Biological species
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Hippocampus denise
With it’s maximum length of only 2 centimeters the Hippocampus Denise is perhaps the smallest seahorse to be found in the see. As part of the family of Sygnathidae the seahorse really belongs to the fish. This little seahorse always lives together with a gorgonian in which it manages to hide splendidly. With its coloring, design and structure of its body it perfectly imitates the characteristics of the gorgonian. For us as a diver this means that you really have to look well to discover an animal. It is small and perfectly camouflaged. A good dive guide is essential in finding the Hippocampus Denise. In general the pygmy seahorse lives a solitary life, but in can occur that several...
Phyllopteryx taeniolatus
The weedy sea dragon is closely related to the seahorses. It has gotten its name thanks to the leaf like appendages on its body. These appendages make sure the animal can hide very well between the kelp on the bottom of the sea. The weedy seadragon is only seen in the south of Australia and in Tasmania. It lives between three and fifty meters debt. It can reach a length of 45 centimeters. Their main color is orange/red and they have a big number of white spots on its body. Furthermore he has some bright blue stripes on its body and some yellow dots. In general the weedy seadragon has a single brood of eggs each year. The male caries the fertilized eggs for some two months. Afterwards the...
Hymenocera elegans
The Harlequin shrimp perhaps is the most beautiful shrimp living around the world. The main color of its body is cream. On their body they have brown-purple spots. Around these spots there is a bright blue line. The legs of the harlequin shrimp are striped. In general the harlequin shrimps live on intertidal and sub tidal coral reefs. Besides the color also the shape of this shrimp is very special. The claws are huge compared to the size of its body.
It looks like the harlequin shrimp is territorial. Pairs of harlequin shrimps can stay for months of years in the same area on the reef.
Priacanthus hamrur
The Bigeye is a fish that looks quite funny. Compared to its body they have enormous eyes. The animals prefer living in dark environments around the reef. They are nocturnal animals. They are seen at the outer reefs and around deep coral pinnacles. At first these animals look quite boring under water. Because of their preference in living at deep and dark places they seem to have a dull brown color. Using your strobes or dive torch you will reveal the beautiful warm red color. The body of the bigeye is relatively flat and they have one dorsal fin. Mostly they are seen in big groups.
Monocentris japonicus
The Pineapple fish, also called Pinecone fish is a rather peculiar looking fish. When you encounter this fish under water you will see the resemblance with the pineapple where the fish got his name from. The fish have reel strong scales with needles, which give the animal a protecting armor. There are only two kinds of these Pineapple fish. The Australian Pineapple fish (cleidopus gloriamaris) is only seen at the west coast of Australia. The Japanese pineapple fish has a more wide living area. The animals prefer living under overhangs on the reef. They are seem from 10 meters till 180 meter.
In his lower jaw he has a small rectangular light organ powered by luminous bacteria. At...
Gymnothorax favagineus
The black spotted moray is a white, sometimes yellow, moray with black spots. With some animals the pattern of these spots resembles that of a leopard. Adult animals often have some smaller spots that form sort of a honeycomb pattern. The animals live a solitary life and live in crevices in the reef, both on the inner- as on the outer reefs.
Animals living in clearer water usually have less black spots than animals living in turbid waters. Near the moray cleaner fish and cleaner shrimps live.
The length of the animals can vary but they can grow up to 2,5 meter.
Manta birostris
The Manta is the largest amongst the family of rays. It van reach a length of 6-7 meters. Mostly the manta ray has a dark back and a white belly, sometimes with black dots on its belly. But there are also manta rays with an almost black belly.
Manta Rays have evolved from bottom-feeders to filter feeders who swim around the water column filtering the food out of the water. Besides its head the Manta has two big fins. These are used to direct the food to its mouth in between. When relaxing these fins can be curled besides its head.
One of the best places to enjoy the beauty of the Manta Ray is along one of the many cleaning stations. During their travel along the see...
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the sea. At average he has a length of around 8 meters; but there are also individuals seen with a length of 15 meters. The head of the whale shark is flat and wide. Different to other species of sharks the mouth is not located at the bottom of the head but in front; and it is as wide as the whole head.
Characteristic for the whale shark are the spots at the body of the animal. The top and side of its body is almost fully covered with these spots. At first sight the spots seem to be situated at random; but research has proven that the spots are different at each animal. In particular the spots next to the gills is used to identify the...
Pygoscelis papua
The Gentoo Penguin is the most abundant pinguin species in the sub-Arctic area. At average the Gentoo Penguin reaches a length of about 80 centimeters and a weight of around 5 kg. Each animal has a white band on its head, reaching from one eye to the other. The beak is bright orange. This penguin is the fastest swimmer of its kind. It can reach a speed of around 36 km/h.
The breeding colonies seldom consist of more than a hundred pairs. When the group starts growing too big it will split into two. A pair of Gentoo Penguins will lay two eggs. After an incubation period of around 34 days the egg hatches. When there is enough food available both chicks can survice. Both parents...
Lobodon carcinophagus
The crabeater seal is one of the most abundant mammals in the world. Their population has increased rapidly over the past 50 years, probably because of declining numbers of whales. The crabeater seal is a seal who lives at the pack ice around Antarctica. Little is known about their behavior because the living area of the crabeater seal makes study not easy.
Males reach a length of around 2,5 meters and can get a weight of 200 tot 300 kg. Females are slightly smaller. The crabeater seal has a dark grey fur that turns almost white in summer. Its head really resembles that of a dog.
The name crabeater is a bit misplaced as its diet contains all except crabs. During mating...
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