Reef Dentistry

[ktuli]

More underwater photos to share today...

Here's a Pederson Cleaner Shrimp working on the impressive chompers of a Spotted Moray Eel...

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Cropped:


For those wondering, there are certain species that live on the reef and provide a cleaning service - anything from removing parasites, dead skin, to that pesky morsel of food stuck in your teeth! There is kind of an unwritten rule that predators that would normally snack on such a little creature (usually cleaners are shrimp or small fish) don't prey on them in the cleaning stations. So what looks like a very precarious working condition is actually quite safe for the shrimp. The shrimp gets a meal, and the eel gets that annoying bit of food out from between its teeth.

The natural world really is an awesome place.

And as always, if you're enjoying the dive photography, feel free to stop by my blog for a more posts.

- Bill

[jjbacoomba]

Thanks Bill for letting us see something we dont see everyday. Awesome shot!

[ktuli]

Just adding an additional shot here as follow-up to a question on Karl's thread...



Nice teeth.

- Bill

[Donald]

My apologies, Bill, for having missed this thread first time around.

A fascinating, as well as high quality, record of life in a part of the world that so few of us will ever get the chance to see first-hand.

[Mike Buckley]

Gorgeous photos and absolutely fascinating information. Perhaps my dentist will accept my proposal that I provide him lunch in return for him clearning my teeth. Not including wine.