Saying “Ah!” at the Shrimp Spa
On coral reefs, an army of tiny cleaners eat their clients’ parasites, food particles, and dead skin, boosting biodiversity in the process.
Alexander Mustard's Latest Articles
Friends or Foes?
A flatworm and a sea squirt mingle in the tropical waters of West Papua, offering a glimpse into the complexity of interspecies relationships.
Pelagic Pack Animals
Gelatinous salps shuttle tiny creatures and excess carbon into the deep.
Red Fish, Blue Fish
Mexican hogfish change colors—and sex—as they grow, perplexing scientists and attracting admirers.
Eye Spy
While this highly adapted fish peers out on its prey- and predator-rich surroundings, shapeshifting, pigmented cells enable it to all but disappear into its environment.
Last Grasp
To catch and swallow their prey, these eels use both an obvious set of tools and an even more remarkable secret weapon.
Star Attraction
Even a night sky of pirouetting stars can’t upstage the otherworldly beauty of a red-gilled nudibranch.