterfly is usually found alone or in pairs. 0936 Forcipiger flavissimus Longnose butterflyfish This is one of two very similar looking butterflies found at Kwajalein. Its mouth is at the end of its elongate “nose” (which is not really a nose). It uses the elongate mouth to pluck small invertebrates from small holes and crevices. 0943 Centropyge flavissimus Lemon peal angelfish The lemon peal angel is common on lagoon and seaward reefs. Adults are all bright yellow with a blue ring around the eye and blue edging to the fins. Often, juveniles have a black or blue spot on each side. 0949 Centropyge flavissimus and C. vroleki hybrid angelfish At Kwajalein, the common lemon peal angelfish occasionally hybridizes with the close related but, at Kwaj, very rare Pearlscale angel. 0953 Centropyge bicolor Bicolor angelfish The Bicolor angel, common in some parts of Micronesia, is relatively uncommon at Kwajalein. They are most common on the lagoon slopes of atoll reefs. They can always be seen on the lagoon slopes of Ebwaj (Shell Island) and Ennylabegan Islands, as well as on some lagoon pinnacles such as North Loi head. 0958 Centropyge loriculus Flame angelfish The Flame angel is common at Kwajalein. It lives on the seaward reef and occasionally on lagoon pinnacles, especially those near atoll passes. They are most common right at

the knee of the steep dropoff at depths of about 5 to 20 meters. Shallower, the Lemon peal is more common; deeper, the Multicolor takes over. 1003 Centropyge multicolor Multicolor angelfish This pretty little angelfish is common on the seaward atoll slope, but only deeper than about 25 meters. Occasionally it can be seen as shallow as about 15 meters. 1010 Centropyge bispinosus Coral beauty angelfish The Coral beauty angel is relatively uncommon throughout most of the atoll, but there are some lagoon pinnacles about halfway up the atoll where they are common. They show off their bright colors when illuminated with the video lights. 1018 Centropyge multifasciata Multibar angelfish The Multibar angel is most common in ledges and caves on the seaward slope at depths exceeding about 30 meters. They tend to be shy and difficult to approach. 1022 Pygoplites diacanthus Regal angelfish This medium sized and colorful angel is common throughout the atoll. Juveniles live in honeycombed caves and ledges on the seaward reef. 1029 Pomacanthus imperator Emperor angelfish The largest of the angels at Kwajalein, the Emperor tends to be a solitary species. Occasionally, as in this scene, they may pair up for a short time. These fish can be highly vocal. If a diver happens to corner one in a ledge, the Emperor may emit loud, reverberating grunts that can almost be felt through the water. 1037 Pomacanthus imperator Emperor angelfish As juveniles, Emperor angels have a much different color pattern than adults. While the adults are found on reefs throughout the atoll, juveniles are somewhat rare. They are most common in the reef quarries on Kwaj, on some shipwrecks, and sporadically on isolated reefs on the sandy lagoon slopes. 1041 Pomacanthus imperator Emperor angelfish Younger juvenile Emperors have an even more pronounced pattern of circular white lines. 1049 Ambligobius rainfordi Rainford’s goby Common at the base of seaward reef ledges and on lagoon pinnacles, this goby has the curious habit of alternating its forward and reverse gears. 1056 Synchiropus Scooter goby Scooter gobies are so called from the way them move in separate, short scoots across the bottom. There are at least two and possibly more different species that look quite a bit alike. The males have tall, gaudy dorsal fins that they raise up to try to impress the females or to intimidate rival males. The one captured on video here is a female, which has a short dorsal fin.

1103 Amblyeleotris randalli Randall’s shrimp goby Only recently discovered at Kwajalein, this shrimp goby inhabits sand pockets in relatively deep water on the seaward reef. At Pohnpei, they can be seen as shallow as about 8 meters. Like the other shrimp gobies, this fish guards a hole maintained by a bulldozer shrimp. The shrimp has rather poor eyesight and would easily become prey to passing predatory fish as it works to keep the sand from filling its hole. The goby, which has better eyesight, keeps watch, and at the approach of potential danger, dives into the hole, preventing the shrimp from coming out. 1108 Amblyeleotris guttatus Spotted shrimp goby This shrimp goby can occasionally be observed hopping in the manner shown. It may be a way to signal the shrimp down in the burrow that something big approaches. 1113 Amblyeleotris guttatus Spotted shrimp goby Generally, a pair of shrimp occupies the burrow. While there are several different species of shrimp goby and several different kinds of bulldozer shrimp, usually a certain species of goby always forms a partnership with the same kind of shrimp. In this case, the bulldozer shrimp is Alpheus ochrostriatus. 1122 Lotilia graciliosa Graceful shrimp goby

Alpheus rubromaculatus Red spotted bulldozer shrimp This is another regular pairing of a certain kind of shrimp goby with a certain kind of bulldozer shrimp. These combinations prefer rather fine sand in shadowed areas, usually on the floor of seaward reef surge channel ledges. In this scene, you can see how the flattened pincers of the shrimp are well designed for carting loads of sand out of the burrow. 1134 Cinetorhynchus concolor Pearl eyed shrimp These bright red shrimp are commonly seen on the seaward reef and on pinnacles after dark. Highly nocturnal, they are generally retreat when illuminated by a diver’s light. 1141 Metapenaeopsis sp. Burying shrimp Another highly nocturnal shrimp, this one may bury itself in the sand when approached. 1147 Lysmata amboinensis Cleaner shrimp Cleaner shrimp live in ledges and small caves, where they may act as cleaners by picking parasites from eels and other fish. This one is near a sticky sucker sea anemone (Cryptodendrum adhaevisum). Another shrimp, Periclimenes brevicarpalis, is partly visible at left. 1152 Periclimenes holthuisi Glass shrimp These transparent glass shrimp can be found among the tentacles of various anemones and corals. In this case, the shrimp are hovering over a Fire anemone (Actinodendron), whose tentacles can deliver a powerful sting. It certainly is an effective defense; the only real question is how the shrimp itself can keep itself from being stung.

1157 Periclimenes brevicarpalis Anemone shrimp Cryptodendrum adhaevisum Sticky sucker anemone

This species of anemone shrimp is always found associated with a few species of sea anemones. In this case, they live with a Sticky sucker, an anemone whose short tentacles are very sticky to the touch. The adhesive nature of the tentacles gives the anemone both its scientific name of adhaevisum and half of its common name. The “sucker” part of the common name comes from the anemone’s typical reaction of quickly withdrawing into its hole whenever touched. Of the two shrimp visible, the larger is the female. Notice that the small male stays out of big mama’s way. 1201 Neopetrolisthes maculata Handnet crab

Cryptodendrum adhaevisum Sticky sucker anemone Another typical inhabitant of several kinds of anemones is the Handnet crab. Fine filaments on the crab’s appendages form a net used to catch passing plankton. The nets are pulled back in front of the mouth, where a special brush-tipped appendage retrieves food from the net filaments and moves it to the mouth. 1210 Neopetrolisthes maculata Handnet crab In a close view of the Handnet crab, you can see it use its rear appendage to scratch its head. 1217 Plagusia sp. Red-eyed crab This fast moving crab is feeding on algae growing on a rock. Its rapid, fidgety movements give it a rather nervous appearance. 1226 Lissocarcinus orbicularis Cucumber crab This crab has an unusual habitat. It lives on, and in, a sea cucumber. Sea cucumbers have a rather simple basic construction. They consist of a tube (the gut) with an opening at both ends. Stuff goes in one end—mostly sand, from which they digest organic material—and processed stuff comes out the other. (All right, that’s a bit oversimplified, but you get the picture.) The crab generally lives just inside one end or the other. While it may get some or even most of its food by sampling bits of what the sea cucumber is taking in (or letting go), it will also come out and wander about on the surface of its host. It usually keeps to the underside of the sea cucumber. If you’re fairly gentle about it, it is safe for you and for the sea cucumber to flip it over to see if there are any crabs on the underside. But you may have to look carefully since the crabs blend into their background quite well. Interestingly, the colors of the crabs vary to match their host. Crabs that live with these white sand dwelling sea cucumbers are white with brown spots that closely resemble the cucumber’s retracted tube feet. Crabs are black with white spots when they live on black sea cucumbers that are covered with white sand grains. How does this happen? Does the physiology of the crab when it settles out on a particular sea cucumber (remember settling from 0841?) somehow adjust to the coloration of its host? Or is it simply that the ones with the wrong color are too visible and get readily picked off by passing predatory fish so that the only ones we ever see are the ones that are well camouflaged? Like many questions in biology, the answers are not in yet. 1232 Spider crab This spider-like crab with long hairy legs was observed under a chunk of razor coral (Fungia). 1236 Gonodactylinus? sp. Green mantis shrimp Mantis shrimps get their name from their forward appendages, which are jointed much like those of praying mantis (although the joints go in the opposite direction). They use these jointed appendages to lash out and clobber, slice, and skewer prey. The strategy used by the shrimp depends on the structure of

the appendage, which can be terminated by a club, a slicing blade, or a comb-like row of sharp spines. Those with slicing blades can be unsafe to handle. They are sometimes referred to as “thumb splitters.” 1242 Calcinus elegans Elegant hermit crab One of the more striking hermit crabs, Calcinus elegans is found mostly in very shallow water, such as where the waves break on the seaward edge of the reef or along the rocky riprap on the lagoon side of Kwajalein. This individual has taken up its abode in a red spindle shell (Fusinus filamentosa). 1251 Calcinus elegans Elegant hermit crab Interestingly, in Hawaii a crab that is considered to be the same species looks just like this one, except that it has bright orange bands on the legs instead of the blue. 1256 Dardanus guttatus Turquoise kneepad hermit crab This hermit has colored pads on all of its “knees.” The crab’s body is quite flat, allowing it to inhabit mollusk shells with narrow apertures such as cowries and cones. Here it is in the shell of a tortoise cowry (Cyraea testudinaria). 1302 Dardanus megistos Big red hermit crab The Big red hermit is one of the largest found here at Kwajalein. Large specimens are limited in the shells available to them—there just aren’t that many large empty shells around. This one is in a specimen of the giant frog shell (Bursa bubo). 1308 Lambis scorpius Scorpion shell Scorpion shells, like other members of the finger and conch shell family, have a powerful foot that they use to hop along the bottom. The foot is also useful for flipping the shell over if it happens to fall and land upside down. 1313 Conus ammiralis Admiral cone shell This species of cone shell is most common on shallow lagoon reefs, where it lives buried in the sand by day and emerges at night to hunt. It can be seen right off Emon Beach on the lagoon side of Kwajalein. 1317 Conus aureus Aureus cone shell Another of the cones decorated with tent-shaped markings, the Aureus cone is primarily found on lagoon pinnacles. Like most other cones, it hides during the day, coming out at night to hunt its prey. Conus aureus eats other mollusks; in an aquarium it will feed on small cowry shells. This scene was shot at night on the pinnacle near K10 buoy. You can often tell a night scene from the numerous swimming planktonic shrimp and small fish that are attracted to the bright video lights. Some nights these are so thick it is not worth trying to shoot video. In fact, some nights they are so thick that if you stop moving, they’ll swarm around your flashlight in such abundance that you can barely see the light—a case of sea fle a blackout. We call them “sea fleas” although they are really not like fleas at all, except in the annoyance factor. A better term might be sea moths, since, like moths, they are attracted to lights.

1326 Conus legatus Legate cone shell Another tent marked cone, Conus legatus is relatively common in rubble on the seaward reef slope. Like most cones, they are nocturnal, crawling about at night in search of prey. These cones feed on small mollusks such as miter and horn shells. 1333 Conus floccatus Floccatus cone shell Conus floccatus, although relatively rare, can live in a variety of different locations at Kwajalein. Specimens have been seen on the seaward slope, on lagoon pinnacles, and in patch reefs along the interisland reefs. Strictly a fish eater, it emerges from the sand after dark to hunt sleeping fish. One night, we observed one eating a small triggerfish that it found wedged into a small hole on the reef. Cones in general capture prey by stinging it with a harpoon-like tooth that delivers venom. In some species, the venom is especially virulent. Fish eating cones in particular should be treated with caution since their venom is adapted to kill or paralyze vertebrate animals (fish) quickly. Since divers are also vertebrates, they can be susceptible to a fish-eating cone’s venom. Handle with care! 1341 Calpurnus verrucosus Warty egg shell Warty eggs are always found living on their prey, the soft coral Sarcophyton.(see 3503 for a shot of a cluster of Sarcophyton colonies). The shell itself is nearly pure white, its only colors being a brownish wart near the anterior and posterior tips, which are tinged with pink. The spotted coloration you see in the video is on the animal. The crawling foot has small round black spots, and the mantle—the thin sheet of tissue that can extend out and cover the shell—has larger brown spots. 1345 Calpurnus lacteus Milky egg shell Related to the Warty egg above are these three Milky egg shells. They differ in being smaller and pure white all over. In these too, the color you see is part of the animal rather than the shell. These three are crawling on the soft coral Lobophytum. 1351 Cypraea moneta Money cowry Anyone who has ventured out onto Kwaj’s intertidal reef at low tide knows that there are lots of Money cowries out there. They are only infrequently found anywhere but in the intertidal, but in some places you can see some on shallow water dives. This one is crawling rapidly across a rock, its zebra-striped mantle partly extended around the base of the shell. 1356 Cypraea clandestina Clandestine cowry This Clandestine cowry is crawling across a sponge-covered rock, trying to escape from the daylight. The cowry’s mantle is part way up and rising. Seashells such as these all have a mantle, which is the part of the mollusk animal that actually produces the hard shell. In most kinds of shells, such as tritons and finger shells, the mantle extends only around the growing edge of the shell rather than covering it entirely. In cowries, the mantle covers the entire shell, keeping it smooth and shiny. In most cowries, the mantle is extended only when the animal is active, usually at night. During the day, the mantle is pulled back within the aperture of the shell.

1406 Cypraea stolida kwajaleinensis Kwajalein stolid cowry This Kwaj stolid cowry is completely covered by its mantle. The shell is light brown with a darker brown blotch right on the top. This particular variety of stolid cowry, which some people think is a full species of its own, was described from Kwajalein. Only here are the shells of stolids this color. Throughout most of its range, stolids are blue gray in color with a brown dorsal blotch. The Kwaj variety also averages smaller than its Indo-Pacific relatives. More work needs to be done before it can be determined for certain whether the Kwaj mollusks are just a color form or a whole different species. 1413 Cypraea teres Tapering cowry The Tapering cowry has a bluish shell with brown markings, but its animal, both the mantle and foot, are bright red. In this scene, the mantle covers the entire shell. It’s interesting to watch how the foot conforms to the shape of the substrate as the animal crawls along. 1419 Cypraea helvola Honey cowry or strawberry Cypraea helvola is known as the Honey cowry throughout the Indo-Pacific, but here, for some reason, it is commonly called a Strawberry. Why is that? This illustrates the danger of using common names rather than the Latin. If I tried to talk to a malacologist (one who studies mollusks) from, say, Australia or east Africa or Hawaii about a Strawberry cowry, I’d get a blank stare. But once I say Cypraea helvola—well, everyone knows what that is, right? At least, it is a name that is standard and agreed upon by the scientific community worldwide. Once you start getting interested in these animals, its best to learn the scientific Latin names. Note that the scientific name consists of both parts—in this case, both Cypraea and helvola. The first name, the genus, is capitalized, while the second, or species name, is not. Both are italicized. (Everybody’s got to have rules!) But since I know most people are not going to follow our advice to learn the Latin, we’re using both the scientific and common names in this booklet. 1425 Cypraea nucleus Nucleus cowry The Nucleus has a bumpy shell here hidden beneath the mantle. The mantle is covered with elongate projections called papillae. Nearly all cowries have papillae on their mantles, although they vary considerably in size and shape. This species can be found intertidally, on lagoon reefs and pinnacles, and in seaward reef surge channels. 1430 Cypraea staphlaea Staphlaea cowry Like the Nucleus, the Staphlaea is a bumpy cowry, although the bumps are less pronounced. The papillose mantle of this species is jet black with some white patches. When the mantle is extended, the shell is well hidden on its typical prey, a jet black sponge that lives under rocks. Staphlaeas are most common on rubbly lagoon pinnacles and inshore lagoon reefs. They are virtually never found oceanside. 1436 Cypraea talpa Mole cowry The Mole cowry can be found in a variety of habitats around the atoll. By the numbers of empty shells you find on the seaward reef, you’d think it must be the most common cowry out there. But they are not often found alive oceanside even at night—they must spend most of their time hiding well back in reef crevices, only falling out when they die. Living shells are much easier to find on lagoon inshore reefs such as that at Ebwaj or Shell Island. The mantle is black, usually with close-set tiny green spots; it’s an interesting combination to conceal the mostly yellow and brown shell.

1442 Cypraea tigris Tiger cowry Tigers are the only large cowry here at Kwajalein that typically do not hide during the day. Most often, they can be seen during the day out in the open or nestled up against coral, with their mantles retracted. At night, the mottled black and white mantle covers the shell, hiding the spotted pattern beneath an effective camouflage. 1447 Cypraea aurantium Golden cowry Golden cowries, in contrast, hide very well during the day. Very sensitive to light, they spend the day as far back in holes in the reef as they can get. The only ones you see during the day are ones who accidentally crawled into a dead end hole the night before and are still visible from the outside. 1454 Phalium bisulcatum Bonnet shell Although common in the western Pacific, this Bonnet is rarely seen here at Kwajalein. They live in fine sand, into which they bury during the day. At night, they emerge to feed or find mates. The few observed here were in the sand flats in the Kwaj ski boat area. 1500 Philinopsis pilsbryi Pilsbry’s slug Pilsbry’s slug lives in sand patches on the seaward reef. During the day, it remains buried, but it sometimes comes to the surface of the sand at night to hunt. 1505 Dendrodoris albopurpura This large nudibranch is crawling over the sponge-encrusted undersurface of a rock 1512 Dendrodoris elongata? The identification of this nudibranch is uncertain. They live beneath rocks, usually in relatively shallow water, both in the lagoon and on seaward reefs. 1516 Phyllidiella pustulosa This common nudibranch tends to remain out in the open both day and night. It feeds on sponges, and uses toxic organic compounds picked up from the sponges in their own defense. These compounds make the nudibranchs themselves highly poisonous. Because of these compounds, these nudibranchs should never be kept in an aquarium. If disturbed, the nudibranch will secrete these toxic compounds, killing anything else in the tank. The defensive compounds have a foul smell, which can permeate the entire room if released in an aquarium. In fact, nearly all nudibranchs are suitable for aquariums; most species are poisonous. Also, most are such specific feeders, it is almost impossible to keep them from starving. But the nudibranchs in this family are especially bad. 1520 Phyllidia tula This is another of the highly toxic nudibranchs. It too is commonly found right out in the open during the day. The toxins help make them almost immune to being eaten.

1525 Phyllidia exquisita Here is yet another of the toxic nudibranchs. This one is quite rare here, found only occasionally on the seaward reef. 1530 Jorunna funebris This medium sized nudibranch is found here occasionally, usually feeding on a blue sponge. The anterior end of the animal is at the lower left. Near the front are two short black tentacles protruding from the dorsal surface. These are called rhinophores, and are used for chemical sense (or smelling). Near the other end are the bushy gills that give the group its name—Nudibranchia, or naked gills. 1537 Kentrodoris rubescens Kentrodois rubescens have been found in a variety of Kwaj locations, including the oceanside reef quarry near the air terminal, on lagoon patch reefs, and on the shallow portion of the seaward slope. 1541 Glossodoris rufomarginata This nudibranch exclusively preys upon the gray sponge it is shown crawling on. Several feathery hydroids are growing on the sponge. At Kwaj, the sponge lives almost exclusively on the seaward windward reef, in the ledges of the shallow channels just about where the waves break. The reef between Bigej and Meck islands is a good place to look. You can get into this zone only on very calm days, however. Even then, it sometimes feels pretty surgy. It seems amazing that the nudibranch can hold on. This particular chunk of sponge was found sitting on sand on the lagoon slope between Bigej and Meck. That was definitely not the sponge’s habitat. Apparently, it had been ripped off the rock on a rough oceanside day and rolled across the intertidal reef. Somehow, the nudibranch managed to hold on the entire way. 1548 Glossodoris hikuerensis Glossodoris hikuerensis is found occasionally on both lagoon and seaward reefs. This particular individual happens to be a mutant with three rhinophores, the chemical sensory tentacles near the left side (anterior end). Note also that its gills continually wiggle. A number of nudibranchs do this, probably to help keep a fresh supply of water flowing across the gills. 1555 Chromodoris fidelis These small nudibranchs live under rocks on shallow lagoon reefs, such as that lagoon side of Ebwaj (Shell Island). 1601 Chromodoris geometrica Chromodoris geometrica is also relatively common at Kwaj. This individual was found at Ebwaj Island. It waves it anterior margin up and down as it crawls along. 1610 Lima ales Electric clam The Electric clam lives in holes in the seaward reef dropoff. When illuminated with the video lights, its open aperture appears to feature electric arcs. Actually, it looks like those flashes of white are simply white edges to the internal cavity, and the clam flashes them in and out of view. The clam pulls back into its hole when disturbed.

1616 Sepioteuthis lessoniana Squid A school of squid hovers in the water column above the seaward reef. 1625 Sepioteuthis lessoniana Squid The squid school moves closer. 1635 Octopus cyanea An octopus pokes its head out of its hole to watch the cameraman. 1647 Antennarius sp. Anglerfish You don’t see many Anglerfish around Kwaj. There are probably quite a few, but they can be extremely hard to see. They don’t swim much. The swimming in this scene is a bit unusual, but it is probably because the fish was disturbed by the photographer. When they do swim, they have a peculiar technique. They suck water into their mouths, then expel it from their small gill opening located just behind their pectoral fins—the ones that look kind of like arms in this scene. So they motivate sort of by armpit jet propulsion. These fish are carnivorous upon other fish, and are capable of eating a fish as large or larger than they are. Obviously, the stomach is quite expandable. 1653 Synanceja verrucosa Stonefish Although the Stonefish somewhat resembles the Anglerfish in the previous scene, they are not too closely related. Stonefish are scorpionfish, in the same family as the Lionfish shown later. They too rarely move, so the swimming shown here is unusual. Like the Angler, the Stonefish is an ambush predator, its large mouth capable of swallowing large prey. In fact, judging from its bulging belly, this animal has recently eaten something rather large. These fish also possess highly venomous spines. A sting from a Stonefish has been reported to cause unconsciousness within seconds, death within minutes. The venom is also very painful. Fortunately, it takes a fair bit of pressure on the spine to get it to inject the venom. Stepping on one would certainly do it, so it is always important to wear thick-soled shoes when walking on the reef. These Stonefish can be found in the intertidal, in just a few inches of water. 1658 Synanceja verrucosa Stonefish Stonefish can actually have attractive coloration, as seen in this close up of the face head on. Look for the curved “frowning” mouth. 1704 Taenionotus triacanthus Leaffish The Leaf is also a scorpionfish, but it does not have venomous spines. It comes in several color forms, including this yellow one. Also an ambush predator, it has a very thin, leaf-like body. When it turns around, you can see how narrow it is. It rests on the bottom, propped up on its large pectoral fins and waits for prey—small fish or shrimp—to wander in front of it. 1713 Taenionotus triacanthus Leaffish This is a white color form of the Leaffish. It’s a little hard to see in the video, but the eye is very strange. It seems to be highly reflective, yet has the look of a bottomless hole. 1717 Taenionotus triacanthus Leaffish Leaffish also come in a red form. 1722 Dendrochirus biocellata Fu Manchu lionfish We call this the Fu Manchu because the tendrils on either side of its mouth resemble a Fu Manchu mustache. A more widely known (but rather dull) common name is the two-spot.lionfish.

1726 Pterois radiata Lionfish Like all of the different kinds of Lionfish, this one has venomous dorsal spines. The venom is usually not enough to kill someone, although such cases have been reported. A sting from a Lionfish is extremely painful and supposedly can cause respiratory paralysis. So if you are ever stung by any Lionfish, it would be best to immediately get out of the water and seek medical help. 1731 Pterois volitans Lionfish This is the largest and probably most dangerous Lionfish. Usually they spend the day hanging in the water in small caves or near shipwrecks, but sometimes you’ll see one out swimming, like this one. The thin flap of tissue trailing from the dorsal spines is reported to be full of little vats of venom. When the sharp spine enters a victim’s flesh, the tissue around the spine tears, releasing the venom into the wound. 1739 Pterois volitans Lionfish This Lionfish is in a typical daytime position under a small ledge. 1743 Pterois volitans Lionfish A young individual of the large Lionfish drifts back and forth with the surge on an otherwise calm day. 1751 Oxycirrhites typus Longnose hawkfish The Longnose hawk lives on gorgonians or black coral bushes, usually at depths of 30 meters and deeper. They are relatively uncommon, but can be seen on the seaward slope and occasionally on lagoon bottom shipwrecks. 1758 Paracirrhites forsteri Forster’s hawkfish This species varies considerably in color. It is usually seen resting on coral. 1801 Epinephelus fasciatus Blacktip grouper This is a rather unusually pale colored specimen of this grouper. Typically they are more of an orange brown color. 1805 Epinephelus sp. Grouper Even though sitting right out in the open, this grouper is quite well camouflaged among the clumps of algae growing on the reef. 1811 Epinephelus polyphekadion Camouflage grouper The Camouflage grouper is relatively common on lagoon and seaward reefs. Myers, in Micronesian Reef Fishes, notes that in the Marshall Islands, this species is often ciguatoxic. Ciguatera is a fish poisoning that develops most often in carnivorous reef fishes. The poison is present in a microscopic dinoflagellate alga that grows on the rocks or on other algae, and frequently seems to be one of the early colonizers of areas disturbed by dredging, construction in the water, or recently sunken shipwrecks. The algae is picked up by the herbivores. The carnivores in turn eat many of the herbivores, thus concentrating the toxins in their tissue. Large carnivores that eat other carnivores are the most risky fish. The toxins do not seem to affect the fish, but can cause severe sickness or even death in humans. In the tropics, it is wise to avoid eating especially large individuals of predatory fish such as moray eels, barracuda, groupers, snappers, and ulua. Often smaller individuals are safe to eat, but it is wise to check with the local inhabitants first. In some areas, the algae is so thick even the herbivores such as parrotfish can be dangerous.

1816 Grouper This grouper appears to be a juvenile. It hovers along a wall with the algae Halimeda and coral Tubastraea 1820 Cephalopholis miniata Coral hind At Kwajalein, the Coral hind is most often observed on lagoon bottom shipwrecks, although it is also present on deeper lagoon patch reefs and occasionally on the seaward slope. 1825 Plectropomus? Grouper This large red grouper was peeking out of a hole in the reef at night. 1831 Variola albimarginata Whitemargin lyretail grouper This unusual species was filmed on a mid atoll lagoon pinnacle. 1840 Plectropomus areolatus Squaretail coral grouper This grouper is common on the seaward reef. Occasionally you see them gather in large groups, apparently for mating. This individual was filmed at night. It’s a lot easer to get close to fish when they’re asleep. A drawback of night photography, however, is that the fish often do not have the same colors they have during the day. 1844 Plectropomus laevis Giant coral grouper This large Plectropomus was found sleeping under the Ski Area shipwreck at night. This grouper is another that is frequently implicated in cases of Ciguatera fish poisoning. 1855 Plectropomus laevis Giant coral grouper Plectropomus laevis comes in several color forms. Shown here are two of the unusual forms. The smaller one with the black saddles is uncommon, but the dark blotchy one is downright rare. Apparently, the larger blotchy male is trying the impress the saddleback one, which must be female. 1903 Plectropomus laevis Giant coral grouper This is more normal coloration for Plectropomus. Its tail is a bit blotchier than normal. An Emperor angel passes in front. 1908 Plectropomus laevis Giant coral grouper 1914 Amphiprion melanopus Dusky anemonefish

Entacmaea quadricolor Anemone Sea anemones are relatives of corals but lack a hard coral skeleton. For defense, anemones, like other corals, possess stinging cells called nematocysts. Most fish would find contact with the nematocysts of anemones to be at least painful and more likely life threatening. Yet some species of fish in the damselfish family are able to live among the tentacles with impunity. At Kwaj, there are five different kinds of anemone fish; four of them are sometimes popularly called clownfish. The clownfish are associated with the anemone all their lives. The fifth anemone associated fish is a damsel that typically lives with anemones only when young, moving away as they grow. There are several different kinds of anemones that can host fish, and each different kind of fish prefers certain anemones. This Dusky anemone fish is usually called a tomato clown here, although that name is more often used for a different species that does not occur at Kwajalein. The Dusky is almost always found associated with young specimens of the anemone Entacmaea quadricolor. When young, these anemones form clusters of many

individuals. As the anemones get larger, they seem to move off on their own, and then usually host a different species of fish. (Yes, anemones can move to a certain extent.) 1920 Amphiprion chrysopterus Two-stripe anemonefish

Heteractis crispa Long tentacle anemone This Long tentacle anemone is usually host to the Two-stripe anemonefish. Here the anemone’s tentacles wave back and forth in the surge. 1929 Amphiprion chrysopterus Two-stripe anemonefish

Heteractis crispa Long tentacle anemone Some of the anemones can vary considerably in color. This individual is very blue. 1935 Amphiprion chrysopterus Two-stripe anemonefish

Heteractis crispa Long tentacle anemone This appears to be an albino form of the Long tentacle anemone, with pink-tipped tentacles. 1941 Amphiprion chrysopterus Two-stripe anemonefish

Heteractis crispa Long tentacle anemone A tiny juvenile anemonefish moves among the tentacles. Research indicates that an anemonefish is able to resist the anemone’s sting by developing a coat of mucus on its body that inhibits the firing of the stinging nematocysts. Anemonefish who have been kept away from an anemone for a period of time lose this coating. When reintroduced to an anemone, the fish has to gradually redevelop the coat by repeatedly but very briefly touching the tentacles. 1948 Amphiprion chrysopterus Two-stripe anemonefish

Stychodactyla mertensii Carpet anemone Two-stripe anemonefish also live in this large Carpet anemone. 1954 Amphiprion tricinctus Three-stripe anemonefish

Entacmaea quadricolor anemone When Entacmaea quadricolor is young it is inhabited by the Dusky anemonefish. As the anemone gets larger and becomes solitary, it usually plays host to the Three-stripe anemonefish. This fish varies somewhat in color. This medium sized specimen is much more orange than most. This anemonefish is known only from the Marshall Islands, although it is quite common here. 2002 Amphiprion tricinctus Three-stripe anemonefish

Stychodactyla mertensii Carpet anemone In the carpet anemone, the Three-stripe anemonefish usually turns almost all black with white stripes. Early in the scene, a smaller specimen shows more normal coloration for the fish, but it will likely turn black as it gets older. 2007 Amphiprion tricinctus Three-stripe anemonefish

Heteractis aurora Sand anemone Juvenile Three-stripes are often found in the Sand anemone.

2012 Amphiprion tricinctus Three-stripe anemonefish Dascyllus trimaculatus Three-spot damsels Sytchodactyla haddoni Pink Haddon’s anemone.

The sand dwelling Haddon’s anemone seems to be a nursery for small Three-stripe anemonefish and for the fifth species of anemonefish, the Three-spot damsel Dascyllus trimaculatus. 2017 Amphiprion tricinctus Three-stripe anemonefish

Dascyllus trimaculatus Three-spot damsels Sytchodactyla haddoni Orange-red Haddon’s anemone.

Haddon’s anemones come in a variety of colors. This orange and the previous pink are unusual. More often they are brown or white. 2022 Amphiprion perideraion Apricot anemonefish

Heteractis magnifica Magnificent anemone. The Apricot anemonefish is usually found in the Magnificent anemone, although sometimes you see them in Carpets as well. The anemone can very considerably in color, especially in the color of the stalk between the base and the tentacles. This anemone has a pinkish purple stalk with yellow tentacles, and was partly closed when this scene was shot. 2026 Amphiprion perideraion Apricot anemonefish

Heteractis magnifica Magnificent anemone. Here the purple stalked anemone is mostly closed. 2031 Amphiprion perideraion Apricot anemonefish

Heteractis magnifica Magnificent anemone. This anemone has a whitish stalk. 2035 Amphiprion perideraion Apricot anemonefish

Heteractis magnifica Magnificent anemone. The blue stalk in this specimen is a little deceiving. Under artificia l light, this blue would be more of a pink or magenta. 2039 Amphiprion perideraion Apricot anemonefish

Heteractis magnifica Magnificent anemone. The orange stalk of this specimen is a bit unusual. We have seen only one like this at Kwaj. 2043 Amphiprion perideraion Apricot anemonefish

Heteractis magnifica Magnificent anemone. Anemonefish attach their eggs to the rock next to anemone. Here the larger female is in the process of depositing the eggs, while the smaller male stands guard. An anemonefish typically changes sex during its lifetime. Initially, they are males, becoming females later in life. Generally the presence of a large female inhibits the other males in the anemone from changing, but if the female ever vanishes, the largest and most aggressive of the males will turn into a female. 2054 Amphiprion perideraion Apricot anemonefish

Heteractis magnifica Magnificent anemone. Both the male and female check the freshly deposited eggs.

2105 Cephea cephea Crowned jellyfish This relatively rare jellyfish can sometimes be seen drifting along the seaward reef. Smaller individuals have been seen occasionally in the lagoon. The tentacles are capable of stinging. 2135 Crambione mastigophora Jellyfish This pinkish jellyfish tends to travel in groups. If you see one, you’re likely to see more. These have been reported to deliver a powerful sting. 2144 Diver photographs Cephea cephea. 2148 Schooling fish pass behind a rocky outcrop. 2153 Coralhead on narrow base, with a raccoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) in front. 2158 Acropora Elkhorn This Elkhorn coral colony is growing over a spreading table coral (Acropora). 2202 Acropora Table corals A field of table corals covers the bottom. On some reefs, these corals shade out much of the bottom, preventing the establishment of other corals. Severe storms can break these tables up, opening up space for new coral settling. 2211 Diver behind staghorn coral colony. Damselfish rise up above the coral. 2219 View up a surge channel. A blue Porites coral is in the foreground. 2224 Swimming through a sandy bottom surge channel. 2235 Diver swims along the bottom of a steep surge channel, unaware that a Whitetip shark (Triaenodon obesus) passes by overhead. 2245 View out the mouth of a tall seaward reef surge channel cave. 2250 Diver swims between reefs. 2256 Diver on the seaward reef dropoff above. 2302 Diver hovers over a giant clam (Tridacna gigas). This clam is a large and obviously very old specimen. Its shell was overgrown with colonies of live coral. 2308 Tridacna gigas Giant clam This giant clam was filmed on a mid-lagoon pinnacle, and is surrounded by live corals. In the past, giant clams were collected for their shells, and they are still gathered and eaten by Marshallese, so it is now difficult to find this species in the southern part of the atoll. In the mid, northern, and western parts of the atoll, they are still relatively common.

2312 Tridacna gigas Giant clam There are four different kinds of so-called giant clams found at Kwajalein. All of these are members of the giant clam family Tridacnidae, and all of them are listed on the CITES list. CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Countries that participate in this convention, including the United States, prohibit the international trade of species on this list—that is, they or their shells cannot be transported between countries. Presence on the list does not necessarily mean those species are truly endangered everywhere. It means that at least one of the countries participating in the convention feels they should be protected. 2318 Tridacna gigas Giant clam

Tridacna squamosa Fluted clam Here one of the large Tridacna gigas grows right next to an individual of the medium sized species, Tridacna squamosa. Tridacna gigas is distinguished from the other species of giant clams by the presence of almost irridescent small blue or green rings in the clam’s mantle. These rings are too small to see in these video scenes. 2321 Tridacna squamosa Fluted clam Fluted clams have considerable variation in color, as can be seen in the next few scenes. Typically, the color pattern includes oval or elongate spots. 2326 Tridacna squamosa Fluted clam The camera zooms out from the siphon. 2338 Tridacna squamosa Fluted clam 2343 Tridacna squamosa Fluted clam This specimen is unusually blue. 2347 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam The smallest and most abundant of the giant clams is Tridacna maxima. These live embedded in rock or coral. They vary considerably in color, as can be seen over the next few scenes. One feature they all have in common is a row of more or less square black spots in a row along the edge of the mantle. 2353 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Zoom out, green and yellow. 2400 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Zoom out, blue, black, and orange. 2407 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Zoom out, turquoise and black. 2413 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Zoom out, brown and lavender. 2420 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Heavily mottled.

2423 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Blue. 2426 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Turquoise and black. 2429 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Blue and orange. 2432 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Blue and pink. 2435 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Green and black. 2439 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Brown and tan. 2442 Tridacna maxima Small giant clam Blue green. Note the tiny clam growing on the shell of the larger one. 2444 Pseudoceros dimidiatus Flatworm Flatworms get their name from their extremely flat bodies. These simple animals are so flat, they do not need or have respiratory or circulatory systems. All cells in the body are close enough to the outside to obtain their required oxygen simply by diffusion in from the surrounding water. 2450 Pseudobiceros fulgor Flatworm Some flatworms are capable of swimming. 2456 Soleichthys heterorhinos Banded sole Although this animal resembles the swimming flatworm in the previous scene, it is in fact a fish, one of the flatfishes or soles. 2505 Soleichthys heterorhinos Banded sole These small flatfish are active at night, and will bury in the sand when disturbed. As the dust clears right after this one buries, you can see the round close-set eyes poking out of the sane where the head had been. 2517 Bothus mancus Flowery flounder A flounder swims away. At the end, it camouflages itself when it lands again on the reef. 2543 Lethrinus obsoletus Orange stripe emperor A fair number of different fish are able to change color. 2548 Lethrinus sp. Emperor

Pomacentrus coelestis Electric blue damsels

2552 Plectorhynchus picus Spotted sweetlips This uncommon sweetlips can be found in a variety of lagoon and seaward reef habitats. They are usually under ledges or table corals during the day. 2600 Macolor niger Puppy dog snapper We call these Puppy dog snappers. They always look like they’re wagging their tail. This scene shows the juvenile coloration. Juveniles are usually solitary and found hovering over coralheads. When older, they turn all gray and are not nearly as cute. 2604 Macolor macularis Long-fin puppy dog snapper The Long fin puppy dog is related to the last snapper, but has elongate and pointed dorsal and pectoral fins. Also a juvenile, these are usually found near crinoids or feather stars. The next two scenes show how they change as they get older. 2611 Macolor macularis Long-fin puppy dog snapper This form is intermediate between juveniles and adults. As they grow, the fins become shorter relative to the size of the body, and the color becomes less starkly black and white 2616 Macolor macularis Long-fin puppy dog snapper A full adult lacks the color pattern of the juveniles. Adults are often curious about divers. 2624 Myripristes adusta Bronze soldierfish Three individuals look into the camera. These nocturnal fish live in caves and ledges during the day. 2630 Myripristes berndti Bigscale soldierfish

Sargocentron spiniferum Saber squirrelfish The scene shows one Myripristes and several Sargocentron under a ledge. 2635 Sargocentron spiniferum Saber squirrelfish Most of the squirrelfish are nocturnal, living in caves during the day and emerging at night to feed. 2640 Sargocentron caudimaculatum Tailspot squirrelfish 2647 Priacanthus sp. Glasseye or Aweoweo Aweoweo is the Hawaiian name for these large-eyed nocturnal fish. Sometimes they hover individually over the reef during the day, as in this scene. Other times, on several coral pinnacles, they form large schools. 2654 Priacanthus sp. Glasseye or Aweoweo A school streams past. Note the Gray reef shark in the distance on the other side of the school. 2700 Priacanthus sp. Glasseye or Aweoweo A school passes above.

2707 Gymnothorax flavimarginatus Yellow margined moray eel This relatively large moray eel gets its name from its fin, which is edged with yellow, especially along the rear half of the body. 2716 Gymnothorax javanicus Giant moray The Giant moray is the largest of Kwaj’s moray eels. They are frequently seen on seaward reefs and pinnacles, their heads peeking out of ledges and from behind coral. Fortunately, they are not very aggressive. 2726 Gymnothorax sp. Yellow moray eel We’re not yet sure of the identity of this yellow moray eel. We know of several individuals, all on adjacent small reefs in the lagoon along the stretch between Bigej and Meck Islands. 2731 Gymnothorax meleagris White mouth moray eel Its bright white mouth distinguishes this moray. The spotted pattern on the eel’s body can vary somewhat. 2736 Gymnothorax meleagris White mouth moray eel These eels sometimes have an aggressive look to them. 2744 Heteroconger hassi Garden eel Garden eels live in holes in the sand. While they never seem to completely leave their holes, they will stretch out from them to feed on passing plankton. 2750 Heteroconger hassi Garden eels Rarely do you see Garden eels by themselves. Looking off in the distance on sand flats, you can often see entire fields of them. Here they withdraw into burrows at the approach of the photographer. 2755 Ophichthus melanochir? Snake eel Several of the Snake eels also hide in holes. This one can occasionally be seen poking its head out of the sand in Kwaj’s ski boat area. The best time to look for these is at night. 2800 Ophichthus bonaparti Napoleon snake eel The Napoleon snake eel has quite an intricate color pattern on its head. It too is usually seen with only the tip of its head protruding from the sand. 2805 Ariosoma scheelei Scheel’s conger eel Some of the sand dwelling eels, such as this conger, emerge from the sand at night. 2811 Ariosoma scheelei Scheel’s conger eel This conger has an interesting way of digging tail first into the sand. 2822 Myrichthus colubrinus Banded snake eel The Banded snake eel, on the other hand, digs into the sand head first.

2853 Chlorurus microrhinos Pacific steephead parrotfish Among the more conspicuous elements on the reef at night are the colorful sleeping parrotfish, Some are seen enclosed in a bag of mucus that they create. The mucus bag may be a means of detecting when something is approaching too close. Many of the larger parrots do not generally create such bags. 2902 Scarus forsteni Rainbow parrotfish A shrimp, Saron marmoratus, crawls out from under this sleeping parrot. 2906 Scarus altipinnus Filament fin parrotfish Parrotfish have a “bill” formed of fused teeth, which they use to scrap the algae off hard reef rock. Sometimes, algae grows on the teeth themselves, forming a furry green mustache. 2910 Scarus niger Swarthy parrotfish During the day these parrots look very dark purple. 2914 Cetoscarus bicolor Bicolor parrotfish This is the female color form of this species. Most of the parrots have quite different colors between male and female, and usually the colors of juveniles are also different. Parrots, like a number of other fish, change sex with age. In parrots, the juveniles turn into females, which later become males. 2919 Cetoscarus bicolor Bicolor parrotfish This is the male color form of the previous parrot. The video lights really bring out the striking colors. 2928 Cetoscarus bicolor Bicolor parrotfish Parrots feed by scraping the thin layer of algae from rocks. In the process, they often scrape off the top layer of rock as well. The rock passes through the stomach and out the other end as fine sand. Parrots are probably one of the more important sand producers on coral reefs. 2932 Cetoscarus bicolor Bicolor parrotfish The juvenile of the Bicolor parrot differs considerably in color from both male and female adults. This juvenile swims over Halimeda algae. 2937 Cetoscarus bicolor Bicolor parrotfish Occasionally you can see Bicolor and other parrots engaged in courtship behavior. Here, a male and a female swim around cheek to cheek, getting each other ready for mating. 2942 Cetoscarus bicolor Bicolor parrotfish When the parrots are ready to mate, they swim together rapidly up into the water. At the peak of the rise, they both release their gametes—eggs and sperm—into the water as they turn away. Note the little white cloud. Fertilization takes place in the water, and the fertilized eggs drift off with the plankton. Eggs hatch out into planktonic larvae, which drift with the currents until they are old enough to take up a reef dwelling existence.

2950 Chlorurus sordidus Bullethead parrotfish Males sometimes fight over females or territory. 2955 Scarus rubroviolaceus Redlip parrotfish This large parrot is usually rather hard to approach. 2959 Bolbometapon muricatum Humphead parrotfish The Humphead is the largest of all the parrotfish. Extremely rare at Kwaj, they are reasonably common at Pohnpei, and are reported to be quite common at Wake. This one, the only one we have seen at Kwaj, was grazing on algae covered rocks on the seaward reef at Gea. 3007 Parrotfish being cleaned by cleaner wrasse

Labroides dimidiatus Cleaner wrasse Cleaner wrasses pick parasites from the bodies of other fish. The fish being cleaned usually seem to enjoy it. They will often come in and pose motionless for a cleaner to do its work. At times, however, the cleaner nips a bit too deeply and causes pain to its client; here an annoyed parrot chases off the cleaner. 3012 Labroides dimidiatus Cleaner wrasses

Pterocaesio tile Bluestreak fusiliers These cleaner wrasses are picking parasites from a group of fusiliers that gather at a cleaning station. 3018 Labroides bicolor Cleaner wrasse

Sphyraena barracuda Great barracuda Even larger fish enjoy being cleaned. This Great barracuda’s mouth appears a bit damaged; perhaps it was caught by a trolling fisherman and either escaped or was released. Large barracuda such as this one are likely to cause ciguatera fish poisoning if eaten. 3028 Cheilinus undulatus Humphead or Napoleon wrasse The largest of the wrasses—in fact, one of the largest fish you see on the reefs—is the Napoleon wrasse. These can reach 2 meters in length, longer and much thicker than most people. They are relatively shy and tend to keep their distance from divers. 3034 Oxycheilinus digrammus Bandcheek wrasse This young wrasse passes in front of a gorgonian (Subergorgia mollis). 3038 Cheilinus fasciatus Chomper fish Chomper fish tend to follow divers looking for any possible prey the diver might accidentally scare up. This one is apparently swallowing a mollusk or some hard-shelled prey. 3046 Novaculichthys taeniourus Dragon wrasses Dragon wrasses seek prey by moving rocks, which is why they are also called Rock mover wrasses. When they dig, they expose crabs, shrimp, worms, small urchins, and other prey, which are quickly consumed. 3055 Novaculichthys taeniourus Dragon wrasse Juvenile Dragon wrasses always appear to be blowing in the wind.

3100 Hemigymnus fasciatus Barred thicklip wrasse These wrasses feed by picking up a mouthful of sand and rubble from the bottom, chewing it around for a while to remove anything organic, and spitting back out the undigestibles. You can usually see them watch what they spit in case they missed anything. 3107 Cirrhilabrus johnsoni Johnson’s wrasse

Cirrhilabrus balteatus Girdled wrasse There are several kinds of fish in this picture, including two different species of Cirrhilabrus wrasses. The more common fish are male and female Cirrhilabrus johnsoni, named from Kwajalein specimens first observed by David Johnson, an avid fish enthusiast and photographer at Kwaj from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and early ‘90s. The wrasse with the red blotch on its side is Cirrhilabrus balteatus. There are also several small goatfish zipping about. 3116 Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus Yellowband wrasse The Yellowband wrasse is common on lagoon reefs and pinnacles. The figured individual is a male. Females are orange with white undersides. 3121 Cirrhilabrus balteatus Girdled wrasse This male Girdled wrasse is displaying at some nearby females. I suppose spreading his fins out like this is supposed to be impressive. 3126 Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis Diamond tail or Golden wrasse The Golden wrasse is found fairly deep on the seaward slope. It is a fairly popular aquarium fish. The recompression chamber at Kwaj has treated at least one aquarium fish collector from Majuro who was hit with decompression sickness while trying to catch these fish. 3130 Pseudocheilinus sp White barred or purple wrasse This purple wrasse has not yet been officially described, but scientists are working on it. They live in ledges and caves at 20 meters and deeper on the seaward slope. 3137 Trimma sp Dwarf goby This little Dwarf goby must have a hot seat—it’s resting on fire coral. 3141 Exalias brevis Leopard blenny These blennies are relatively common living among the branches of large branching corals in very shallow water. 3145 Hoplolatilus starcki Starck’s tilefish Starck’s tilefish is quite common on the seaward reef slope deeper than 20 meters. They hover over the reef, drawing down close to their holes at the approach of a diver. If you get too close, the fish will disappear into their holes. 3152 Plagiotremus tapeinosoma Sabertooth blenny Sabertooth blennies make their living by biting chunks of flesh from passing fish. Some of them even resemble cleaner wrasses, both in their coloration and in the way they swim. When some unsuspecting fish sidles up to be cleaned, it instead receives a painful bite. Sometimes, they’ll even bite divers. It’s not a well-liked little animal. Robert Myers, in Micronesian Reef Fishes, calls it a “nasty little fish.” When not out harassing passing fish, sabertooths often hide in holes in coral.

3156 Plagiotremus tapeinosoma Sabertooth blenny 3159 Nemateleotris helfrichi Helfrich’s dartfish The Helfrich dartfish is a pretty little inhabitant of the deeper seaward reef. They are common below about 20 meters. Shallower, their habitat is taken by its relative, the Firefish seen in 3211 below. All of these dartfish hover over the reef, diving rapidly into small holes when threatened. 3207 Nemateleotris helfrichi Helfrich’s dartfish A dartfish dives into a hole. 3211 Nemateleotris magnifica Firefish 3216 Nemateleotris magnifica Firefish Two Firefish dive into a hole. 3222 Irregular sea urchin These irregular urchins spend most of their time buried in the sand. Sometimes you see them out wandering about at night. Something must be able to find them, though. Their empty, fragile, white skeletons are common. 3227 Lissodiadema lorioli Glass urchin This urchin has long, very thin and fragile spines. They live under rocks or well back in surge channel caves on the seaward reef. 3233 Heterocentrotus mammillatus Pencil urchin The Pencil urchin lives on shallow seaward reefs. They use their thick spines to wedge themselves into crevices or between coral colonies to prevent the shallow water surge from carrying them away. 3237 Ophiomyxa sp Red brittle star

Eucidaris metularia Small pencil urchins Many of the brittle stars are tasty morsels for predatory fish. So when one is exposed to light, as this red one is, it runs for cover. Here it passes between three small pencil urchins. 3245 Ophiolepis superba Superb brittle star Most brittle stars are able to move pretty fast, unlike their true seastar cousins. This one, however, is one of the slowest. 3253 Acanthaster planci Crown-of-thorns starfish Crown-of-thorns stars are live coral eaters. A star devours a coral colony by crawling over it, extruding its stomach over the coral, and dissolving the tissue right out of the skeleton, leaving a white, dead coral. This one happens to be eating lettuce coral. It is always a disturbing sight to see these spiny monsters killing off the coral. In some areas, large aggregations of Crown-of-thorns have been responsible for killing much of the live coral on a reef. I suspect a few reefs here at Kwaj may have seen such problems in the past, and even now there seem to be too many of the stars in many areas. However, it is risky to try to do anything about it. Damaging or injuring the stars may do no more than cause them to

reproduce sooner, effectively increasing the population. Cut them up and they will regenerate. About the only way to kill them is to take them out of the water. But it is not wise to mess with things without knowing what the consequences will be. Some studies have indicated that the stars actually provide a service by killing off established coral colonies and opening up space for new settling of younger, more vigorous corals. Also, the spines on these beasts are sharp and toxic. Not only do they cause considerable pain, they are tipped with a substance that interferes with blood coagulation. A puncture wound from the spine of a Crown-of-thorns will bleed for a long time. 3259 Choriaster granulatus Choriaster, a common seastar at Pohnpei and other islands to the west, is quite rare at Kwaj. Only a few individuals have been spotted on the seaward reef. This one is in a clump of Caulerpa algae. 3305 Fromia milleporella Fromia is a common starfish on Kwajalein reefs. They are often seen right out in the open, so are probably not very edible. This unusual individual has six arms, one more than the standard five. 3310 Linckia laevigata Blue starfish It must be the season for six armed starfish. This Blue Linckia also has an extra arm. These stars are most common in very shallow water on interisland reefs. This individual was observed at Ebwaj (Shell Island). 3315 Comanthus schlegeli? Crinoid or feather star Feather stars, also called Crinoids, are related to the starfish and are common inhabitants of lagoon pinnacles and the seaward reef. While several species come out only at night, a few will sit right out in the open during the day. They perch on top of corals or gorgonians to get a better position for capturing plankton from the passing currents. Most species are variable in color and are not always easy to positively identify. 3319 Comanthus bennettii? Crinoid 3323 Comanthus schlegeli? Crinoid This bright yellow individual is perched on a colony of Pocillopora coral. 3327 Comanthus schlegeli? Crinoid

Pterocaesio tile Blue streak fusiliers Behind the Crinoid, schooling fusiliers zip back and forth. 3336 Spirobranchus giganteus Christmas tree worm Christmas tree worms have holes in live coral or reef rock. The paired spiral “Christmas trees” that extend from the hole are used for both respiration and capturing planktonic food. They vary considerably in color; here three different colored individuals emerge from live coral. 3344 Spirobranchus giganteus Christmas tree worm When disturbed, the worms can retract into their holes in the blink of an eye.

3349 Paralepidonotus ampulliferus Segmented worm This crawling creature that appears to be wearing armor is one of the free-living annelid worms. They hide under rocks most of the time. When this one was exposed to light, it immediately began looking for cover. A fish would find it a tasty tidbit. 3356 Leocrates sp Worm Free-living annelid worms come in a variety of shapes and colors. 3403 Pherecardia striata Striated bristle worm This worm is one of the bristle or fire worms. Those bristles protruding from both sides are hard and sharp. They easily puncture skin, and when they do, they tend to pull out of the worm and stay in the wound. A good stinging burns like fire, hence the common name fireworm. 3413 Stylaster elegans Pink coral This delicate pink coral in a small ledge is cupping a clump of Halimeda algae and growing in front of a fan gorgonian. 3418 Stylaster Pink coral

Distichopora Yellow coral Pink coral and its yellow relative are growing together in a ledge. This yellow coral has an interesting distribution pattern. It is not found in the southern portion of the Kwajalein atoll at all. A few pieces start to show up on lagoon pinnacles about one third of the way up the atoll. By mid atoll, it is common on pass pinnacles and on the seaward reef. 3422 Distichopora Purple coral

Labroides pectoralis Cleaner wrasse Chromis agilis Bronze reef chromis damsel

Related to the yellow coral in the previous scene is this purple coral. It is common throughout the atoll. The two fish, a damsel and a cleaner wrasse, rise into view. 3427 Fungia Razor corals Razor corals are quite variable in color. Each of these free-living disks is a single animal, rather than a colony as are most bushes of coral. 3430 Fungia Orange razor coral Sometimes Razor corals generate their own light. This bright orange one looks bright orange ad depth over 30 meters, deep enough that all the orange light from the sun would have been absorbed by the water above. It it looks orange, it must be producing the light on its own. Here it is on a colony of blue Porites coral. 3436 Goniopora stokesii Stokes’ gonioporid coral These small colonies grow in ball-like clumps, resting but not attached to the bottom. The long tentacles hide the coral’s skeleton. 3440 Goniopora sp. Another coral with long tentacles; there is a hard skeleton hidden down at the base.

3445 Euphyllia panacora Sausage coral The bubbly tentacles with sausage-shaped tips hide a hard coral skeleton. 3454 Dendronephthya Soft coral Dendronephthya soft corals form these bush-like structures growing up from the bottom or down from cave ceilings. They come in many colors. This one is a pale colored form growing in a shaded ledge on a shallow lagoon reef. 3459 Dendronephthya Soft coral This large pink soft coral grows on a steep seaward reef dropoff. 3503 Sarcophyton Leather coral This group of colonies is spreading over the top of the seaward reef. 3508 Rumphella antipathes Marshallese black coral This gorgonian is locally called Marshallese black coral. Although it has a black skeleton, it is not closely related to the true Black coral used in the jewelry trade. 3517 Stylaster Pink coral A small colony of Pink coral grows in front of a large red fan gorgonian. As the camera zooms out, an Emperor angelfish passes behind the fan. 3525 Orange gorgonian This small orange gorgonian closes off a small cave opening. A squirrelfish (Neoniphon) can be seen moving around behind. 3530 Gorgonians and pink coral Gorgonians often prefer growing in a shaded ledge. 3534 Astrogorgia? Red gorgonian 3539 Gorgonian in a deep cave. 3545 Ellisella in front, Subergorgia mollis behind Gorgonians Several crinoids are perched on top. 3553 Eurypegasus draconis Short dragonfish Dragonfish are apparently very rare at Kwaj. The only one we’ve seen was in the shallows near the harbor’s boat ramp. These are related to the pipefish. 3600 Corythoichthys schultzi Schultze’s pipefish This pipefish uses its long, thin beak to pecks at something behind Halimeda algae. They typically eat very small crustaceans and other minute food. Because their mouths are so small, they tend to be hard to feed if kept in an aquarium.

3606 Doryramphus dactyliophora Banded pipefish These long Banded pipefish live well back in caves and ledges on the seaward reef. 3612 Corythoichthys amplexus Black square pipefish Some pipes, such as this black one, prefer to live under rocks. 3616 Solenostomus Ghost pipefish Kwajalein is home to at least two kinds of Ghost pipefish. These pipes typically have large fins and are very cryptic. All are rare, although they are so hard to see that they may be more common than we think. This individual is swimming across a sand patch on a surgy day. 3621 Solenostomus Ghost pipefish Typically, the Ghost pipes drift head down and sway in the surge. This species has been found in seaward reef surge channels, sometimes near drifting algae and bits of palm fronds that have washed into the water from nearby islands. 3628 Solenostomus Halimeda ghost pipefish This one is well camouflaged in its normal habitat, around Halimeda algae. These are rare, but have been observed both in seaward reef surge channels and on lagoon reefs. Although they look like they would make great aquarium inhabitants, they are very sensitive and difficult to feed, and are therefore not recommended. 3640 Arothron nigropunctatus Blackspotted puffer Various species of puffers can be found in virtually all atoll habitats. Probably the most common is this Blackspotted puffer. Normally, it is gray to white with a few black spots. This one is near soft coral and black coral in a seaward reef ledge. 3645 Arothron nigropunctatus Blackspotted puffer The Blackspotted puffer also comes in a golden yellow color form. 3650 Arothron meleagris Spotted puffer Puffers can eat a variety of foods. This spotted species is usually observed feeding on live coral. Here, it bites off a chunk of the coral Porites rus, and shows its hard white fused teeth as it chews up the coral. 3655 Arothron hispidus Whitespotted puffer This one is feeding in a patch of Halimeda algae, spitting debris out the mouth with some falling out the gill openings. Various other fish, including a school of small goatfish, mill around hoping the puffer’s feeding scares up something they can get. 3705 Arothron hispidus Whitespotted puffer This individual is being cleaned by the wrasse Labroides dimidiatus. 3711 Arothron caeruleopunctatus Bluespotted puffer The Bluespotted puffer is relatively uncommon at Kwaj. This one is being cleaned by the wrasse Labroides dimidiatus.

3716 Arothron stellatus Star puffer This is the giant puffer you see patrolling the seaward reef dropoff. They can be found in the lagoon as well. These are large fish, but they are not edible. Like all puffers, their internal organs and skin are highly toxic. In some places, puffer flesh is called fugu and is considered a delicacy. Apparently the flesh has just enough of the toxins to make a diner’s lips numb. But it takes special training to prepare it safely, and even then, there are deaths every year from eating fugu that has been improperly prepared. 3721 Arothron stellatus Star puffer What a face! 3730 Diodon hystrix Porcupine fish Another kind of puffer is the Porcupine fish. When one of these is disturbed and puffs up, the hard sharp spines lying against its body erect and point straight out. It is an effective means of avoiding being eaten by something bigger. This one is being cleaned by the wrasse Labroides dimidiatus. 3736 Ostracion cubicus Box fish Boxfish have hard square bodies. Hard plates just below the skin enclose most of the body; the fins, eyes, and mouth are about the only parts that move. In addition to the box, boxfish are protected by poison as well. The toxins they secrete can kill other fish kept in the same aquarium. 3742 Ostracion meleagris Spotted box fish Females of this species are black with white spots, like this. Males have sides that are blue with orange spots. 3747 Canthigaster coronata Crowned sharpnose puffer The sharpnose puffers are small, but quite poisonous to eat. 3752 Paraluteres prionurus Mimic filefish This filefish resembles two species of poisonous sharpnose puffers, the previous Canthigaster coronata and Canthigaster valentini (not in this tape). 3757 Paralueres prionurus Mimic filefish A juvenile of the preceding filefish pecks at something on a rock. 3803 Amanses scopas Broom filefish This medium sized filefish is rather shy. They generally retreat under coral when divers approach. 3813 Alutera scriptus Netted leatherjacket filefish These large filefish have huge tails. They are also rather shy and usually move away when divers approach. They eat a variety of foods, including hard corals and jellyfish. 3818 Sufflamen chrysoptera Halfmoon triggerfish This juvenile triggerfish is contemplating diving into a hole to escape the photographer. In the end, he decides to just swim away.

3822 Odonus niger Redtooth black triggerfish This species can change color from the light blue shown in this specimen to nearly black. This one is being cleaned by a cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) 3827 Odonus niger Redtooth black triggerfish These triggers are often seen schooling up in the water above the seaward dropoff. 3833 Rhinecanthus rectangulusWedge picassofish or Humuhumunukunukuapuaa These triggers live in shallow water on the seaward reef. This one is being cleaned by the wrasse Labroides dimidiatus 3840 Balistoides conspicillum Clown triggerfish The most strikingly colored trigger is the Clown. They live on the seaward reef and on some lagoon pinnacles. They can do well in aquaria. In fact, we think this is one that lived for several years in our aquarium. This scene was shot a year or two after we released one in this very spot. We think this is the same specimen because it was considerably more relaxed around divers than Clown triggers usually are. 3845 Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus Yellow margined triggerfish This is a juvenile. You can see the beginnings of the yellow edging on the fins that gives this species its name. Behind it are several yellow tunicates (Phallusia julinea). 3851 Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus Yellow margined triggerfish A larger specimen shows this trigger’s typical coloration, but even this one is still not fully grown. Large specimens can exceed half a meter, or more than a foot and a half long. 3857 Balistoides viridescens Mustache triggerfish This large trigger is blowing a hole in the sand looking for buried worms, mollusks, and other potential prey. At one point, he eats something that he blows out of the hole. 3905 Balistoides viridescens Mustache triggerfish Like many other triggers, the Mustache lay their eggs in a small depression in the bottom, and spend the time until the eggs hatch protecting them from predators. If they leave the nest, numerous small fish swarm in to devour the eggs. Consequently, these fish can be a bit testy during nesting season, and will even charge an innocently passing diver. They have been known to cause bruises by ramming people, and even on occasion to bite. Their teeth are huge and ugly, and capable of inflicting a nasty wound. In this scene, a nesting trigger charged right into the camera. Right about the time the scene cuts off, all hell broke loose. 3913 Chelonia mydas Green turtle The Green turtle is one of the two kinds of sea turtle that frequent Kwaj’s reefs. Although on the endangered species list and protected in many countries, they are still hunted for food in the Marshall Islands. 3921 Chelonia mydas Green turtle This is a very young Green turtle swimming near the surface in shallow water.

3928 Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill turtle The other sea turtle common at Kwaj is the Hawksbill, shown here rising from behind coral. 3937 Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill turtle A Hawksbill turtle passes over an old coral outcrop on the seaward reef. 3951 Aetobatis narinari Spotted eagle ray Spotted eagle rays are found throughout the atoll. 3955 Aetobatis narinari Spotted eagle ray Younger individuals often have distinct spotting and very long tails. 4007 Taeniura meyeri Blotched stingray The sting of this large, Blotched stingray has been blamed for at least one human fatality. 4021 Taeniura meyeri Blotched stingray These rays can be found in lagoon and seaward reef habitats. They spend much of their time resting motionless on sand. 4029 Taeniura meyeri Blotched stingray 4036 Pastinachus sephen Fantail stingray The Fantail stingray is found in sandy lagoon habitats. Several small ones live in Kwajalein harbor. Another group lives in the sand flats on the lagoon side of Roi-Namur Island. A remora follows the one in this scene. 4043 Himantura fai Pink whipray This large sand dwelling stingray is resting in a sandy depression he created. Many stingrays dig for food in the sand, excavating holes to turn up burying echinoderms and mollusks. A remora hangs under the ray’s tail. 4048 Himantura fai Pink whipray Sometimes rays pay little attention to divers. This one allowed the camera in for a close-up of its head. 4054 Urogymnus africanus Thorny ray The Thorny ray is covered with somewhat sharp little bumps. This relatively rare species does not have a venomous stinger. They are usually seen resting on sand in both lagoon and seaward reef habitats. 4102 Manta birostris Manta ray Accompanied by three remora, a Manta cruises along right under the surface on a shallow lagoon reef. Mantas come in two color forms that some scientists think might be two different species. Some mantas, such as all those seen in this tape, have mostly black undersides with a few white blotches. Others have white undersides with a few dark spots. The extent and layout of the underside white or black blotching can be used to recognize particular individuals.

4109 Manta birostris Manta ray This Manta came into a lagoon reef to visit a cleaning station. Several large cleaner wrasses are working him over for parasites. 4122 Manta birostris Manta ray The largest Mantas we see cruise along the seaward reef dropoff. 4135 Nebrius ferrugineus Nurse shark During the day, nurse sharks are usually seen resting on the bottom in a cave or beneath an overhang. We have seen them pulling clams out of the reef at night. 4146 Triaenodon obesus Whitetip reef sharks The Whitetip is one of the sharks most frequently observed by divers. Whitetips are pretty much harmless to people. The only time they may behave aggressively is in the presence of speared fish. However, they should not be mistaken for the much larger, thicker, and potentially much more dangerous Silvertip shark. 4152 Triaenodon obesus Whitetip reef sharks Three on shallow seaward reef 4206 Triaenodon obesus Whitetip reef shark Often a Whitetip will come in for a close look. 4212 Triaenodon obesus Whitetip reef shark Here a Whitetip tries to get at something, possibly an injured fish, hiding under the coral. 4220 Triaenodon obesus Whitetip reef shark 4228 Carcharhinus melanopterus Blacktip reef shark The Blacktip is the most common shark on the intertidal reef flat and in very shallow water. Only occasionally are they seen out near the seaward reef dropoff. Usually small and shy, they too can become aggressive if fish are being speared. 4234 Carcharhinus melanopterus Blacktip reef shark 4241 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Gray reef shark The most potentially dangerous shark most people will ever see is the Gray reef. They are common on lagoon pinnacles and on the seaward reef, especially in mid and far western atoll areas where they are not accustomed to divers. In infrequently dove spots, Gray reefs will often show up as soon as you anchor the boat. They usually hang around for 10 minutes or so after divers enter the water, sometimes showing the beginning of aggressive behavior. Then, they are generally satisfied that they don’t have to worry about divers as competitors, and usually fade out of sight. They’d be back in a second, though, if a fish is speared.

4249 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Gray reef shark 4257 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Gray reef shark 4304 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Gray reef shark 4313 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Gray reef shark Coming in for a close look then rapidly turning away is a typical behavior. 4319 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Gray reef shark The danger from Gray reefs is not that they want to eat divers; the risk is that they may consider divers as possible competitors. This can stimulate aggressive behavior, which is characterized by a particular swimming posture. In this scene, the Gray reef goes into a full aggressive posture, effectively telling the photographer that he is not welcome here. It is when the shark is swimming in this manner that it is most dangerous. Any sort of movement from the diver that the shark considers a threat stands a good chance of eliciting an attack. When the shark attacks, it breaks out of its posture and barrels straight in on its victim. It is moving so fast that, by comparison, a diver is in slow motion. It is highly unlikely that any human could move fast enough in the water to fend off an attacking Gray reef. But it is easy to avoid an attack. Just do nothing. Do not lunge at the shark. Do not wave a knife at it. Do not take a flash picture of it. Don’t even try to swim away—flapping fins in the shark’s direction could be considered a threat. Stay still until the shark goes out of its posture—it usually will within a few seconds. Then, as soon as its back is turned, beat a calm yet hasty retreat. 4345 Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Gray reef shark 4350 Credits over jellyfish