23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Ghost of the Pelagic Night
A female paper nautilus drifts through the blackwater of Anilao, carrying her delicate shell-like egg case. Surrounded by tiny plankton, she reveals a rare glimpse into the secret life of one of the ocean’s most elusive pelagic octopuses.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 05.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Anilao, Philippines |
| Copyright: | © Zhaoyu Cai |