thephotosocietyさんのインスタグラム写真 - (thephotosocietyInstagram)「Photos by @angelfitor // A dazzling male featherfin cichlid displays his best on top of a sand bower nest on the cerulean waters of Lake Tanganyika. Featherfin cichlids are absolutely unique creatures evolved during eons on the oldest, deepest lake in Africa. Males lack solid colours, instead their skin contain millions of iridescent cells designed to decompose and reflect the sunlight offering a mesmerizing rainbowed show on top of their self-built sand bowers, all in order to court the much smaller and drab coloured females. Yet, its female´s shoulders where reproductive success rests upon. After accepting a male demonstration, she lays their eggs at the centre of the sand bower, and immediately gets back and gulp them while the male circle her pouring sperm in the surrounding water to grant the eggs get fertilized inside female´s mouth as she breathes. During the following three weeks, fry will develop inside her mouth until final release of babies. For decades, the insanely laborious job of documenting the variety and complexity of fish behaviour has been central to my photography. Despite being the largest group of vertebrates on the Planet - larger than the sum of all amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals - the secret lives of fish still offer a genuine feeling of exploration and discovery, since the intimacy of most of species remain unveiled. This series is part of my lifetime, ongoing work on Lake Tanganyika, and coverage for a @natgeo story. Follow me @angelfitor on my journey to behold the hidden greatness of Earth´s underwater realms.」4月16日 2時52分