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Moluccas Collection (#5)

The Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands, have a rich history intertwined with sailing ships and exotic spices

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp. ) on reef habitat, Bingkudu Island, Penyu Islands, Maluku Islands

Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp. ) on reef habitat, Bingkudu Island, Penyu Islands, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia
Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp.) on reef habitat, Bingkudu Island, Penyu Islands, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Red Soft Glomerate Tree Coral (Dendronephthya sp. ) on reef, diver with light and camera

Red Soft Glomerate Tree Coral (Dendronephthya sp. ) on reef, diver with light and camera, Kadola Island, Penyu Islands
Red Soft Glomerate Tree Coral (Dendronephthya sp.) on reef, diver with light and camera, Kadola Island, Penyu Islands, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Feather-star (Crinoidea sp. ) on Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp)

Feather-star (Crinoidea sp. ) on Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp. ) in reef habitat, Bingkudu Island, Penyu Islands
Feather-star (Crinoidea sp.) on Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp.) in reef habitat, Bingkudu Island, Penyu Islands, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Broadclub Cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) adult pair, mating, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands

Broadclub Cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) adult pair, mating, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Reticulated Moray Eel (Gymnothorax richardsoni) adult, swimming in reef, Ambon Island

Reticulated Moray Eel (Gymnothorax richardsoni) adult, swimming in reef, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Dead and decaying fish from fishing boats and rubbish on seabed, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands

Dead and decaying fish from fishing boats and rubbish on seabed, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) juvenile, swimming in reef, Ambon Island

Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) juvenile, swimming in reef, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Blue Starfish (Linckia laevigata) two adults, on bommie with sponge and fish, Ameth Point

Blue Starfish (Linckia laevigata) two adults, on bommie with sponge and fish, Ameth Point, Nusa Laut, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Coleman's Shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) adult, on Fire Urchin (Asthenosoma varium), Ambon Island

Coleman's Shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) adult, on Fire Urchin (Asthenosoma varium), Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Coleman's Shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) adult pair, on Fire Urchin (Asthenosoma varium)

Coleman's Shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) adult pair, on Fire Urchin (Asthenosoma varium), Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Banded Boxer Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) two adults, feeding on Estuarine Stonefish

Banded Boxer Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) two adults, feeding on Estuarine Stonefish (Synanceia horrida), Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Red Whip Coral (Ellisella cercida) with small fish on reef, Kadola Island, Penyu Islands

Red Whip Coral (Ellisella cercida) with small fish on reef, Kadola Island, Penyu Islands, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Blue Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) adult, emerging from hole, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands

Blue Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) adult, emerging from hole, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Long-horned Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) adult, swimming at night, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands

Long-horned Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) adult, swimming at night, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Spotted Garden Eel (Heteroconger hassi) two adults, emerging from burrows, Ameth Point, Nusa Laut

Spotted Garden Eel (Heteroconger hassi) two adults, emerging from burrows, Ameth Point, Nusa Laut, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Freckled Goatfish (Upeneus tragula) and Blue-streaked Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)

Freckled Goatfish (Upeneus tragula) and Blue-streaked Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) two adults, swimming, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Spotted Sand-diver (Trichonotus setiger) adult, buried in sand, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands

Spotted Sand-diver (Trichonotus setiger) adult, buried in sand, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Yellowmargin Triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus) subadult, swimming, Ambon Island

Yellowmargin Triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus) subadult, swimming, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Yellow Cardinalfish (Apogon luteus) adult, close-up of head, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands

Yellow Cardinalfish (Apogon luteus) adult, close-up of head, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Lined Fangblenny (Meiacanthus lineatus) adult, emerging from hole, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands

Lined Fangblenny (Meiacanthus lineatus) adult, emerging from hole, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Snowflake Moray Eel (Echidna nebulosa) adult, on reef, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea

Snowflake Moray Eel (Echidna nebulosa) adult, on reef, Ambon Island, Maluku Islands, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Ink-spot sea squirt and a crinoid

Ink-spot sea squirt and a crinoid
Ink-spot sea squirt (Polycarpa aurata, blue) and a crinoid (right) amongst coral. Sea squirts are sessile barrel-shaped animals that feed by filtering plankton from the water

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Ink-spot sea squirt

Ink-spot sea squirt (Polycarpa aurata) amongst coral. Sea squirts are sessile barrel-shaped animals that feed by filtering plankton from the water

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Red fire goby

Red fire goby fish (Nemateleotris magnifica). Photographed near Banda, Moluccas, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Peach anthias

Peach anthias, or fairy basslets (Pseudanthias dispar). This fish inhabits the upper edge of steep tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific region, from the eastern Indian Ocean to Micronesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Spotted soapfish

Spotted soapfish (Pogonoperca punctata). This fish inhabits coral reefs and deep reef drop offs in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It can reach 35 centimetres in length

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Cleaner shrimp cleaning a moray eel

Cleaner shrimp cleaning a moray eel
Pacific cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) cleaning a yellow-edged moray eel (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus). Photographed off the coast of the Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: View toward Island of Tidore from Ternate - Spice Islands Indonesia

View toward Island of Tidore from Ternate - Spice Islands Indonesia
BMD-308 View toward Island of Tidore from Ternate Spice Islands Indonesia Brian McDairmant Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Island of Run - view from Nailaka - Britian swapped this island for Manhatten with the Dutch in 1667

Island of Run - view from Nailaka - Britian swapped this island for Manhatten with the Dutch in 1667
BMD-293 Island of Run - view from Nailaka Britian swapped this island for Manhatten with the Dutch in 1667 Brian McDairmant Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Background imageMoluccas Collection: island of Run - Harbour high angle view - Spice Islands Indonesia

island of Run - Harbour high angle view - Spice Islands Indonesia
BMD-306 island of Run - Harbour high angle view Spice Islands Indonesia Brian McDairmant Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Beach scene - Island of Nailaka - Spice Island - Indonesia

Beach scene - Island of Nailaka - Spice Island - Indonesia
BMD-284 Beach scene - Island of Nailaka Spice Island - Indonesia south east asia Brian McDairmant Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Island of Tedore - from the sea - Spice Islands Indonesia

Island of Tedore - from the sea - Spice Islands Indonesia
BMD-295 Island of Tedore - from the sea Spice Islands Indonesia Brian McDairmant Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Island of Run - view from Nailaka - Britian swapped this island for Manhatten with the Dutch in 1667

Island of Run - view from Nailaka - Britian swapped this island for Manhatten with the Dutch in 1667
BMD-294 Island of Run, Banda Islands - view from Nailaka Britian swapped this island for Manhatten with the Dutch in 1667 Brian McDairmant Please note that prints are for personal display purposes

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Beach scene - Island of Ai - view toward Api - Spice Islands Indonesia

Beach scene - Island of Ai - view toward Api - Spice Islands Indonesia
BMD-292 Beach scene - Island of Ai - view toward Api Spice Islands Indonesia Brian McDairmant Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Man and woman of the Moluccas Islands

Man and woman of the Moluccas Islands
A man and woman of the Moluccas (formerly Spice Islands) - a group of islands of eastern Indonesia between Sulawesi and New Guinea. A book of national types and costumes from the early 19th century

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Volcano - Ternate

Volcano - Ternate
The volcanic island of Ternate, in the Moluccas, Indonesia. The sultanate was occupied first by the Portuguese, subsequently by the Dutch

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Silhouetted diver above reef off Saparua Island

Silhouetted diver above reef off Saparua Island, Moluccas, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Clownfish taking refuge in host anemone

Clownfish taking refuge in host anemone, Saparua Island, Moluccas, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Sawai village

Sawai village, Seram, Moluccas, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Background imageMoluccas Collection: Indonesia / Moluccas 1719

Indonesia / Moluccas 1719
GAMMALAMME with European vessels sailing up the river




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The Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands, have a rich history intertwined with sailing ships and exotic spices. These islands were once the center of the global spice trade, particularly for mace and nutmeg from the Myristica fragrans tree. In this captivating image, we are transported to Ki Dulan, a Mahometan Mosque located in the heart of Moluccas, Indonesia. The mosque stands tall amidst lush greenery and vibrant flowers that surround it. Traveling back in time to 1646, we witness Indonesian locals gathering pepper - another prized spice found abundantly in these islands. Their diligent work reflects their deep connection to their land's bountiful resources. Nature enthusiasts would be thrilled by an endemic Salmon-crested cockatoo perched gracefully on a branch. This magnificent bird is native to Seram Island within the Moluccas archipelago; its striking appearance adds color and life to this tropical paradise. A composite image showcases Wallacea's giant bee alongside a European honey bee. These fascinating creatures highlight both the diversity and interconnectedness of our natural world. Delving into underwater wonders, we encounter a veined octopus nestled between clam shell halves off Ambon Island in Maluku Archipelago. Its intricate camouflage skills leave us mesmerized by nature's ingenuity. The people who call these islands home are diverse too; Bugis Islanders from Makassar coexist harmoniously with other inhabitants (Indonesia). Their cultural exchange enriches this region even further. As we explore further across Asia, our journey takes us through Rhun Island - one of many jewels within Maluku's Spice Islands. Here lies evidence of a wrecked ship that serves as a reminder of past maritime adventures undertaken by brave explorers seeking new horizons. Finally, let us meet two individuals from Cochin China (Vietnam) captured beautifully in 1818.