Scuba Diver Ocean Planet Issue 2/2016

3 HARLEQUIN SHRIMP Image © Mike Bartick These pretty, constantly moving shrimps live in pairs, feeding exclusively on starfish. They often have, respectively, pink and blue markings so appear to be traditionally dressed for their boy/ girl pairing. They maintain a “live larder” – feeding on living, usually slow-moving starfish by flipping them over and then devouring the tube feet and soft tissue. 4 HAIRY FROGFISH (STRIATED FROGFISH) This is among the deadliest animals in the sea. Its venom is similar to the extremely deadly toxin found in the pufferfish. The effect of a bite can be fatal, but if a victim is kept breathing with artificial respiration even up to 24 hours after the event, they can recover. It is barely the length of a pencil and covered with bright, iridescent blue rings. Image © Mike Bartick THE SHEEP” 6 “SHAUN SAP-SUCKING SLUG A recent entry on the underwater photographer’s wish list, this tiny, leaf-dwelling slug resembles a certain cartoon sheep. With its beady black eyes, floppy “ears” and bizarre looking body, it is undeniably cute, although very difficult to photograph, as it reaches a maximum of 5mm and is often around just 2mm. Another “must see” on any tropical muck dive is the lovely little wonderpus. It is often confused with the mimic octopus (see No. 8), which has similar colouring. Normally fairly shallow, the wonderpus emerges very slowly from its discreet hiding hole in the sand and hunts at dawn or dusk, whereas the mimic is out and about in the daytime. 7 BLUE-RING OCTOPUS Image © Gill McDonald Part of the anglerfish family, this charismatic chap can eat prey up to its own body size by opening and extending its large mouth. It is fou nd on shallow sandy slopes or deeper rocky areas. The first dorsal spine, the illicium, is flicked forward with a worm-like lure on the tip, which is wiggled to attract prey. Image © Gill McDonald Image © Gill McDonald 5 WONDERPUS OCTOPUS

Scuba Diver Ocean Planet Issue 2/2016 | Page 101