Commensal Gallery

Eyelash mite tails, SEM

Eyelash mite tails. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the tails (pink) of three eyelash, or follicle, mites (Demodex folliculorum), protruding from a human hair follicle. The hair shaft (upper right) is also seen. These harmless parasites infest follicles (depressions in the skin which contain the roots of hairs) around the eyelids, nose and in the ear canals of humans. One follicle may contain up to 25 growing mites. They feed on oily secretions from the skin's sebaceous glands, as well as dead skin cells. Infestation is usually symptomless, but, in some individuals, allergic reactions to the mites can cause hair loss and acne. Magnification: x250 at 6x7cm size

© STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Indonesia, Raja Ampat. This goby fish is

Indonesia, Raja Ampat. This goby fish is commensal with many species of marine invertebrates, such as soft coral. Date: 19/05/2006

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Ampat, Animal, Batanta, Commensal, Coral, Fish, Gallery, Goby, Guinea, Indonesia, Island, Jaynes, Jones, Marine, New, Ocean, Papua, Raja, Red, Shimlock, Soft, Symbiotic, Underwater, West, Yum

Upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda)

Upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda) one of several jellyfish with this common name. It has two methods of reproduction, one, asexual, is by bottom-living polyps that bud, and sexual reproduction as here: this is a female released ephyra that wil be able to swim and become medusae that will reproduce asexually. Ocurs in the Indo-Pacific

© Hiroya Minakuchi / AUSCAPE All rights reserved