As you already know, there are a lot of different types of Nudibranchs here in Lembeh, and we mean a lot! But some species are more requested and sought after than others, for example the Ghost nudibranch (Melibe colemani) or the Solar-Powered nudibranchs (Phyllodesmium). Another example of a bucket-list-slug, is the Bornella anguilla which we…
One of our favourite subjects to see on night dives is the Bobtail Squid! Here in Lembeh we often see Berry’s Bobtail Squid, sometimes known as the Hummingbird Bobtail Squid (Euprymna berryi). These tiny cephalopods are always fun to try spot and then shoot, as their jewel like appearance makes for a great colours. Berry’s…
When it comes to “must see” underwater critters, cephalopods are usually high up on people’s lists. There may be one that has very recently become more sought after than others, the Blanket Octopus. In the Blanket Octopus family there are 4 different species (Tremoctopus spp.) all of which share pretty much the same characteristics. Their…
We are very lucky to get many beautiful and interesting Nudibranchs here in Lembeh. Now as you may know, there are plenty of different species of sea slugs, they can be a bit difficult to keep track of! In this blog post we will be looking closer at the Phyllodesmium Nudibranchs! The genus Phyllodesmium Nudibranchs…
There are plenty of different species of goby that can be found here in Lembeh. We’re going to focus on one of the most recognisable species today, the Pink Eye Goby! Its scientific name is Bryaninops natans, but it is more commonly known as the Pink Eye (or hovering) Goby. The reasons for that are…
It’s always extremely exciting whenever a new species gets discovered or described. When this particular frogfish was identified, it was a personal highlight of mine and many other critter/frogfish lovers as it had been photographed many times over without anything concrete to say what it was. Then in a scientific paper by Pietsch and Arnold…
We are extremely fortunate to have a wide variety of gobies that can be found throughout the Lembeh straits. Ranging from shrimp gobies, that have their homes in the sand, to reef gobies that choose different environments within the reef for them to shelter. Like with many of Lembeh’s underwater critters, once you know where…
It’s the season for Ornate Ghost Pipefishes here in Lembeh! This exotic looking fish hovers head down and can usually be found in pairs or smaller groups. Most of the time Ornate Ghost Pipefishes live right next to crinoids, feather stars or soft corals. Colors can vary from black, red, yellow to white.
The Wonderpus or Wunderpus photogenicus is one of the most photographed subjects in Lembeh. That is of course, if you can find it! Being a crepuscular hunter (active during twilight), the Wonderpus typically hides in a hole in the sand during day-time. Also, the Wonderpus is often confused with a similarly looking cephalopod, the Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus). We will look into both species and point out some differences, which will help you distinguish between the two!
Certainly one of the weirdest critters and alien-looking creatures, is the Idiomysis or Opossum Shrimp. They only reach a few millimeters in length but yet I’m sure that every diver checking the sand or reef has seen them before. Idiomysis usually come in groups of 5 up to maybe 20 individuals and look a little like “flies” but underwater.