New Obsession w/Fish - Part 4

And the last Part.   I may not have anything else to write about after all this   :)

Fish

FrogFish
-- Last year in the Philippines i was lucky enough to see a Giant FrogFish, 12inches.  Usually, they lay quietly and don’t move, but this one decided to go for a walk right in front of us.    That YouTube video can be seen here if you didn’t see it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j_lPP_jtgI&t=12s

This trip we saw one Giant FrogFish, that i almost missed because i was looking for something very tiny.   All of a sudden, there it was, right in front of my face.   We were almost nose to nose  !

-- Frogfish measure from 1/8 to 22 inches in length
-- Can survive up to 20 years in the wild
-- Change the color of the body to blend with its environment
-- The first spine of dorsal fin is modified into 'fishing rod' with a worm-like lure called "esca" on the end of it.     The lure can be regenerated in case of damage.
-- i have yet to actually see this 'fishing rod'  :(
-- They wriggle the lure in front of their head to attract the prey
-- An ambush predator, using the element of surprise; once the prey is close enough, they swallow it in a blink of an eye (attack lasts 6 milliseconds).
-- Can expand their mouth 12 times it's normal size, so they can swallow the prey that is 2 times bigger than themselves
-- They do not have teeth and swallows the prey in one piece
-- Is a solitary creature. It can be found with other frogfish only during the mating season
-- Fertilization takes place in the water (where males and females release their reproductive cells)
-- Females produces 40,000 to 180, per season.
-- Eggs are laid in the mucus on the ocean floor.  They are often called "veil" or "egg raft" due to ribbon-like shape of the mass of eggs and ability to float thanks to ocean currents
-- Fry emerge from the eggs 2 to 5 days after fertilization. Young fish are often colored like the poisonous sea slugs or flatworms (to ensure protection against predators).

Not surprisingly, i saw several very tiny FrogFish




Freckled? or Painted? or Warty? FrogFish
-- A rather nasty-looking FrogFish
-- 1 inch long
-- If the Orangutan Crab looked like an Orangutan; this FrogFish looks like a Mountain Gorilla
-- It’s very difficult to see what it is what

-- What i thought were it’s eyes, are not.    I’ve positioned the ‘eye’ directly in the center of this photo.   It has white lines coming from a dark center, like a star; unlike the other many circles !

Now that you know what to look for, here is the photo.   Not a very cuddly fish  :(

 


BandTail FrogFish
-- This one isn't much better
-- This is a profile
-- The eyes form a triangle with the nose and mouth.  The eye is red
-- Again 1 inch long

Clown FrogFish  aka Warty FrogFish Juvenile
-- Obviously people call them Clown FrogFish because it’s much nicer, and they can resemble our favorite Anemone ClownFish, Nemo
-- As nasty looking as the other FrogFish are, this one always emits an ‘awwww’
-- At 1/8 inch, even though not camouflaged, they are difficult to spot
-- To give you an idea of the size, this is one on a rope that is about as big around as your thumb

Here he is closeup --- so cute

and another one, not as colorful, but still cute as can be

 

this one was a bit larger, about 1 inch

Mandarin Fish
-- Another much sought-after fish for diving photographers
-- Maximum size is 2 inches ... ours were probably 1' inches
-- They do not have scales like most fish
-- They produce a thick mucous that covers their body
-- This mucous smells bad and tastes bitter
-- Scientists believe that this secretion could ward off potential predators.   ya think ?
-- The bright colors of this fish could also give warning of its toxicity
-- In the wild, they live between 10 to 15 years
-- One of its most remarkable features is their big outward-set eyes. This is an ideal adaptation for food hunting and feeding in the dim light environments underwater
-- During daylight hours, mandarin fish move deep inside the coral branches or hide in their home crevices

But at night is when 'things' happen !     We did a special twilight dive to witness the magic.  In fact, generally the only time you will get to see one.

-- Before dark, spawning occurs on areas of the reef where small groups of males and females gather
-- They swim with a rapid pulsating of their fins, almost hovering, like a humming bird.
-- A successful male will be joined by a female that will rest on his pelvic fin.
-- They align themselves, belly-to-belly, vertically, and together, slowly rise about 1 metre above the reef
-- Once they are at the peak of their ascent, they will release a cloud of sperm and eggs simultaneously
-- Then they disappear in a flash
-- Size does matter, the bigger-stronger males tend to be favored 
-- Due to the lower chances of mating, the smaller males have developed a rather desperate compensating measure.   They rush up to mating pairs and release sperm along side of them with the hope of random fertilization!


Unfortunately, we did not get to see this.  i had no idea what i was getting myself into.   For some reason i thought we'd all be gathered around some rubble on the floor of the sea.    We got to a huge area of StagHorn Coral.   That is a hard coral, that breaks easily.   It is one of the fastest growing corals, and an important contribution to reef growth and fish habitat.   I was steering clear of the area for fear of breaking it.
Gien started shining his flashlight on the coral.   I thought maybe he was just showing us something else he had found way down in the coral.   But he kept motioning me over to him.   I carefully approached and looked, but didn't see anything, but of course he didn't give up.   I eventually saw some very brightly colored flashes way down in the coral.    The Mandarins !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you kidding me?   This is what i am expected to navigate !    By the way, this was only the 2nd day in the water, practicing my 'buoyancy control'.    I remembered what Phil had told me .... head down and fins in the air.   And this time, ....it meant being totally vertical ...upside down !     With the flashlight in one hand and the camera in the other.

The little Mandarins would swim up out of the coral for a split second, then dart back down again.  It was all but impossible.   I kept snapping, and after while had to quit and swim away to get the kinks out of my back and neck.   But i went back, time and time again; snapping and snapping, hoping i got something.

When we got back, I was very surprised, and elated, that i actually got 2 photos ...out of dozens!    Aren't they awesome little fishes ?

I was one proud almost 70 year old !     Gien was proud of me too  :)

Scorpion Fish
These are really 'nasty' fishes that lay quietly, looking exactly like coral, or algae, waiting for their prey.   Although they are large, you really have to be paying attention or you'll miss them.
They are one of the world's most venemous species
-- They have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venom
But, some are kind of 'pretty in pink'

this one is wearing some lipstick  :)

If they are disturbed, they vanish in a second, whoosh, they are gone.   We saw this one though, that was just 'walking' away, i think it is a Devil ScorpionFish.    Check out those colors on the fins.
i got this video ... or YouTube:  https://youtu.be/5HbhISQ-41A

this one is nicely decorated

Fingered Dragonet
Isn't very colorful, but interesting.   When i first saw him that appendage on his back was laying down.   i assume him putting it up was a warning to me.  He was about 6" long, big enough for me to notice !
It is most recognized by its large fan-like pelvic fins,  and its metallic blue spots on the dorsal fin

 

It also has exquisite fingered fins and delicate front ‘legs’ that enable it to walk, as you can see

Sea Moth
I've never seen one of these before.   I was down low looking at a SeaHorse and he caught my eye as he was scurrying right under me.    I thought it was an aquatic Bumble Bee, but it actually is a fish. 
-- This one was about 2"
-- They have wing-like pectoral fins, which they unfurl when threatened or when they want to move quickly ... and he was moving quickly
-- Their tube-like mouth is highly specialized, used to suck worms and other small invertebrates into their snouts
-- Instead of scales, their bodies are sheathed with bony plates that they molt every week or so to rid themselves of parasites
-- A cute little guy i was happy to meet

LionFish

Which is actually a type of ScorpionFish.  This was a rather small one, and wasn't really acting like a LionFish, so don't quote me on this one.   Sure is pretty though

StarGazer
Are ambush predators that typically bury in the sand with only their eye, mouth, and small part of their head exposed as they wait for unsuspecting prey to pass close by.    Creepy .... and on a Night Dive,  ...even Creeper !

Here are a few photos of some of the more common fishes.

Coral Grouper
Obviously, i love these colors; and the way my new camera captures them !

ThreadFin HawkFish
They typically sit very still on the top of the coral, only moving at the last secong.
I've seen other HawkFishes, but not this one 

The same goes for this Orbicular Burrfish 

And, i don't think i can finish a blog segment without a photo of the 'beloved turtle'.
One hiding under a coral ledge

And another one just chillin

ok, that is it for the story of my trip to Dauin, Philippines, ... and my new passion !

I'm back to my Philippine 'home' again, it is always nice to be welcomed by smiling faces... exceptional friends !

New Obsession Shrimp & Crabs - Part 3

Let's see what we can learn about next.

Shrimp and Crabs

I am not finding too much information on Shrimps.  But from what i am reading, it seems common that Female Shrimps carry their eggs on their bodies.  They make sure they get enough oxygen and remove any that die.

There are many different kinds of Shrimp.   I'll start with a pretty common one.

Anemone Shrimp
They are either male or female and form monogamous relationships.   They are almost always seen in pairs.  Once they mate, the eggs develop on the female and when these hatch there are several larval stages that the larvae go through. The eggs are orange in color.  

i've seen these Anemone Shrimp in other places.   In Thailand they were called Peacock Anemone Shrimp and had a more colorful tail.   The ones here have a blue tail; and are about 1" long, so i can see them, ..once i see them   :)    Since they are transparent, it is difficult to tell what is what.   Their eyes are white dots at the opposite end of their blue tale.

since they are almost transparent, it's difficult to see them; except they are pretty wiggly, so they catch your attention.   Here is a short video

This is a photo that i took of a pretty healthy green coral.   It wasn't until i looked closely at the photo that i saw several Anemone Shrimps ... can you see them ?

Durban Dancing Shrimp
They obtain their name from the sideways movement that they perform usually at night.  Although they are primarily nocturnal feeders they are seen out in the open in some areas during the day but this is rare.    We saw quite a few of them during the day, but i guess at night there are swarms of them.   These guys are larger ... about 2"

When i am snapping away, i don't always see what my camera does.   When i saw this photo, i was wondering if i missed witnessing that White Eye Moral Eel eating the Dancing Shrimp. I just sent Gien a message and he said no, they are just typically in that same area.   i guess they were just visiting :)    But it makes a great photo... however deceptive

Banded Coral Cleaner Shrimp 
This Shrimp is usually nocturnal as well.   This photo was taken on a night dive.   Shrimps eyes glow at night.   Last year during a night snorkel the water was glittered with lights.   i had to get down and see what it was ... they were all shrimp !

A 'cleaner' shrimp is usually approached by fish to have them clean/eat the parasites from their bodies.   Other tiny fish do this as well, and it is not uncommon to see a big fish with it's mouth wide open and a tiny fish inside, cleaning it.    That's what i call trust.   The Banded Coral Shrimp uses its large chelipeds (that means claws, i had to look it up), and three sets of smaller claws called maxillipeds to scrape and pick off food and parasites from the fish host's body, mouth and gills or wherever needed.   You can see those appendages in this photo, i guess with all that equipment you could do a pretty good job !   Taken during the day

Sexy Shrimp, aka Squat Shrimp
This Shrimp is a truly unique and fascinating shrimp to view and usually found among the tentacles of an Anemone Shrimp.   It's eyes are the round white protrusions at the top.   Hello Mr. Shrimp !

It exhibits an unusual trait of swaying its abdomen back and forth in the air, hence the name Sexy shrimp, or Squat Shrimp because their 'tail' is always in the air

Tiger Shrimp
The books list this species as
... 'Frequency of sightings: Rare'
... 'Really quick to hide, and very rarely seen but can be found at rubble or sponge'
... 3/4 inch long

Every day there were boats parked along our reef searching for it, because the word was out that it had been seen there.    Maybe they didn't know that the best time to see it was at night ... and Gien knew where to look.   Yes, we went on a Night Dive to find it.   And find it he did.    But DAMN, they are hard to see.    The first one we saw was a juvenile, and more like 1/4 inch long.   I stuck my camera down there, although i couldn't see it.

 


Gien found another one and wouldn't leave until i saw it.   I finally saw 'something' and took several photos.   They are beautiful !     This is a top-down view.    Dots and sparkles and claws !

Although i think i would have called them a Leopard Shrimp ... at least this one

Exquisite !

i was sure i had nothing worth looking at so i was very proud of these photos when i saw them  ;)     Photographing at night is really much more difficult.   The camera cannot focus unless there is light on the subject.    That means in addition to keeping yourself steady, and not touching the sand, with camera in one hand, you have to hold a flashlight in the other hand !  Looking at the subject with the light, then trying to find the subject through the camera viewfinder, then your flashlight hand moves and you can't see, or the camera gets in the way of the light, and shadows the subject.   It really takes a lot of coordination, experience .. and mostly luck !   It is amazing to me that the camera can pick out and focus on what you want it to.   Like in this photo, there is a lot that the camera could have picked up, but somehow it focused on the shrimp.

Again, Gien was very helpful, especially on this one because he really wanted me to get a photo.   He was also shining his light on the shrimp for me.   That was a huge help !     I need a Camera Man !   ...or i need to buy a light for my camera like Phil has, so i don't have to hold a flashlight !   .....on my Christmas List !


Harlequin Shrimp 
Now these guys are interesting.    And very attractive and striking.   They are also a 'prize' for diving photographers.
"They feed exclusively on sea stars, attacking and eventually subduing animals that may be 100 times their own weight and size.   Even the huge, voracious Crown-of-Thorns, which have almost no natural enemies, are not safe around these guys. "   Tail is on the right side ...

"If you’ve ever tried to lift a large sea star from a rocky substrate, you know about their strong grip"…  (which of course you should not do)   "It takes considerable effort even for a human. It’s hard to imagine how these little shrimp could prevail over such forces.   Working as a team, one shrimp methodically snips suction-tube feet from each arm of its prey. Meanwhile, its partner grabs an arm-tip, and backs up like a tractor, gradually pulling the sea star over onto its back. Once that’s accomplished, the pair drag their hapless victim off to a preferred dining spot, typically under a rocky ledge or coral head. "

"Subduing such large prey must be a real challenge, but eating it all in one sitting would be a physical impossibility.  However, nothing goes to waste, as the shrimp devour the sea star one arm at a time, keeping the increasingly disfigured animal as a live captive until every bit is eaten. Depending on the size of the sea star, this process may take up to two weeks… pretty horrific, huh? "
And they are only about 1 inch long !      I am borrowing the photo below from Phil.   You can see both claws here, it's better

Mantis Shrimp
The last of our shrimps are the Mantis Shrimp.   They are about 4inches long.    We saw 2 different kinds.

Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Very colorful shrimp !    They are well known for their ability to 'punch', they 'smash' their prey
-- In the time it takes you to blink an eye, the mantis shrimp could theoretically punch 500 times.
-- Smashing mantis shrimps are found during the day scurrying around the reef hunting their prey, but disappearing into their holes when approached.
-- Smashers prefer to go for hardy prey like oysters, molluscs, crabs and snails because they prefer to smash their prey

There is a great video on YouTube that has 11 million views.   It's worth watching, you will enjoy it, ...plus then i don't have to try to explain it:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5FEj9U-CJM

Check out those 'boxing gloves'

The Eagle is famous for it's eye sight; but recently, (the article is from 2008), scientists have made a new discovery.
-- The Mantis Shrimp have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom, and can see ultraviolet and polarized light.
-- They have 'trinocular' vision.   Humans can see depth best with 2eyes, binocular vision, they can do this with either eye  (had to look that up too, and the article went on and on, but lost me).
-- This gives them excellent eye sight with large eyes mounted on stalks that move independently at 360 degrees
-- Scientists are studying their eyes to try to build small cameras that can see cancer cells at very early stages

Check out these crazy eyes

Giant Mantis Shrimp
This other one is different in the following ways  
-- It 'stabs' it's prey, rather than 'punching' it.   It is armed with spiny appendages topped with barbed tips, used to stab and snag prey.
-- It has oblong shaped eyes, rather than round
-- As you can see, they also move independently

 

-- The Spearers go for softer prey like fish so that they can easily slice and snag them
-- Spearing mantis shrimps are usually found in their holes with just their heads showing, waiting for their prey.    We saw this one at night, and he was mostly buried.    One article said you 'never' see them out and about.

 -- Some mantis shrimp species mate for life -- they meet the shrimp of their dreams and they share the same burrow, protect their eggs and help each other with hunting for their entire lives
-- They can live up to 20 years

In the case of the mantis shrimp, being called a shrimp isn't an insult -- they are swift, tough and effective death machines of the sea!    ...but at least they kill swiftly, unlike those Harlequin Shrimps... cruel !

Crabs
There doesn't seem to be too much to talk about with Crabs that i've seen ... or not seen.   This is a photo of a Sea Pen that everyone was pointing at.   i could see some tiny thread-like thing in the middle of the photo, so i tried to take a photo.   And i did a pretty good job too.   It wasn't until i saw the photo on my computer that i noticed at the very tip ..... was a pinkish crab ... that i was supposed to be seeing  :(

Decorator Crabs
-- Are famous for their compulsion to attach debris collected from the ocean floor, plus tiny plants, sedentary animals, shells and gravel to themselves for camouflage.


Spider or Algae Crab
-- the body surface is generally covered with hairs, spines, and tubercles (knobby projections) that are frequently matted with algae, sponges, and other organisms.
-- It is fastened to themselves by means of a mucus like secretion from the mouth.
-- They rub pieces of algae against the backs of their shells until they stick, creating remarkable camouflage
-- They are also incredibly small

Orangutan Crab
This one is way cooler to look at !  It really does look like a miniature orangutan !

This is the first one i saw and i really didn't know what i was looking at ... i sound like a broken record, don't i ?     The entire length of their body is less than 1/2 inch
-- They live on/in bubble coral

-- They are covered in reddish brown hair
-- It is also a Decorator Crab, but I don't think the Orangutan Crab needs any more decoration
-- Although sometimes it is laden with bits of “stuff” like shells or sand to increase its camouflaging capabilities
-- This is the same crab on a different day,  notice that the green bubble coral is there, but he is on white.   You can see his tiny red eyes

Phil thinks that someone poked and deflated the Bubble Coral in an effort to get a better  photograph of the crab  :(     i don't know, but that's pretty rotten if they did.

-- They usually sit and wait for plankton to stick in its luscious locks, which it then picks off as snack food for the day.    It uses its claws to “groom” out the tiny food stuffs and then plops the plankton into its mouth.
-- So, again, we see a resemblance to the ape orangutan in that picking off parasites
-- I was the last one to take a turn at photos, and wouldn't you know it ... he posed for me, stretching his arms out like an ape !

Crinoid Crab  aka Squat Lobster
-- Not a Decorator Crab, and it is not a Lobster, despite it's other name
-- It lives within the 'arms' of the Crinoid
-- This is a Crinoid, also called Sea Feather

 

-- Working as a miniature house cleaner, these crustaceans quite often take on the colors of their host in order to camouflage themselves further from predators ... and i'd say he did a fine job !
-- I couldn't see it then; and honestly, i have a hard time deciphering the 'body parts' now
-- Taken on a night dive
-- I think those are the 'claws' at about 10:00 and 11:00

Stay tuned ... up next are Fish, including the FrogFish and Mandarin Fish !