23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Clown and parasite
A tiny parasitic isopod peers out from inside the clownfish’s open mouth, clinging to its host as it breathes among the swaying anemone tentacles. This unsettling hitchhiker feeds on the fish’s fluids while remaining perfectly concealed.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 04.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Makawidey, Indonesia |
| Copyright: | © Pietro Cremone |