This macro underwater photo shows a delicate porcelain crab tucked into the ruffled folds of a sea pen, a soft-bodied colonial marine animal. The sea pen’s structure resembles a ribbed leaf or feather, with soft polyps along the edge. The crab’s flattened, pink-to-purple body is perfectly camouflaged among the sea pen’s ridges, with its large claws folded beneath it. Fine feather-like appendages near its mouth are faintly visible, used for filter feeding. The lighting brings out intricate details in the crab’s texture and the soft fur-like appearance of the sea pen’s polyps. Photographer credit: Gregory Rothman, 2025

After the last image, thought I’d show some of the upper end, high rise living. #PorcelainCrab #SeaPenCrab #UnderwaterMacro #MarineSymbiosis #CommensalCrab #UnderwaterPhotography #OceanCritters #MacroMarineLife #ScubaDiving #MarineInvertebrates #GregoryRothman #photography
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