The Bullocks Hypselodoris (Hypselodoris bullocki)is a Dorid Nudibranch from the group of the Chromodoridae. It is a relatively big nudibranch an can grow up to 7 cm in size. Characteristic is its pink to purple colouration with a thin white margin around the body and an poppy yellow rhinophores and gills. But there are also…
Today is boxing day – so what could be a better Critter to write about than the Boxer Crab (Lybia tesselata, Pom Pom Crab or Mosaic Boxer Crab). But not only does its name fit the date. It is also a very popular Critter here in Lembeh – specially if you keep in mind that…
The Hairy Shrimp (phycocaris simulans) is also called Algae Shrimp and one of the freakiest shrimps around here in Lembeh Strait. Basicly it looks like a tiny piece of Algae – a very tiny piece. They grow up to 5 mm in size (often smaller) and sit in between Algae or on rocks and rubble or…
The Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) is also called Veined Octopus and a day active octopus species that is quite common in the Lembeh Strait. They usually are burried in the sand, hiding in Objects or burried in the sand with objects. They like to hide in Bottles, Shells, Cans, Yoghurt Cups, Coconuts – basicly in whatever…
Even though the Banggai Cardinalfish (pterapogon kauderni) is one of Lembeh’s Signature Critters it’s population here is not natural. As the name says, the Banggai Cardinalfish is actually endemic to the Banggai Archipelago. The population in Lembeh Strait is the result of escaped Fishes, that were meant for Aquarium Trade. Since then the population of this…
The Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse (hippocampus bargibanti) is the most common Pygmy Seahorse and found all over the Indo-Pacific region. It was the first Pygmy Seahorse that has been discovered (1969) and still counts as the classic Pygmy Seahorse. It grows to maximum 2 cm, lives only in Muricella Seafans and matches the colour of their…
The Tiger Shrimp (Phyllognatia ceratophthalmus) is also called Spiny Tiger Shrimp, Bongo Shrimp, Horned Bumblebee Shrimp and one of Lembeh’s Top Crustaceans. They belong to the same family as the Harlequin Shrimps and Bumblebee Shrimps and are relatively small in size – they grow to a maximum of 2 cm but are often smaller. They live…
When Muck Diving Freaks come to Lembeh the Hairy Frogfish is arguably the top candidate on the Critter Whishlist. The Hairy Frogfish is the hairy variation of the Striated Frogfish (antennarius striatus or striped frogfish). Even though there is some other species of frogfish with hair to see in Lembeh, the Striated Frogfish is the…
The Tozeuma Shrimp or Sawblade Shrimp is another cool Critter commonly found in the Lembeh Strait. The more attractive one is the Banded Tozeuma Shrimp (tozeuma armatum) which has a beautiful stripe pattern and lives on whip coral and in black coral bushes. It matches the colour of the host. They are sometimes found alone…
The Blue Ringed Octopus is one of the top Critters for Muck Divers … it’s a little bit like a small version of a Whaleshark: everybody really really wants to see one. And of course it is possible to find it here in the Lembeh Strait – the muck diving capital of the world. The Blue Rined…