23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
The Keeper

A male Banggai cardinalfish was sheltering his newborns inside his mouth, a scene captured in the shallow waters of Indonesia. The curious fry peek out, eager to explore the world, while their cautious father kept them safe from unseen dangers.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Secret bay, Indonesia
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Copyright: © Sayaka Ichinoseki