Photo: Crustacean "Swarm" Destroying Small Hiroshima Island

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


Workers with the Geological Society of Japan examine the uninhabited island of Hoboro in August 2007 (top). The small island off the coast of Hiroshima Prefecture has gotten visibly smaller since the 1950s (bottom).

A local expert says that the island is disappearing at an unusual rate because warmer waters around the island have allowed small crustaceans called nanatsuba-kotsubumushi to flourish. The tiny creatures (inset) bore into the rock to nest, making it weaker and more susceptible to weathering.

Top photograph by Yuji Okimura, Kenta Tsuchioka, Yuji Funakoshi; bottom photograph and inset courtesy Yuji Okimura

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy

MOST VIEWED NEWS

PHOTOS: Giant, Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica

PHOTOS: "Glorious" Ancient Chamber Found in Israel

"Dinosaur Mummy" Has Skin Like Birds' and Crocodiles'
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

What's Your Green Idea?

You could win $20,000 to put it into action. Take part in the Green Effect, a new initiative from SunChips and National Geographic to inspire people to take small steps for big change.
Learn More