This tiny shrimp fearlessly enters the mouth of a fish to clean its teeth. Fish value this service as the shrimp removes and eats harmful parasites. The shrimp lives in the sea anemone in the background. Fish recognize the anemone as a cleaning station, and when they need a clean they approach it and open their mouths, encouraging the shrimp in. This is mutualism - a form of symbiosis in which both partners benefit.
Photographed at a depth of 10 metres off Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, in 2003.
Nikon F90x, 105mm macro lens, two flashguns
Interesting detailed photographs collected here in Winners of Vision of Science Awards
I had to read the text next to the photos to really appreciate the image.
Enjoy...
Timothy
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