Honorable Mention Compact Behavior

Andrea Michelutti

"Circle of life"

The Story: 

I found this Favorinus tsuruganus, along with its eggs, on the egg ribbon of the Spanish dancer (Hexabranchus sanguineus). This image captures a stark contrast between nature’s beauty and its harsh realities. The bright colors and intricate designs of the nudibranchs are captivating, but they hide a harsh reality. The nudibranch in the foreground is feeding of the eggs of another of its kind: the ribbon of purple eggs laid by the Spanish dancer fell prey to the Favorinus tsuruganus, which also deposited its white eggs on top.

This scene illustrates intraspecific predation, a phenomenon where an animal consumes another of its own species, typically targeting the eggs or the young. Shooting this image required a great deal of patience, as the  constant movement of the purple eggs, caused by the undertow, obscured the nudibranch and its eggs. After some attempts, I succeeded in capturing this vivid portrayal of the ‘circle of life”.

Location: 

Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

Equipment Used: 

• Camera: Sony RX100 VII
• Housing: Isotta Sony RX100 VII Housing 
• Lens: Inon UCL-90 +11 Macro Lens
• Lights/Strobes:  Inon Z330 Strobe

Camera Settings: 

• Aperture: F11
• Shutter Speed: 1/1000 sec
• ISO: 100

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