Invisible Oceans Founder's Collection: Invisible Oceans #13: Phronima I

One of the most extraordinary Amphipod Crustacean creatures of the ocean depths, but often found to vertically migrate close to the surface, is Phronima. Female Phronima grab passing Salps, a type of swimming Sea Squirt, eat their soft parts, clean out the semi-solid gel-like carcass and use it as a perambulator and baby creche. They deposit their eggs on the underside of the roof, and guard them while they mature to free-swimming juveniles, whereupon they swim free. In this image captured aboard British Deep Sea Research vessel, RRS Discovery, we are looking head on at the Salp entrance with the mother looking straight at us and a saddle of youngsters on the underside of the roof. One or two youngsters are exploring the walls of the Salp.

Deep Sea Research Vessel Discover, Atlantic (1976)

Nikon F2 | Custom Optics | Kodachrome 64