Long & Spotted (2 images)

[stuny]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

The waters off Sipadan, Borneo, Malaysia are rife with eels of all ilk. Just about everyone has at least seen pictures of green moray eels, large (often over two meters long) and common denizens of tropical waters. But perhaps few of you have seen either of these. The first is a spot-faced moray eel, at about half the size of the green moray, it spends most of its daylight hours with its body in a crevice with little more than its head sticking out, generally emerging at night to hunt. Second, and even more unusual, especially since they are so shy, is the tiny garden eel (this species is a spotted garden eel). They are rather small - perhaps 12 centimeters long, though I’ve never seen them completely out of their holes. As one approaches within three or four meters they instantly retract into their holes. I got this shot by waiting prone on the sandy seabed less than a meter from where the eel disappeared, and only had to wait about a minute before the creature came out again.

[roguewave]

Stu, awesome images. Is the difference in color due to the angle of the sun or the depth of the water?

[Martin T-M]

Stuart, #2 is one more for your office's wall.

[stuny]

Ben - Thank you. Water very quickly absorbs all but the shortest wavelengths of light, making most things look blue. Consequently, only those things within the relatively near range of the flash will show their true colors. In this case, with me lying on the seabed floor, camera rig resting there, the flash illuminated little more than the eel.

 

Martin - Thank you. I too favor that one, partly because these little guys are so shy and elusive. However, it was exciting for me to see the other variation on moray eels.

[azzo]

Hope you have a very large office.

 

Stuart,

 

Again, excellent captures.

[stuny]

Ivan -

 

Thank you. I'll forward your comment as a suggestion to my boss.