Graceful pearlfish (Encheliophis gracilis) peering from the anus of the sea cucumber Bohadschia argus. The pearlfish is parasitic on the sea cucumber,

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Graceful pearlfish (Encheliophis gracilis) peering from the anus of the sea cucumber Bohadschia argus. The pearlfish is parasitic on the sea cucumber, living inside its gut and feeding on its internal tissues. In this way it hides itself from predators and ensures a permanent food supply. Photographed in Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

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Size: 5470px × 3721px
Photo credit: © GEORGETTE DOUWMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, anus, argus, biological, biology, bohadschia, cucumber, encheliophis, fish, graceful, gracilis, host, indo-pacific, indonesia, irian, jaya, nature, parasite, parasitic, parasitism, pearlfish, sea, underwater, zoological, zoology