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Crab Larvae

Photo by AlbertKang
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Megalopa Crab are the final stage larvae of Crabs. During the larvae stages of their life cycle, this Crustaceans are found in the water column and usually active at night when they feeds, among tiny planktons.

This particular Crab is less than 1 cm in size and I was surprised to noticed something on top of its shell, which turned out to be a Barnacle. The Barnacle was extending its feather-like feeding appendages, called cirri brushing through the water collecting planktons. Had to take many shots to capture the sequence when the cirri were fully extended as shown in both pics.

Notes:

Picture was taken during Black Water dive at night, meaning in water column over areas with depths of 100 meters or deeper.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (31)
AlbertKang
Thanks, @ornithoptera80 and @Tukup for your kind words and appreciation :)
Tukup
Congratulations again, Albert. That is some weird photo. Well done.
Machi
Congratulations AlbertKang! Your Crab Larva and Barnacle Spotting tied for third place in our 2019 Best Wildlife Photo Contest - Arthropods Category! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10163302114705603/10163302115645603/?type=3&theater Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/1243309118930198533
AlbertKang
Thanks, @Alex Salcedo, @Gilma, @triggsturner, @armadeus.4 and @Michael for your kind words and appreciation :)
Liana
Congratulations on SOTW Albert! Incredible shots. Thank you for sharing :)
Roy Arun
Amazing shot....and congrats......You all are an inspiration to me...
triggsturner
Congratulations on your SOTW Albert. Stunning images as usual.
AlbertKang
Thanks, @Michael & @Lauren for your kind words and appreciation :)
LaurenZarate
Congratulations Albert and wonderful pictures under difficult conditions!
phantomailbox
Amazing photo! Congratulations and thanks for sharing this!
AlbertKang
Thanks, @Neil Ross for your kind words and support :)
Neil Ross
Congratulations on your much-deserved SOTW, Albert. That is an amazing spotting.
AlbertKang
Thanks, @Daniele for another SOTW :) Thanks too, @Antonio and @Tukup for your kind words and support :)
Tukup
Terrific shots Albert. Well worth the extra time to get the pose you need. Well deserved SOTW. Thanks so much for sharing.
AntónioGinjaGinja
Fantastic capture Albert,not even in a SYFY movie they could imagine such a alien face:-) congrats on the very ell deserved SOTW ,perfect for the theme of our new 2019 best wild photo and thanks for sharing
DanielePralong
Congratulations Albert, that great catch and somehow alien-like encounter earned you a Spotting of the Week! Also, many of us had never seen a crab larva ;-) "Spotting of the Week! How do crustaceans such as crabs begin their life? Between hatching from their eggs and reaching adult form they go through a number of larval and immature stages. For decapods such as crabs the last developmental or post-larval stage is known as 'megalopa'. As seen here, that stage is quite similar to the adult form. What about that 'appendage' on top of our mini-crab? It turns out to be a barnacle! Check out the spotting for more information". Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/pb.10150120463815603.-2207520000.1552349639./10161579909805603/?type=3&theater Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/1105259490658734081
AshleyT
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
AlbertKang
Thanks, @Daniele, added to the Mission :D Thanks too, @Maria for your kind words and support :)
Maria dB
That is so cool, Albert! The portrait in the first photo could serve as a model for a science fiction film! :)
DanielePralong
Fantastic capture Albert! Perfect for our new mission: https://www.projectnoah.org/missions/2194946003
AlbertKang
Thanks, @Mark :), glad you like it :) Thanks too, @Machi and yes, but unfortunately, not possible to get ID of both critters.
Machi
Amazing photo and find! Both creatures are so fantastic

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Global Coral Reef Monitoring
Mission
Crustacea Filipiniana
Mission
Sea creatures of Anilao
Mission
Wildlife of South East Asia
Mission
2019 Best Wildlife Photo - Species Interactions Special!

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Photographed
PublishedFebruary 6, 2019

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