A Crinoid (Centrometra bella) uses its yellow, claw-like "feet" to cling to a Red Whip Coral (Ellisella sp.).

A Giant Hermit Crab (Dardanus megistos) charges down a rock. It has long eye stalks, strong pincers, and a prickly exterior.

No larger than 1/2", this Squat Lobster (Xenocarcinus conicus) has a broad white stripe down the center of its body and eyes set at the edge of its carapace.

An unknown species of Flamboyant Cuttlefish (Metasepia sp.) lifts its tentacles in a threatening posture that signals "stay away".

The Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) has short tufts of white bristle that can easily penetrate the skin and break off into the skin causing a painful burning sensation and irritating wound.

The Thornback Cowfish (Lactoria fonasini), characterized by a prickly spine on its back, gives the appearance of a UFO. When courting, males flash brilliant streaks of blue to entice the female.

A male Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus plagicus) grasps a female with the use of his claspers until she molts her shell. Then they will mate.

This Nudibranch (Glossodoris atromarginata) has a body that is held high and is trimmed with an undulating, black-trimmed margin.

The juvenile Yellow Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus) is cubic in shape with bright yellow coloration and numerous small black spots that elongate with age.

Within the arms of a Feather Star (Crinoidea sp.) a Crinoid Shrimp (Periclemens sp.) has taken on the colors and patterns of its host in order to escape the notice of carnivorous fishes.

A Dwarf Lionfish (Dendrochirus brachypterus) waits on the silty bottom to ambush a victim. His lightening-like eye is highly reflective when photographed.

The Flamboyant Cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) has brilliant patterns of deep maroon, black, yellow and red. Here, at night, it uses a retractable tentacle to capture its prey.

The male Scribbled Pipefish (Corythoichthys intestinals) carries the eggs of the female inside a brood pouch located under its tail until the eggs hatch.

The Blue-Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) is a fist-sized octopus with distinctive blue rings that become intensely blue when it is aggravated. It can inflict an extremely toxic bite that can be fatal to humans in 20 minutes.

The eyes and mouth of the Stargazer (Uranascope sp.) are on the top of its cubic head. The rest of its body usually lies buried in the dark sand while it waits to make a lunging attack.

An Anemone Hermit Cab (Dardanus pedunculatus) breaks open the shell of an urchin to feed.

An Imperial Shrimp (Periclemenes imperator) hitches a ride on a synapted Sea Cucumber (Euapta godeffroyi).

The Caledonian Stinger (Inimicus didactylus) inhabits open sandy or silty bottoms and often lies buried up to its bulbous eyes in sand waiting to ambush small fishes.

The Caledonian Stinger (Inimicus didactylus) has long, extremely venomous dorsal spines. It has adapted its lower three fins to become "claws" so it can actually pull itself along the bottom.

The Spearer Mantis Shrimp (Lysioquillana sp.) has broad, peanut-shaped, complex eyes on stalks. It is a sit-and-wait predator that ambushes passing prey from its burrow entrance.

A Helmet Shell (Cassidae sp.) is a marine snail with a large, thick shell. It feels its way along the bottom searching for food.

Looking like a fearsome apparition from a science fiction movie, the Bobbit Worm (Eunice sp.) is a segmented worm with 5 tentacles and massive, spring-loaded raptorial claws.

The Bobbit Worm (Eunice sp.) is a voracious predator. It emerges from its burrow with lightening speed, seizes a fish, and then pulls the fish into its burrow where it consumes it.

This Spider Crab (Xenocarcinus tuberculatus) has a smooth, shiny carapace with large spines and an algae-covered rostrum that is long and tapering. It is seen clinging to a sea whip.

Another Spider Crab (Cyclocoeloma tuberculata) has densely packed tubercles helping it to attach anemones to its carapace. It has two black bands on each leg segment.

A long slender, barely-noticeable commensal Urchin Shrimp (Stegopontonia commensales) blends in with the spines of its host sea urchin where it spends its entire life, head down.

Certain Moray Eels (Muraenidae sp.), such as this one, have venomous fangs on the roofs of their mouths.

An Elegant Squat Lobster (Alogalathea elegans) enjoys the protection of a crinoid. The squat lobster is ensured a constant food supply from the crinoid's left-overs.

A Striated Frogfish (Antennarius striatus) is covered with long, hairy filaments and has an antennae on the top of its head that it flicks back and forth in front of its mouth to attract small fish.

The Rounded Porcupinefish (Cyclichthys orbicularis) has large spines and very large eyes. It has the ability to inflate itself when threatened.

The Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) clings to the branches of a Sea Fan (Muricella sp.). Usually less than 3/4", it mimics the bumpy, dark pink polyps of the fan.

All species of male cardinalfish brood eggs in their mouths until the eggs hatch. But, the male Banggai Cardinalfish (Pteropogon kauderni) continues to shelter the newly hatched juveniles in his mouth until they can care for themselves.

A young Common Lionfish (Pterois volitans) shyly swims down the face of a sponge.

The Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) has an elongated dorsal fin that forms a trailing sickle-shaped crest. The Moorish Idol got its name from the Moors of Africa who believed the fish to be a bringer of happiness.

A pattern-on-pattern image is created with the stripes of a juvenile Common Lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the foreground and the curving arms of a large Feather Star (Crinoidea sp.) in the background.

A female Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) holds her fertilized eggs in a globular mass with a glue-like secretion. Constantly cleaning and rotating the egg mass, she will not feed until the eggs hatch.