Simocephalus vetulus – I really needed a microscope to capture this very peculiar freshwater life form, so apologies in advance as this is not as clear as some of my other images, as I was really trying to attempt the impossile with a camera, and handheld to add. But I wanted to show you something you may have not seen before.
This semi-transparent microscopic organism is actually a crustacean, which also includes crabs and lobsters. It feeds by filtering small phytoplankton (microscopic marine algae) species from the surrounding water. It is found in freshwater environments like small ponds, ditches, and canals. It is known as an early colonist of newly constructed ponds, or after disturbances in established water bodies.
Nature Journeys 
This looks like an abstract work of art. Cool capture!
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Many thanks, Sandra 🙂
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Ooh, so interesting, Pete.
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Thank you, Jane 🙂 It is a fascinating world beyond our normal vision.
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Amazing!!
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Thank you, Greta 🙂
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I wonder if I have any in my ponds.
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You might have. Just take a small plastic pot and dip it in the pond, and look very closely and you might see very tiny specks there moving and swimming about. You will need a good magnifying glass, too 🙂
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Yes I will try.
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🙂
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Curious little fellow. Given the conditions you did very well!
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Many thanks, Belinda 🙂 It was very challenging and stretching things a bit too much.
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Impressive image, Pete!
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Thank you, Eliza 🙂
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What an interesting looking crustacean and you made an excellent job of photographing it, especially handheld.
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Many thanks, Vicki 🙂 It was very much trial and error, especially with it being under the surface of the water.
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The microscopic world is exciting!
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It sure is!
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How did you ever find this?
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Well, like most things, Marilyn, it began with something else. I wanted to photograph Common Duckweed up close which I found in the local canal, but I couldn’t get close enough to it so I fished some out in a small pot. I then noticed all these tiny swimming creatures in there and wondered what they were. Now we know 🙂
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Thanks – we are all learning so much from your observations of tiny worlds!
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Thank you, Marilyn 🙂
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Fantastic! This really IS a window to a new world.
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Thank you, Anne 🙂
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No apologies necessary. It’s amazing what you’ve done without a microscope.
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Thank you, Gary. It makes me consider getting a microscope. It must be a completely different world there.
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You might consider looking on the web for a dissecting microscope. They are far less expensive than traditional ones, and there are many very reasonable digital ones available. I think this could help to, um, open whole new worlds to you, and I’m sure you would embrace them with open arms.
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Thank you. A digital one sounds real good, especially with a camera. Something definately worth considering 🙂
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A whole new world to discover behind a microscope, but sometimes you have to realize your limitations ……
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You are right there, Hans … and it gives one the taste of whole new worlds 🙂
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Nicely done, Pete. What an interesting little creature. Isn’t it amazing that no matter how small an organism may be there is something smaller for it to feed upon? 🙂
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Thank you, Steve. I have always been fascinated in the microworlds, but this is a whole new level really and beyond the optics of my camera. But it has been interesting to research and learn something new.
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Great shot! I am glad you recognized it and made it visible. Fascinating little thing.
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Thank you 🙂 A new microscopic world.
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True! Do you invest into a bigger loupe now?
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Sorry, I don’t understand?
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Do you plan to invest into a magnifier so you can explore more tiny microscopic living forms with your camera?
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Not at the moment. I have enough to do with the camera and lenses I have at present 🙂 Maybe one day I will 🙂
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