A　distributed　JPEG2000　coding　algorithm　based　on　mobile　agent　is　proposed.　The　network　nodes　in　wireless　sensor　network　(WSN)　have　limited　calculation　capability　and　energy.　In　order　to　realize　image　compression　and　transmission　in　WSN,　the　main　contributions　of　our　algorithm　are　that:　(1)　a　distributed　discrete　wavelet　transform　(DWT)　in　JPEG2000　is　utilized.　(2)　Post-compression　rate-distortion　(PCRD)　optimization　algorithm　based　on　mobile　agent　is　proposed　for　rate　control.　Simulation　results　show　that　the　proposed　algorithm　has　better　coding　performance.　Especially,　it　can　effectively　balance　network　energy　consumption　and　prolong　the　network　lifetime.