Scuba Diver Ocean Planet Issue 2/2016 | Page 100

OCEANS’ 11

Tiny Treasures

The Coral Triangle is a haven for
exotic little critters, and underwater
photographers flock to its macro
hotspots to seek out the rare and
the beautiful. Here are 11 of the top
critters from the region that should
be on every diver’s bucket list.

PHILIPPINES

MALAYSIA

By GILL MCDONALD

INDONESIA

PAPUA NEW
GUINEA

2

WEEDY SCORPIONFISH (RHINOPIAS)

Image © Gill McDonald

Rhinopias, like most scorpionfish, is a nocturnal camouflage
hunter, adapting its many colours to its habitat. It rarely
swims, rather it propels itself along the seabed with its fins. A
relatively rare critter, divers get very excited when they hear
one is around, as experienced guides are usually able to locate
it repeatedly once they know its general location.

1

The first pygmy seahorse known to science
was Hippocampus bargibanti. It was found only
when a host gorgonian was being examined in a
laboratory. At least six more species were named
after 2000. The popular bargibanti, high on all
underwater photographers’ bucket lists, lives
its entire adult life on a single, specific type of
gorgonian fan coral, Muricella.

SDOP

98

Image © Mike Bartick

PYGMY SEAHORSE