2017 Underwater Photographer of the Year

From 2017 Underwater Photographer of the Year I select this one as the best:

fish

It is, apparently, a Lionfish in its early larval stage. Here's my picture of a lionfish:

DSCN2295-lion-fish

Refs

* Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014
* Stoat-tastic

More like this

Very nice. Was your lionfish photograph taken while diving, or at an aquarium?

[I don't dive (too elaborate for my tastes). It's in the aquarium at Palma Mallorca. Which probably accounts for its somewhat disgruntled look -W]

By ...and Then Th… (not verified) on 15 Feb 2017 #permalink

It's all very nice. But the 2015 photo of the weasel on the woodpecker's back is still in a class of its own.

[Thanks for the reminder. I've added a ref -W]

..."in its early larval stage."

As opposed to the late larval stage, which is nearly impossible to distinguish, since these fish only shed their thin exoskeletons in the deep dark abyss, where even David Attenborough dare not go.

They also have compound eyes.

By The Very Rever… (not verified) on 15 Feb 2017 #permalink

Having discovered ichthyoplankton, I take that back - especially the part about Attenborough.

By The Very Rever… (not verified) on 15 Feb 2017 #permalink

You don't have to do proper diving to see lionfish. Not knowing it was dangerous, I cornered one while snorkelling only a metre or two down and got within a few inches of it. It looked at least as grumpy as your aquarium example. (And why wouldn't it? I was probably the stupidest snorkeller it had ever encountered.)

By Vinny Burgoo (not verified) on 15 Feb 2017 #permalink