Sex in the Philippines

As I finish sorting and editing photos from my recent trip to the Philippines to post to the website, I wanted to mention that sex tourism is alive and well in the Philippines. Now I can only speak from observation, but it appeared that a lot of creatures in the ocean were indulging, during our trip! So if traveling to tropical destinations to witness and photograph reproductive behavior underwater is appealing to you, perhaps a trip to the Indo-Pacific in the days leading up to and just following the full moon can reward you with some rare opportunities. Here are a few photos of reproductive behavior that we witnessed in Anilao and Puerto Galera. Happy Valentines Day! :)

A pair of Blue Swimming Crabs, Portunus pelagicus, mating.

Zebra Crab, Zebrida adamsii, in Toxic Urchin. You can see the clutch of pink eggs, held under the mouth and over the gills.

A very pregnant Giant Frogfish, Antennarius commersoni.

Orange Anemonefish, Amphiprion sandaracinos, with nest of eggs.

Nudibranch, Hypselodoris apolegma, starting to lay a yellow ribbon of eggs.

Male Pygmy Pipehorse, Acentronura breviperula, with a full pouch of eggs.

Another nudibranch, Chromodoris willani, laying eggs.

Male Ringtailed Cardinalfish, Apogon aureus, with a brood of eggs in it's mouth.