![]() ![]() ![]() To date, there are nine known species of pygmy sea horses in the ocean – the most recently discovered described in 2020 – five of which can be found on the sea fans of Wakatobi. These little guys are so good at hiding that they remained unknown to science until 1969, after which the first known species, Hippocampus bargibanti, Bargibant’s seahorse, was formally described in 1970 Sea fans are the place to find some of Wakatobi’s most magnificent miniatures – the pygmy sea horses. Hippocampus bargibanti, Bargibant’s seahorse And they aren’t the only ones waiting to enjoy this moving feast of tiny snacks. These flattened soft corals extend branching networks of polyps to harvest a smorgasbord of current-driven plankton. Sea fans are a ubiquitous sight on Wakatobi walls and outer reef slopes. Sexy anemone shrimp ( Thor amboinensis)Ī favourite find is the sexy anemone shrimp ( Thor amboinensis) – so named for the suggestive swaying of its tail to mimic the undulating action of the anemone’s tentacles. You’ve got your white-spot anemone shrimp ( Periclimenes brevicarpalis) which also goes by magnificent anemone shrimp, peacock-tail shrimp, and clown anemone shrimp, and the beautiful but unfortunately named scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp ( Lysmata amboinensis), just to name a few. Anemones host a colourful collection of cryptic crustaceans. White-spot, or magnificent anemone shrimp ( Periclimenes brevicarpalis) In exchange for free meals and the protection the anemone’s tentacles provide, these crabs also provide the valuable service of removing excess mucus and dead tissue from the anemone’s body. While you are most likely will find a porcelain crab ( Porcellanidae sp.) or two, you just might happen upon a harlequin crab ( Lissocarcinus laevis) as well, going about searching for food scraps from its host’s leftover dinner. After you snap some requisite portraits of these colourful clown fish, linger a bit and take a closer look among the undulating tentacles. Locate a sea anemone and you’ll probably run into some of Nemo’s cohabiting cousins. Nemo’s roommates Harlequin crab ( Lissocarcinus laevis) Wakatobi’s dive guides are experts at finding and pointing out these tiny treasures, but you can do some productive critter spotting on your own - you just need to know where to look. Revillagigedo Archipelago & Guadalupe Island. ![]()
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