Defenses

With the exception of "apex" predators such as orcas and great white sharks, every animal living in the sea is subject to predation. Potential prey have evolved a myriad of defensive strategies and most animals employ more than one of these. There are simple tactics such as swimming away or hiding, and more complex ones that include the use sharp spines, toxic chemicals or venom. There are even animals that mimic the appearance of a different animal that has an effective defense such as venom, while not actually possessing it themselves.

Blue Surgeonfish, Fiji — Blue Surgeonfish,
Fiji

Lionfish, Japan — Lionfish,
Japan

Clown Triggerfish, New Guinea — Clown Triggerfish,
New Guinea

Boxer Crab, Indonesia — Boxer Crab,
Indonesia

Anemonefish, Philippines — Anemonefish,
Philippines

Decorator Crab, Red Sea — Decorator Crab,
Red Sea

Aeolid Nudibranch, New Zealand — Aeolid Nudibranch,
New Zealand

Porcupinefish, Cayman Islands — Porcupinefish,
Cayman Islands

Damselfish, Indonesia — Damselfish,
Indonesia

Schooling Trevallies, Indonesia, — Schooling Trevallies,
Indonesia,

Striped Catfish, Indonesia — Striped Catfish,
Indonesia

False Catfish, Indonesia — False Catfish,
Indonesia

Swimming Flatworm, Papua New Guinea — Swimming Flatworm,
Papua New Guinea

Flatworm Mimic, Papua New Guinea — Flatworm Mimic,
Papua New Guinea

Flatworm Mimic, Indonesia — Flatworm Mimic,
Indonesia

Blenny, St. Vincent — Blenny,
St. Vincent

Dragon Moray, Japan — Dragon Moray,
Japan

Gobies, Japan — Gobies,
Japan

Scorpionfish, Indonesia — Scorpionfish,
Indonesia

Scorpionfish, Indonesia — Scorpionfish,
Indonesia

Ghost Pipefish, Papua New Guinea — Ghost Pipefish,
Papua New Guinea

Cowfish, St. Vincent — Cowfish,
St. Vincent

Sleeping Parrotfish, Indonesia — Sleeping Parrotfish,
Indonesia

Electric Ray, Seychelles — Electric Ray,
Seychelles

Twinspot Gobies Papua New Guinea — Twinspot Gobies
Papua New Guinea

Raccoon Butterflyfish, Hawaii — Raccoon Butterflyfish,
Hawaii

Flounder, Indonesia — Flounder,
Indonesia

Sea Urchin, Papua New Guinea — Sea Urchin,
Papua New Guinea

Whiteheaded Shrimp, Solomon Islands — Whiteheaded Shrimp,
Solomon Islands

Comet Star, Papua New Guinea — Comet Star,
Papua New Guinea

All images © David Hall. Any unauthorized use or reproduction of these images is strictly forbidden.