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Tony Wu's Image
Tony Wu (USA/Japan) provides a first-time glimpse into the mating ritual of Abbott’s moray eels.
Tony has been working with biologists to address a knowledge gap in the social behaviour of this eel species. Guided only by a dim red-light source to minimise disturbance, and using a customised fisheye camera lens, he has studied this male since 2024 as it visits females that dwell in crevices on the reef.
This is likely the first time Abbott’s moray eel courtship and spawning have been documented, and the observations from Tony’s work with biologists are feeding into published scientific studies.
Behind the lens
Tony Wu
USA/Japan
Tony has been documenting marine life since 1995. First were the tropical reefs of Southeast Asia, followed by long-term projects centred upon large cetaceans and spawning aggregations. He’s now devoted to the oceans of Japan, which encompass everything from tropical to Arctic environments, as well as many unique habitats in between. Tony views himself as a translator, interpreting and communicating on behalf of the underwater world by using photographs, scientific information and writing.
Image details
- Sony α1
- customised Nikon fisheye 13mm f2.8 lens
- 1/320 at f11 • ISO 500 • 2x Backscatter Hybrid HF-1 strobes
- Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan
Copyright in Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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