Surely this extraordinarily flat and transparent larval stage of a type of lobster called a 'bug' in Australia, 'Slipper Lobster' sometimes and 'Crawfish' in other parts of the world, is the most bizarre creature in the oceans. It is referred to as the phyllosoma larva of palinurid Lobsters, and they are so flat and so transparent that you can read a newspaper through their bodies. More weird than that though, is the fact that they spend around a year and a half of their early life latched onto a jellyfish, hydromedusan, comb jelly or salp. These hosts transport them way out into the open oceans, maybe hundreds, even thousands of miles from their birthplace, only returning to shore if the host drifts and swims inshore. The phyllosoma, by then may have changed skin seven or eight times, grown to be five centimetres across, have ridden several hosts and yet still bear no resemblance to a slipper lobster. Inshore, the larva skin changes, metamorphoses and settles to the bottom of the sea, thereafter to steadily harden grow and pigment into a baby Slipper Lobster. Half of the larval body, including the eyes and legs will drift away and be eaten by passing fish. The head of the Lobster will be formed from the white central patch in this photo of a late stage phyllosoma.

Lizard Island, Australia (2006)

Nikon F3 | Custom Optics | Fuji Velvia

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