Allied Cowry

This is Galera manifesta, an allied cowry often found eating the soft coral, Dendronephthya. The head of the individual photographed was nicely extended clearly showing the eyes, tentacles, and sipho.

Commensal Swimmer Crab

This swimmer crab, Lissocarcinus orbicularis (3cm), was found nestled on the bottom of a sea cucumber, Actinopyga. Usually commensal crabs on cucumbers are quite small, measuring no more than 1cm.

Dwarf Scorpionfish

 

Two-toned Pygmy Squid

Diane "Freak-eyes" finds the impossible once again.

These amazingly small animals are Two-toned Pygmy Squid, Idiosopius pygmaeus (1cm and 2cm), the larger of which is at the maximum size for the species. Pygmy Squid are usually active by night and tend to hang out around sponges, soft corals, and gorgonians. In this case, they were attached to a Green Algae, Udotea. The squid's back has a glue gland, producing an adhaesive mucus, that allows it to adhaere to seaweeds, seagrasses or other surfaces. Another gland produces the anti-glue, allowing rapid detachement.

We observed some rather interesting behavior from these two. When detached from the algae, the squids tended to engage in, what appeared to be, coupling. The smaller squid circled above the larger, and as in the second photo below, inserted its tentacles inside that of the other. It was almost as if the smaller squid was being fed by the larger. I have no idea if this even occurs in the species and it seems rather unlikely that the smaller squid couldn't hunt and eat on its own.





 

White-barred Reaf Goby

 

Estuary Seahorse

I think this is an Estuary Seahorse, Hippocampus kuda (12-15cm), found between Dili Rock and Tasi Tolu at about 18 meters. These seahorses are supposedly found in small aggregations, so my guess is that they are more common along the coast than we first suspected. Having said that, this partularly individual responded to the name 'Whoa!' as did another estuary seahorse found a few weeks ago, leading to the scientific basis for the theory that they were, in fact, the same individuals.

 

Mantis Shrimp

This is a diminutive species of mantis shrimp, Pseudosquilla ciliata (4-5cm).

 

Sea Spider on a Sea Cucumber

 

Trapania aurata

This is Trapania aurata (6mm). See more details about this nudibranch on the Sea Slug Forum.

Decorator Crab with Stinging Anemones

 

Cowry

 

Painted Frogfish

Notice the lure of this tiny painted frogfish.

 

Thorny Seahorse

Diane found this seahorse today at Tasi Tolu.

DTL

Night Dive at Tasi Tolu

Soft Coral Crab

 

Thorny Seahorse

 

Partner Imperial Shrimp

Nick found this beautiful set of big partner imperial shrimp.



 

Wonder Octopus

Lendell and I found a Wonder Octopus (Octopus sp. 20) at Tasi Tolu (12 meters) today. If you don't already own a copy of Macrolife: UnderWater Malaysia by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari, run out to the corner bookstore and get one! Ok, you may need to order it on Amazon. According to the Ferraris, the Wonder Octopus is "very rarely observed but never forgotten once seen". They also mentioned how difficult it is to photograph; I was able to frame two shots before our Wonder Octopus wondered into a hole.

 

Imperial Partner Shrimp

This Periclemenes imperator was on a funky sea cucumber (photo at right) at Dili Rock West. This is the same shrimp that is found on larger nudis, although I have yet to find one here in Timor.

This lionfish was at 25 meters

 

What is it Contest

Anybody got a guess what this is? Submit the correct answer via email and win an 'all-inclusive' TM* weekend dive at Tasi Tolu.


















* 'all-inclusive' is a registered trademark of UWET.NET and does not imply anything more than nothing and does not obligate UWET.NET in any way. Anyway, nobody's going to get this one right.

From Wednesday's night dive at Tasi Tolu.

 

Xenocrab

Look closely at this Xenocrab (25mm). It may help to click on this photo to enlarge it. Notice the tiny shrimp (4mm) hanging out on the Xenocrab's head.