Invisible Oceans Founder's Collection: Invisible Oceans #77: Sapphirina II

In the same way that the comb plates on the comb jellies refracted the light and split the white light into its spectral components, so also do the exoskeletal segments and scales over the top surface of, particularly, the males of a species of highly modified copepod, named Sapphirina. This copepod is parasitic within the bodies of gelatinous salps, which in turn are glassy transparent, so these rainbow colours are seen through the bodies of another animal. It is the male copepods that are parasitic and these colour displays may be used in courtship. The females are far less colourful and are free swimming, as well as being a different shape designed to accommodate the heavy egg sacs that are carried on both sides of the female's shoulders and body.

Lizard Island, Australia (1988)

Nikon F2 | Custom Optics | Kodachrome 64