Pufferfish

Among the butterfly fish, wrasse, parrotfish, and other colorful denizens of the reef, its easy to overlook some of the less spectacular but no less interesting inhabitants.  This fellow is a blackspotted pufferfish (Arothron nigropunctatus) that meandered into view while snorkeling on the reef near Cairns. He doesn't seem particularly bothered by my presence... not surprising as he has few if any predators to worry about, save the occasional japanese chef.

Its not one of the species that can be served as fugu, but its no less dangerous, and being packed full of tetradoxins no doubt gives it a sense of confidence that other, similarly sized fish might lack.

Hermit crab

What I first took to be an empty shell soon turned out to be occupied. Its not clear from the video, but this hermit crab is quite large - the shell is about the same dimensions as the palm of my hand.

This movie was taken at Trinity Beach, north of Cairns.