Prior to traveling to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, we read a report citing the occurrence of huge tree-like old-growth stands of Acropora tortuosa that were discovered at Rongelap Atoll several hundred miles north of Kwajalein. We didn’t expect…
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Breathtaking views of coral reefs at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands
Alright, alright, alright! We’ve been teasing you with innumerable posts about individual corals and novel colonies found at Kwajalein Atoll but now it’s time to blow your mind with some serious eye candy! If you thought scenery like this has…
Meyer and reticulate butterflyfish hybrid from the Marshall Islands
It’s been a little bit since we’ve dug up a butterflyfish hybrid, so how about a Chaetodon cross that we haven’t seen before? While some hybrid Chaetodon butterflyfish can be hard to place, this little fishy is an obvious cross…
Possible Acropora chimera: a table acropora develops unusual upright branches
We spotted many beautiful corals and unknown colors while thoroughly assessing the coral life of Kwajalein Atoll, but one particularly colony stands out among our discoveries for some very unusual features. Two coral species which are well represented inside the…
The Ebeye Special Acro – a new ‘shortcake’ from Kwajalein Atoll
Acropora microclados is a wide ranging species of stony coral that is better known to aquarists via the “Strawberry Shortcake”. However, last month while diving all around Kwajalein Atoll we came across a striking new strain of this iconic coral…
Evil one-eyed chalice coral sighted at 110 feet in Kwajalein Atoll
While on a deep dive on the ocean side of Kwajalein Atoll, we came face to face with a pair of chalice corals with a striking look unlike any we have seen in aquariums, or in the wild. With a…
Pavona cactus deserves a whole lot more presence in our reef tanks
When diving wild reefs, as we did last week in Kwajalein Atoll, corals like Pavona cactus remind us of the wild disparity between the abundance of corals in nature and their relative presence in aquariums. Pavona cactus is one of…
Acropora rongelapensis is one of the craziest Acros we’ve ever seen
Ever first we learned and wrote about the exquisite Acropora rongelapensis, it has been on our bucket list to go to the Marshall Islands to find and photograph this species in the wild. Last week we just happened to be on…
Introducing the Red Devil Acropora tenella from Kwajalein Atoll
The Red Devil Acro is an astounding red strain of Acropora tenella that we discovered while diving the deeper portions some of the incredible reefs of Kwajalein Atoll. Admittedly it was while searching for another special coral, Acropora rongelapensis, that we came across…
Barry Brown updates with more deepwater Curacao treasures including an undescribed Decodon
Barry Brown is an avid underwater photographer that has spent the last decade or so documenting fish and other marvellous creatures in Curacao, and is working with the Smithsonian Institution in documenting new species from the deep waters of the…