Christmas tree worms decorate reefs in a rainbow of colors, visually demonstrating genetic diversity within the group. Such biodiversity is an important evolutionary investment, helping insure that at least a few individuals in generations to come will survive unpredictable environmental changes. (Spirobranchus sp., Caribbean and Fiji)

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An explosion of color, soft corals decorate a reef...

Delicate arms of a basket star reach out for plankton.

In order to maximize their surface area for solar...

Like all bivalves, giant clams are filter feeders. Water...

The brilliant colors of giant clam mantles are due to...

Parrotfish are herbivores and play an important role in...

Purple sponges (Nara nematifera) surround green...

In the coral city waste is recycled—a resource to...

The spaces between corals and sea fans are an extremely...

Although many reef creatures withdraw at night, the...

These "free-loading" synaptid sea cucumbers are living...

Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus)...

Sponges are the reef 's pharmacy as they produce...

Groups of nematocysts give tentacles of these...

In the reef's web of life everything is connected and...

Serving the same purpose as a red and white barber pole...

This dorid nudibranch feeds on sponges and stores their...

The white scalpel of this eye-stripe surgeon fish is hinged...

The adaptive advantage of having a large head is that,...

Not only is the body of a peacock flounder adapted...

As we humans use clothes to send a message, so do the...

Each species on the reef—whether it be a sponge, soft...

Christmas tree worms decorate reefs in a rainbow of colors,...

A mushroom coral is not a colony. It is one single...

Although these lizardfish may give the impression of a...

Starfish prey on animals that move very slowly, or can't...

The animals we usually call jellyfish belong to the class...

Lionfishes and scorpionfishes have large, venom-filled...

Bassletts. Reef fishes come in a fantastic variety of colors...

Unicorn Fish. Weirdly shaped fishes illustrate the amazing...

Cuttlefish. The class Cephalopoda contains...

This chromodoris nudibranch (or sea slug) grazes on...

Most goatfishes are active during the day. They dig in...

The bold eyespot on this butterflyfish attracts...

Clownfish (also called anemonefish) consider their...

Boxer crabs use anemones as weapons. They grab an...
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