{"articles":[{"seo":{"ogImage":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/when-to-visit-p-hilippnies-5dd342.webp","metaTitle":"The Best Diving in the Philippines Month by Month","focusKeyword":"best time to dive in the Philippines","metaDescription":"Find the best diving in the Philippines month by month, from Batanes to Davao. Thresher sharks, whale sharks, mantas, sardines and critter seasons"},"date":"2026-10-29","slug":"best-diving-philippines-month-by-month","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/when-to-visit-p-hilippnies-5dd342.webp","title":"The Best Diving in the Philippines Month by Month","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"The Philippines has two monsoons, thousands of islands and a dive season somewhere every month of the year. Here's where to go and when, from the calm spring window in Batanes to thresher sharks in Malapascua, whale sharks in Donsol and critter season in Dauin.","gallery":["https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/ph-dive-seasons-67eef1.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/nudibranch-ab4684.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/thrtesher-shark-274659.webp"],"category":"Resources","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-10-29T06:44:47.520Z","categories":["Resources"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T02:56:06.063Z"},{"seo":{"ogImage":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/boat-repair-2-3cabbd.webp","metaTitle":"Is Initao the Philippines' Next Great Dive Destination?","focusKeyword":"Initao diving","metaDescription":"Is Initao the Philippines' next great dive destination? Explore Misamis Oriental's protected reefs, the Lembeh sea dragon find, and what divers can expect."},"date":"2026-10-29","slug":"initao-dive-destination-philippines","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/boat-repair-2-3cabbd.webp","title":"Is Initao the Philippines' Next Great Dive Destination?","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"Initao, a quiet town an hour west of Cagayan de Oro, has protected reefs, easy airport access and a rare Lembeh sea dragon found just next door. Is it the Philippines' next great dive destination?","gallery":["https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/boat-repair-2-17c160.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/porcupinefish-9a86ff.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/tarsier-054552.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/lembeh-sea-dragon-3479f0.webp"],"category":"Resources","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-10-29T02:12:27.001Z","categories":["Resources"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T08:17:53.554Z"},{"seo":{"ogImage":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/apo-island-bf157f.webp","metaTitle":"APO ISLAND: HOW ONE COMMUNITY SAVED ITS REEF","focusKeyword":"Apo Island marine sanctuary","metaDescription":"How a small fishing community on Apo Island, Negros Oriental, protected its reef and built one of the Philippines' most famous marine sanctuaries."},"date":"2026-10-27","slug":"apo-island-philippines","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/apo-island-bf157f.webp","title":"Apo Island: How One Community Saved Its Reef","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"In the early 1980s, a small fishing community off Negros Oriental made a bold choice: stop fishing part of their own reef. Decades later, Apo Island is one of the world's best-known examples of community-led marine protection, and a reminder of what a reef can do when people give it a chance.","gallery":["https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/apo-island-diving-2fa932.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/apo-islandscuba-17a6e2.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/apo-island-reef-fc5219.webp","https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/boat-repair-10-e72b49.webp"],"category":"Dive Destination","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-10-29T07:06:45.561Z","categories":["Dive Destination"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T02:56:09.233Z"},{"date":"2026-03-20","slug":"pipefish-collection","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/03/img_9406-1024x1024.webp","title":"Gittan Noren's Pipefish Collection","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"Pipefish are some of the most fascinating critters around the Philippines, and are always a","category":"Uncategorized","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-03-20T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Uncategorized"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T02:56:12.236Z"},{"seo":{"ogImage":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/03/img_6766-1024x1024.webp","metaTitle":"Gittan Noren's Hairy Shrimp Collection","focusKeyword":"","metaDescription":"Hairy shrimp are largely unknown to most humans on this planet, but as tiny as"},"date":"2026-03-20","slug":"hairy-shrimp-collection","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/03/img_6766-1024x1024.webp","title":"Gittan Noren's Hairy Shrimp Collection","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"Hairy shrimp are largely unknown to most humans on this planet, but as tiny as","gallery":["https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/pexels-shreyaan-17512580-c3212b.webp"],"category":"Uncategorized","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-03-20T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Uncategorized"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T02:56:11.003Z"},{"seo":{"ogImage":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/03/wunderpus-1024x576.webp","metaTitle":"Cephalopods You'll Find in the Philippines","focusKeyword":"cephalopods Philippines","metaDescription":"Meet the octopus, squid and cuttlefish divers find in the Philippines, from the mimic octopus and wunderpus to flamboyant cuttlefish and blue-ring octopus."},"date":"2026-03-11","slug":"cephalopods-philippines","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/03/wunderpus-1024x576.webp","title":"Cephalopods You'll Find in the Philippines","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"Once you're certified, it doesn't take long to fall for cephalopods. Philippine reefs and muck sites are some of the best places on earth to find them, from shape-shifting mimic octopuses and wunderpus to tiny blue-ringed octopuses and flamboyant cuttlefish. Here's who you might meet on your next dive.","gallery":[],"category":"Resources","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Resources"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T08:15:36.148Z"},{"seo":{"ogImage":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/02/anilao-scuba-1-1024x576.webp","metaTitle":"The Ultimate Guide to Scuba Diving Philippines","focusKeyword":"","metaDescription":"Are you a person who carries a true heart of adventure? Perhaps, travel is natural"},"date":"2026-02-07","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-scuba-diving-philippines","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/02/anilao-scuba-1-1024x576.webp","title":"The Ultimate Guide to Scuba Diving Philippines","author":"Gee Orinday","status":"published","excerpt":"Are you a person who carries a true heart of adventure? Perhaps, travel is natural","gallery":[],"category":"Dive Destination","featured":true,"publishAt":"2026-02-07T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Dive Destination"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T02:56:14.692Z"},{"date":"2026-01-28","slug":"dive-gear-review-dive-rites-xt4-regulator-built-for-precision-and-performance","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/01/486569582_1052578486905438_9163232754567692451_n-1024x684.webp","title":"Dive Gear Review: Dive Rite’s XT4 Regulator, Built for Precision and Performance","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"When serious divers talk about regulators that feel like an extension of their own breathing,","category":"Resources","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-01-28T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Resources"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T02:56:16.469Z"},{"seo":{"ogImage":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/01/pexels-toulouse-3098979-1024x685.webp","metaTitle":"Inside the Reg Bag: What Veteran Divers Actually Carry","focusKeyword":"","metaDescription":"Open a veteran diver’s reg bag in the Philippines and you will not find a catalogue of shiny extras. You will find the few pieces they refuse to dive without."},"date":"2026-01-23","slug":"inside-the-reg-bag-what-veteran-divers-actually-carry","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/01/pexels-toulouse-3098979-1024x685.webp","title":"Inside the Reg Bag: What Veteran Divers Actually Carry","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"Open a veteran diver’s reg bag in the Philippines and you will not find a catalogue of shiny extras. You will find the few pieces they refuse to dive without.","gallery":[],"category":"Resources","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-01-23T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Resources"],"updatedAt":"2026-11-01T02:56:17.792Z"},{"date":"2026-01-23","slug":"five-dives-that-changed-how-i-see-the-ocean","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/01/pexels-francisco-davids-150089269-14267355-1024x576.webp","title":"Five Dives That Changed How I See the Ocean","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"Five Philippine dives that rewired how we look at reefs, wrecks, and the small life most people swim past.","category":"Marine Life","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-01-23T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Marine Life"],"updatedAt":"2026-10-29T15:31:09.846Z"},{"date":"2026-01-23","slug":"why-your-best-dive-is-the-one-you-almost-skipped","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/01/pexels-toulouse-3098936-1024x683.webp","title":"Why Your Best Dive Is the One You Almost Skipped","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"The dive you almost cancelled — too tired, too choppy, too “we already saw that site” — is often the one that stays with you.","category":"Culture","featured":false,"publishAt":"2026-01-23T00:00:00.000Z","categories":["Culture"],"updatedAt":"2026-10-29T15:31:11.195Z"},{"date":"2026-01-23","slug":"the-wreck-that-wouldnt-let-go","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/01/pexels-debal-das-59599429-7970796-1024x768.webp","title":"The Wreck That Wouldn’t Let Go","author":"Scuba Journal","status":"published","excerpt":"Coron’s wrecks do not feel like attractions. They feel like places that still have a hold on the people who dive them.","category":"Dive Destination","featured":false,"categories":["Dive Destination"],"publishAt":"2026-01-23T00:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-19T01:06:38.185Z"}],"products":[{"id":"nudibranchs-hardcover","sku":"250","name":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines (Hardcover) Premium Edition","slug":"nudibranchs-of-the-philippines-hardcover","image":"product-nudibranchs-hardcover.webp","price":89.99,"stock":"In stock","details":"What makes this a premium edition? First off, this is a hard-back edition that is hand-signed by Justin Carmack (AKA the Critter Hunter) and numbered. Your book will be numbered, for example 1/250 or 30/250 and so on, and when they are gone they are gone.\n\nEach book also comes in a custom black box with magnet closure, and in each box you will get a hand written message on a custom made postcard that was painted by an artist just for this series. \n\nSo what is this book about? Nudibranchs of the Philippines was 3 years in the making, and it is a comprehensive photographic guide featuring more than 480 species of nudibranchs, sea slugs, sea hares, sap-sucking slugs, and other heterobranchs found throughout the Philippines.\n\nPacked with stunning underwater photography, species identifications, and useful reference information, it showcases the extraordinary colors, forms, and diversity of Philippine marine life.\n\nAn essential guide for divers, underwater photographers, marine life enthusiasts, and researchers exploring one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems.\n","gallery":["product-nudibranchs-hardcover.webp"],"inStock":true,"limited":true,"currency":"USD","featured":true,"printRun":250,"shortName":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines","highlights":["Premium hardcover","Limited print of 250","Numbered and signed by the author","Personalized handwritten thank-you card"],"description":"This premium hard cover option is a limited print (only 250 available) premium edition that is numbered, signed by the author, and comes with a hand written and personalized \"thank you\" card. This is the perfect gift for yourself, as well as your ocean-loving family and friends!"},{"id":"nudibranchs-softcover","sku":"5000","name":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines (Soft Cover)","slug":"nudibranchs-of-the-philippines","image":"product-nudibranchs-softcover.webp","price":64.99,"stock":"In stock","details":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines is a comprehensive photographic guide to one of the most diverse and fascinating groups of marine animals found in Philippine waters. Featuring more than 450 species of nudibranchs, sea slugs, sea hares, sap-sucking slugs, and other heterobranchs, this book showcases the incredible biodiversity that makes the Philippines a world-class destination for underwater exploration. Filled with stunning underwater photography, species identifications, and valuable reference information, it is an essential resource for divers, underwater photographers, marine life enthusiasts, and researchers alike. Discover the remarkable colors, shapes, and adaptations of these extraordinary creatures found throughout the Philippine archipelago.","gallery":["product-nudibranchs-softcover.webp","/assets/products/gallery-3.jpeg","/assets/products/gallery-4.jpeg","/assets/products/gallery-5.jpeg"],"inStock":true,"limited":false,"currency":"USD","featured":false,"printRun":null,"shortName":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines — Soft Cover","highlights":["Soft cover field guide","Philippines-only species focus","Identification + browsing"],"description":"This is the world's first, and most comprehensive heterobranch survey of the Philippines, covering many different locations around the country, and featuring species that you've never heard of before. You can use this book to identify the critters you saw on your dives, or just to scroll through and learn about all the different slugs you can see in the Philippines."},{"id":"nudibranchs-ebook","sku":"EBOOK","name":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines (eBook)","slug":"nudibranchs-of-the-philippines-ebook","image":"product-nudibranchs-ebook.webp","price":29.99,"stock":"In stock","details":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines is a comprehensive photographic guide to one of the most diverse and fascinating groups of marine animals found in Philippine waters. Featuring more than 450 species of nudibranchs, sea slugs, sea hares, sap-sucking slugs, and other heterobranchs, this book showcases the incredible biodiversity that makes the Philippines a world-class destination for underwater exploration. Filled with stunning underwater photography, species identifications, and valuable reference information, it is an essential resource for divers, underwater photographers, marine life enthusiasts, and researchers alike. This eBook edition is the digital copy of that survey — same photographs, same IDs — ready to download after checkout.","digital":true,"gallery":["product-ebook-01-cover.webp","product-ebook-02-acknowledgments.webp","product-ebook-03-about-author.webp","product-ebook-04-kubaryana.webp","product-ebook-05-thorny-devil.webp"],"inStock":true,"limited":false,"currency":"USD","featured":false,"printRun":null,"shortName":"Nudibranchs of the Philippines — eBook","highlights":["Instant digital download","Same species coverage as the print edition","Read on tablet, phone, or computer"],"description":"The same comprehensive nudibranch survey of the Philippines — over 480 species, thousands of photos and descriptions — as a downloadable ebook. Take it on the boat, ID critters after a dive, or browse the diversity of Philippine seas from anywhere."}],"marine":{"categories":[{"slug":"nudibranchs","blurb":"The vibrant marine gastropods that add essential biodiversity to our coral reefs.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/categories/category-nudibranchs.webp","title":"Nudibranchs","archivePath":"/nudibranch-archive"},{"slug":"crustaceans","blurb":"The ocean’s heavily armored, fascinatingly active crabs, shrimps, and lobsters.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/categories/category-crustaceans.webp","title":"Crustaceans","archivePath":"/crustacean-archive"},{"slug":"cephalopods","blurb":"In this category we show you tons of different species of cephalopods, including octopuses, squids and cuttlefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/categories/octopus-species-philippines-5f94a1.webp","title":"Cephalopods","archivePath":"/marine-life/cephalopods"},{"slug":"frogfish","blurb":"There are a bunch of different species of frogfish in the Philippines, and you can find them here!","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/categories/frogfish-species-c2faf3.webp","title":"Frogfish","archivePath":"/marine-life/frogfish"},{"slug":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","blurb":"Check here to see the large variety of seahorse and pipefish species from around the Philippines","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/categories/seahorse-species-8a7fb2.webp","title":"Seahorses and Pipefishes","archivePath":"/marine-life/seahorses-and-pipefishes"},{"slug":"reef-fish","blurb":"There are so many varieties of reef fish around the Philippines, and here are just a few","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/categories/squirrelfish-3bebbc.webp","title":"Reef fish","archivePath":"/marine-life/reef-fish"},{"slug":"turtles","blurb":"The ancient ocean wanderers that graze our seagrass beds and patrol our coral reefs.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-db2cb6.webp","title":"Turtles","archivePath":"/marine-life/turtles"},{"slug":"gobies","blurb":"The small, bottom-dwelling fish that share burrows, perch on corals and hide in every corner of the reef.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f3753c.webp","title":"Gobies","archivePath":"/marine-life/gobies"},{"slug":"blennies","blurb":"The big-eyed, characterful little fish that peer out from holes, shells and corals across the reef.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-67c703.webp","title":"Blennies","archivePath":"/marine-life/blennies"},{"slug":"clownfish","blurb":"The colourful anemonefish that live safely among the stinging tentacles of their host anemones.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-9215de.webp","title":"Clownfish","archivePath":"/marine-life/clownfish"},{"slug":"snakes-and-eels","blurb":"The long, sinuous hunters of the reef and sand, from morays and snake eels to sea kraits.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-223123.webp","title":"Snakes & Eels","archivePath":"/marine-life/snakes-and-eels"},{"slug":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","blurb":"The venomous masters of camouflage and display, from flamboyant lionfish to hidden scorpionfish.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-1a7ca6.webp","title":"Lionfish & Scorpionfish","archivePath":"/marine-life/lionfish-and-scorpionfish"},{"slug":"sea-hares","blurb":"Sea hares are large, soft-bodied sea slugs with ear-like rhinophores that graze on algae across Philippine reefs and seagrass beds.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e71c34.webp","title":"Sea Hares","archivePath":"/marine-life/sea-hares"},{"slug":"headshield-slugs","blurb":"Headshield slugs are fast-moving, often colourful sea slugs with a shield-like head, many of them active predators on Philippine sand and reef.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d9ad73.webp","title":"Headshield Slugs","archivePath":"/marine-life/headshield-slugs"},{"slug":"pleurobranchs","blurb":"Pleurobranchs, or sidegill slugs, are sea slugs that carry their gill along one side of the body, found on reefs and sand in the Philippines.","image":"","title":"Pleurobranchs","archivePath":"/marine-life/pleurobranchs"},{"slug":"snails-and-clams","blurb":"Shelled molluscs of Philippine reefs, from tiny ovulids and cowries to conchs, sundials and flashing file clams.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-3ba8db.webp","title":"Snails & Clams","archivePath":"/marine-life/snails-and-clams"},{"slug":"sharks-and-rays","blurb":"From whale sharks and threshers to mantas, eagle rays and stingrays: the cartilaginous fishes of Philippine waters.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e44ca9.webp","title":"Sharks & Rays","archivePath":"/marine-life/sharks-and-rays"},{"slug":"echinoderms","blurb":"Sea stars, sea cucumbers, urchins and feather stars: the spiny-skinned, five-sided animals of Philippine reefs and sand.","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1b3237.webp","title":"Echinoderms","archivePath":"/marine-life/echinoderms"}],"species":[{"body":["Hypselodoris roo is a striking species of nudibranch admired for its vibrant colors, elegant body shape, and intricate patterns that make it a favorite among underwater photographers.","This beautiful sea slug belongs to the colorful Hypselodoris genus, a group well known throughout the Indo-Pacific for their eye-catching appearance. Although not commonly encountered, Hypselodoris roo has been found at several sites in the Philippines, including Romblon, a legendary macro diving destination celebrated for its rich marine biodiversity.","Sightings of this species further demonstrate why the Philippines remains one of the world’s premier locations for discovering rare and extraordinary marine life beneath the waves."],"slug":"hypselodoris-roo","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/nudibranchs/hypselodoris-roo.webp","title":"Hypselodoris roo","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/nudibranchs/hypselodoris-roo.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"Hypselodoris roo is a striking species of nudibranch admired for its vibrant colors, elegant body shape, and intricate patterns that make it a favorite among…","category":"nudibranchs","location":"","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chromodorididae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hypselodoris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hypselodoris"}],"youtubeId":"wrHawFZnSt4","locationUrl":"","diveOperators":[],"scientificName":"Hypselodoris roo"},{"body":["This nudibranch is a Polycera sp., meaning it is unclassified. It is one of several undescribed Polycera we feature in our book, Nudibranchs of the Philippines. Polycera species are hard to find around the world, especially this particular one, and we found it in the Philippines.","The Philippines sports a lot of different varieties of nudibranchs, most of which we cover in the book."],"slug":"polycera-sp-3-nudibranch","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/nudibranchs/polycera.webp","title":"Polycera sp. Nudibranch","status":"published","excerpt":"This nudibranch is a Polycera sp., meaning it is unclassified. It is one of several undescribed Polycera we feature in our book, Nudibranchs of the Philippines.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Polyceridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Polycera"}],"youtubeId":"h8EPG7CMuqs","scientificName":"Polycera sp."},{"body":["Phyllodesmium rudmani is a fascinating species of nudibranch known for its delicate appearance, soft cerata, and incredible camouflage among hydroids and soft corals. Like many members of the Phyllodesmium genus, this species is highly sought after by underwater photographers and marine life enthusiasts due to its unique texture and subtle coloration.","Although rarely encountered, Phyllodesmium rudmani has been documented at several sites in the Philippines, including Romblon, famous for its world-class macro diving and biodiversity. These sightings further highlight the Philippines as one of the best places on Earth to discover rare and unusual marine species hidden within the reefs and muck diving environments."],"slug":"phyllodesmium-rudmani","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/nudibranchs/phyllodesmium.webp","title":"Phyllodesmium rudmani","status":"published","excerpt":"Phyllodesmium rudmani is a fascinating species of nudibranch known for its delicate appearance, soft cerata, and incredible camouflage among hydroids and soft corals.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Myrrhinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phyllodesmium"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phyllodesmium"}],"youtubeId":"eQXceBIFaD4","scientificName":"Phyllodesmium rudmani"},{"body":["The white-banded cleaner shrimp, also known as the white-striped cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis), is a small but fascinating marine creature renowned for its striking red and white coloration.","Commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters, these shrimp often inhabit coral reefs. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by cleaning parasites, dead tissue, and debris from fish, which helps maintain the health and balance of marine life.","Establishing cleaning stations, they attract fish clients by using their long antennae to signal their services, creating a unique and efficient system for fish to get cleaned. Known for their symbiotic relationships with various fish species, these shrimp provide mutual benefits, with fish receiving cleaning services and shrimp getting food from the debris they remove.","Despite their small size, usually about 2-3 inches, white-banded cleaner shrimp are bold and active, often seen cleaning much larger fish without hesitation.","They are also popular in the aquarium trade due to their striking appearance and beneficial cleaning behavior, making them a favorite among marine enthusiasts. Observing them perform their “rocking dance” to attract fish is a fascinating sight, showcasing their unique and important role in marine life.","Their presence in aquariums not only adds beauty but also helps maintain a healthy environment by keeping other tank inhabitants free from parasites and dead tissue. These shrimp are truly remarkable creatures, playing a significant part in the underwater world’s delicate balance."],"slug":"white-banded-cleaner-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/cleaner-shrimp.webp","title":"White banded cleaner shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The white-banded cleaner shrimp, also known as the white-striped cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis), is a small but fascinating marine creature renowned for its striking red and white coloration.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lysmata"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lysmata"}],"youtubeId":"pYAdmbjKS0o","scientificName":"Lysmata amboinensis"},{"body":["Melibe colemani is a rare, almost transparent nudibranch whose branching, coral-like body makes it one of the hardest sea slugs to spot on the reef. Its translucent tissue is laced with a network of fine brown lines, and its back is covered in spiky, branching processes that mimic the soft coral it lives on.","Growing to only around 2-4 cm, this species was first described in 2015 and named after the famous marine life photographer Neville Coleman. Unlike most nudibranchs, members of the Melibe genus have a large oral hood that they use like a net to catch tiny crustaceans from the water.","Melibe colemani is usually found hiding on Xenia and other soft corals, where its camouflage is nearly perfect. We have encountered it in the Philippines, a world-famous macro diving destination where patient divers and sharp-eyed guides are rewarded with rare finds like this one."],"slug":"melibe-colemani","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-a45c67.webp","title":"Melibe colemani","status":"published","excerpt":"Melibe colemani is a rare, almost transparent nudibranch whose branching, coral-like body makes it one of the hardest sea slugs to spot on the reef.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tethydidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Melibe"},{"label":"Species","value":"Melibe colemani"}],"youtubeId":"bMxh21RwkPc","scientificName":"Melibe colemani"},{"body":["Skeleton shrimp are tiny, stick-thin amphipods that look more like alien insects than shrimp, swaying back and forth as they cling to hydroids, algae and sea fans.","Despite the name, they are not true shrimp but amphipods, usually only 1-3 cm long. They grip their perch with their hind legs and use their large, claw-like front appendages to snatch plankton and tiny particles from the water, constantly bobbing in a praying-mantis-like motion.","Skeleton shrimp are common but easily overlooked on muck and reef slopes in the Philippines, where macro divers find them swarming over hydroids and sea whips."],"slug":"skeleton-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-bd43e0.webp","title":"Skeleton shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"Skeleton shrimp are tiny, stick-thin amphipods that look more like alien insects than shrimp, swaying back and forth as they cling to hydroids, algae and sea fans.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Amphipoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Caprellidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Caprella"},{"label":"Species","value":"Caprella sp."}],"youtubeId":"q259p9ikrV0","scientificName":"Caprella sp."},{"body":["The hairy squat lobster (Lauriea siagiani) is a tiny, fuzzy purple-and-white crustacean that lives almost exclusively inside the folds of giant barrel sponges.","Measuring only about 1 cm, its body and claws are covered in long, iridescent bristles that trap particles and help it blend into the sponge's rim. Individuals often sit in small groups deep in the sponge's grooves, feeding on mucus and organic material.","It is a favorite macro subject throughout the Philippines: our video was filmed on a barrel sponge in Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte, and it is regularly found on barrel sponges at many other Philippine dive sites as well."],"slug":"hairy-squat-lobster","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-dbe649.webp","title":"Hairy squat lobster","status":"published","excerpt":"The hairy squat lobster (Lauriea siagiani) is a tiny, fuzzy purple-and-white crustacean that lives almost exclusively inside the folds of giant barrel sponges.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Galatheidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lauriea"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lauriea siagiani"}],"youtubeId":"6k3cvbqj4ic","scientificName":"Lauriea siagiani"},{"body":["The common hairy shrimp (Phycocaris simulans) is a minute, algae-covered shrimp that is so well camouflaged it looks like a speck of drifting debris.","Usually just 3-5 mm long, its body is covered in fine hair-like setae that collect algae and detritus, giving it a brown to reddish, fuzzy appearance. It clings to algae, hydroids and rubble, rocking gently with the surge.","Hairy shrimp are a classic muck-diving find in the Philippines, but spotting one takes sharp eyes, patience and usually a magnifying lens or a very good guide."],"slug":"common-hairy-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-65f4e0.webp","title":"Common hairy shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The common hairy shrimp (Phycocaris simulans) is a minute, algae-covered shrimp that is so well camouflaged it looks like a speck of drifting debris.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phycocaris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phycocaris simulans"}],"youtubeId":"nVFFYVaYVvs","scientificName":"Phycocaris simulans"},{"body":["The sawblade shrimp (Tozeuma armatum) is a long, slender shrimp with a serrated, saw-like rostrum and back that lets it disappear among sea whips and seagrass.","Reaching around 5 cm, it is usually translucent white, pink or purple to match its host, and it aligns its body with the stem it sits on to stay invisible to predators.","Sawblade shrimp are found on sea whips, black coral and seagrass in the Philippines, and are a rewarding find for photographers who search slowly along the stems.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53546192), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"sawblade-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-85389a.webp","title":"Sawblade shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The sawblade shrimp (Tozeuma armatum) is a long, slender shrimp with a serrated, saw-like rostrum and back that lets it disappear among sea whips and seagrass.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Tozeuma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Tozeuma armatum"}],"youtubeId":"Yf80-RHadoY","scientificName":"Tozeuma armatum"},{"body":["The algae shrimp (Phycocaris sp.) is a tiny green shrimp that looks almost exactly like a tuft of the algae it lives on, making it one of the hardest crustaceans to find.","Only a few millimetres long, its body is covered in green, hair-like growths that match the surrounding algae, and it sways with the water to complete the disguise. It is distinct from the brown [common hairy shrimp](/critter/common-hairy-shrimp), though the two are closely related.","We have found this little shrimp on algae-covered rubble in the Philippines, a reminder of just how much hidden macro life lives on sandy slopes around the country."],"slug":"algae-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-896c81.webp","title":"Algae shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The algae shrimp (Phycocaris sp.) is a tiny green shrimp that looks almost exactly like a tuft of the algae it lives on, making it one of the hardest crustaceans to find.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phycocaris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phycocaris sp."}],"scientificName":"Phycocaris sp."},{"body":["Stylocheilus striatus, the lined sea hare, is a small sea hare with fine dark lines, blue spots and fleshy filaments along its body.","Usually 2-5 cm, it feeds on cyanobacteria and algae and sometimes appears in large numbers. As a sea hare it is not a true [nudibranch](/marine-life/nudibranchs) but is closely related.","It is commonly seen in shallow water in the Philippines."],"slug":"stylocheilus-striatus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-320bc4.webp","title":"Stylocheilus striatus","status":"published","excerpt":"Stylocheilus striatus, the lined sea hare, is a small sea hare with fine dark lines, blue spots and fleshy filaments along its body.","category":"sea-hares","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Aplysiida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Aplysiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Stylocheilus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Stylocheilus striatus"}],"youtubeId":"MuMtD7E6cjM","scientificName":"Stylocheilus striatus"},{"body":["Cyerce nigra is a striking black sacoglossan sea slug with yellow-edged, leaf-like cerata.","Growing to around 3-4 cm, it feeds on green algae and can shed its cerata to escape predators. Its bold colors warn predators that it is distasteful.","It is found among algae on rubble slopes in the Philippines."],"slug":"cyerce-nigra","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4940e1.webp","title":"Cyerce nigra","status":"published","excerpt":"Cyerce nigra is a striking black sacoglossan sea slug with yellow-edged, leaf-like cerata.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Sacoglossa"},{"label":"Family","value":"Caliphyllidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cyerce"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cyerce nigra"}],"youtubeId":"fFeHP7cTmyw","scientificName":"Cyerce nigra"},{"body":["Koch's bobtail (Sepiadarium kochi) is a small, round bottletail squid with a mottled body that hides in the sand by day and hunts at night.","Reaching about 2-3 cm in mantle length, it can change color quickly and produces sticky slime when disturbed.","It is commonly seen on night dives over the sand in the Philippines."],"slug":"kochs-bobtail","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-16798d.webp","title":"Koch's bobtail","status":"published","excerpt":"Koch's bobtail (Sepiadarium kochi) is a small, round bottletail squid with a mottled body that hides in the sand by day and hunts at night.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Sepiida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Sepiadariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sepiadarium"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sepiadarium kochi"}],"scientificName":"Sepiadarium kochi"},{"body":["The blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena sp.) is a small but extremely venomous octopus that flashes electric blue rings when alarmed.","Only around 5-10 cm across, it carries tetrodotoxin powerful enough to be dangerous to humans, so it must never be touched. It hunts small crabs and shrimp among rubble.","Two blue-ringed octopuses are found in the Philippines: the greater blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) and a still-undescribed Hapalochlaena species. Both are sought-after finds on Philippine muck dives."],"slug":"blue-ringed-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-2f2c49.webp","title":"Blue-ringed octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena sp.) is a small but extremely venomous octopus that flashes electric blue rings when alarmed.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hapalochlaena"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hapalochlaena sp."}],"scientificName":"Hapalochlaena sp."},{"body":["The wunderpus (Wunderpus photogenicus) is a long-armed octopus with striking red-brown and white banding, each animal having a unique pattern.","With a body around 3 cm and arms up to 15-25 cm, it hunts in burrows on sandy bottoms and can mimic other animals.","The Philippines is one of the best places to see wunderpus, usually at dusk."],"slug":"wunderpus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d60a7d.webp","title":"Wunderpus","status":"published","excerpt":"The wunderpus (Wunderpus photogenicus) is a long-armed octopus with striking red-brown and white banding, each animal having a unique pattern.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Wunderpus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Wunderpus photogenicus"}],"youtubeId":"VjfdRNYmwzg","scientificName":"Wunderpus photogenicus"},{"body":["The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is famous for imitating venomous animals such as [lionfish](/marine-life/lionfish-and-scorpionfish), sea snakes and flatfish.","It reaches around 60 cm including arms and lives on open sand and silt, hunting in burrows.","It is one of the headline critters of Philippine muck diving."],"slug":"mimic-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-104051.webp","title":"Mimic octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is famous for imitating venomous animals such as lionfish, sea snakes and flatfish.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Thaumoctopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Thaumoctopus mimicus"}],"scientificName":"Thaumoctopus mimicus"},{"body":["The flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) is a small cuttlefish that walks across the sand while flashing bright purple, yellow and red warning colors.","Only around 6-8 cm long, its flesh is reported to be toxic, and it hunts small fish and crustaceans in daylight.","It is a favorite find on sandy slopes in the Philippines."],"slug":"flamboyant-cuttlefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-04717a.webp","title":"Flamboyant cuttlefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-04717a.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-90c91e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) is a small cuttlefish that walks across the sand while flashing bright purple, yellow and red warning colors.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Sepiida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Sepiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Metasepia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Metasepia pfefferi"}],"scientificName":"Metasepia pfefferi"},{"body":["The flying gurnard (Dactyloptena orientalis) is a bottom-dwelling fish that spreads huge, wing-like pectoral fins when disturbed.","Growing to about 30-40 cm, it walks across the sand using modified pelvic fins, searching for crustaceans.","It is regularly seen on sandy slopes in the Philippines.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40242449), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"flying-gurnard","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-71efe4.webp","title":"Flying gurnard","status":"published","excerpt":"The flying gurnard (Dactyloptena orientalis) is a bottom-dwelling fish that spreads huge, wing-like pectoral fins when disturbed.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Scorpaeniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Dactylopteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dactyloptena"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dactyloptena orientalis"}],"youtubeId":"P3Dl0qFD84w","scientificName":"Dactyloptena orientalis"},{"body":["The Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) is a master of camouflage with skin flaps and tall eye tentacles that make it look like algae.","Reaching around 10-12 cm, it can change color and shed its skin, and it ambushes small fish and shrimp. Its spines are venomous.","It is a classic muck diving critter in the Philippines."],"slug":"ambon-scorpionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-7595d6.webp","title":"Ambon scorpionfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) is a master of camouflage with skin flaps and tall eye tentacles that make it look like algae.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Scorpaeniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pteroidichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pteroidichthys amboinensis"}],"youtubeId":"zg9FHmrDZ9s","scientificName":"Pteroidichthys amboinensis"},{"body":["The crinoid clingfish (Discotrema crinophilum) is a tiny fish that lives among the arms of feather stars and matches their colors.","Only around 2-3 cm, it uses a suction disc to grip its host, often with stripes that mimic crinoid arms.","Our video was filmed in Southern Leyte, and the species is also found on crinoids elsewhere in the Philippines.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41567722), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"crinoid-clingfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-5505f6.webp","title":"Crinoid clingfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The crinoid clingfish (Discotrema crinophilum) is a tiny fish that lives among the arms of feather stars and matches their colors.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiesociformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiesocidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Discotrema"},{"label":"Species","value":"Discotrema crinophilum"}],"youtubeId":"BvCU8N4GJ2w","scientificName":"Discotrema crinophilum"},{"body":["The bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) is a giant predatory marine worm that hides in the sand and snaps its jaws shut on passing fish. It is not a fish, but a polychaete worm.","It can grow to over 1 m long, but usually only its jaws and antennae are visible.","It is best seen on night dives in the Philippines.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53826839), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"bobbit-worm","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-7bbe82.webp","title":"Bobbit worm","status":"published","excerpt":"The bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) is a giant predatory marine worm that hides in the sand and snaps its jaws shut on passing fish. It is not a fish, but a polychaete worm.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Annelida"},{"label":"Class","value":"Polychaeta"},{"label":"Order","value":"Eunicida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Eunicidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Eunice"},{"label":"Species","value":"Eunice aphroditois"}],"youtubeId":"LciSmakRnYY","scientificName":"Eunice aphroditois"},{"body":["The painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) is a variable frogfish that sits motionless on rubble or sponges, using a lure on its head to attract prey.","It grows to around 20-30 cm and can be black, yellow, red or white with spots.","It is regularly seen around the Philippines.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53826827), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"painted-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-1e3edc.webp","title":"Painted frogfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) is a variable frogfish that sits motionless on rubble or sponges, using a lure on its head to attract prey.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennarius pictus"}],"youtubeId":"oqmiajw7-M8","scientificName":"Antennarius pictus"},{"body":["The hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) is a stocky ambush predator covered in fine, hair-like skin filaments that make it look like a clump of algae. Its colour ranges from yellow and orange to white, brown or almost black, usually with darker stripes.","It grows to around 20 cm. On its snout it carries a lure ending in a wiggling, worm-like bait that it twitches to attract small fish, then swallows them in a fraction of a second by suddenly expanding its huge mouth. It can engulf prey nearly as large as itself and 'walks' across the bottom on its arm-like pectoral fins.","The hairy frogfish is found across the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic and is one of the highlights of muck diving in the Philippines, where it is regularly found on black sand and among sponges and debris, often in its striking dark or yellow forms.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36393106), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"hairy-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-b19033.webp","title":"Hairy frogfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) is a stocky ambush predator covered in fine, hair-like skin filaments that make it look like a clump of algae.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennarius striatus"}],"scientificName":"Antennarius striatus"},{"body":["The giant frogfish (Antennarius commerson) is the largest frogfish species, a lumpy, sponge-like ambush hunter that can reach well over 30 cm. Individuals come in yellow, orange, red, green, brown or black, and can slowly change colour to match the sponge or coral they sit on.","It waits motionless, waving a short lure with a small tassel to draw in fish, then strikes with one of the fastest feeding movements in the animal world. Its rough, often pitted skin and the dark spots that mimic sponge openings make it surprisingly hard to spot despite its size.","The giant frogfish lives on coral reefs and rocky slopes across the Indo-Pacific, including throughout the Philippines, where it is a regular find on reef slopes, sponges and artificial structures, and the same individual may stay in place for weeks.","Photo: [Borja Fierro-Leva](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/312927824), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"giant-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-1d5b1d.webp","title":"Giant frogfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The giant frogfish (Antennarius commerson) is the largest frogfish species, a lumpy, sponge-like ambush hunter that can reach well over 30 cm.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennarius commerson"}],"scientificName":"Antennarius commerson"},{"body":["The warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus), also called the clown frogfish, is a small, lumpy frogfish covered in wart-like bumps, often in bright yellow, orange, white or red. Many have a pale body with reddish saddles and spots, and the edge of the fins is often trimmed in orange.","It usually grows to about 10-15 cm. Like other frogfish it is an ambush predator that waves a lure from its head to tempt small fish within reach, then gulps them down. Its warty texture helps it blend into sponges and encrusted rocks.","The warty frogfish is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is one of the most photographed frogfish, seen on sponges, rubble and coral heads along the reef."],"slug":"warty-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-61caa6.webp","title":"Warty frogfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus), also called the clown frogfish, is a small, lumpy frogfish covered in wart-like bumps, often in bright yellow, orange, white or red.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennarius maculatus"}],"scientificName":"Antennarius maculatus"},{"body":["The sargassum fish (Histrio histrio) is a frogfish that has left the sea floor to live in floating seaweed, its mottled yellow-brown body and leafy skin flaps matching the drifting sargassum perfectly. It is the only frogfish adapted to life near the surface.","It reaches about 15-20 cm. Using its grasping pectoral fins it clambers through the weed like a tiny climber, ambushing shrimps, crabs and small fish, and it is a notorious cannibal. It can even gulp air and survive brief stranding on top of the seaweed.","This species is found in tropical and subtropical seas around the world wherever floating sargassum drifts, from the Atlantic's Sargasso Sea to the Indo-Pacific. In the Philippines it turns up among drifting seaweed and debris, and it has been seen by divers there. It relies on the floating seaweed for shelter, food, and protection.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36453018), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"sargassum-fish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-0f7055.webp","title":"Sargassum fish","status":"published","excerpt":"The sargassum fish (Histrio histrio) is a frogfish that has left the sea floor to live in floating seaweed, its mottled yellow-brown body and leafy skin flaps matching the drifting sargassum perfectly.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Histrio"},{"label":"Species","value":"Histrio histrio"}],"scientificName":"Histrio histrio"},{"body":["The spotfin frogfish (Antennatus nummifer) is a small, secretive frogfish recognised by the dark, ringed spot at the base of its dorsal fin. Its colour varies from yellow and orange to red, pink or brown, usually with a pattern of darker blotches.","It rarely grows beyond 10 cm and spends most of its time wedged in crevices, under ledges and among sponges and coralline algae. Like its relatives it hunts by twitching a small lure above its mouth and inhaling passing fish and crustaceans.","The spotfin frogfish is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines. Because it hides deep in the reef it is less often seen than other species, but sharp-eyed guides do find it on Philippine reef slopes.","Photo: [Bernard DUPONT](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/95188244), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"spotfin-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-03595b.webp","title":"Spotfin frogfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The spotfin frogfish (Antennatus nummifer) is a small, secretive frogfish recognised by the dark, ringed spot at the base of its dorsal fin.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennatus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennatus nummifer"}],"scientificName":"Antennatus nummifer"},{"body":["Randall's frogfish (Antennarius randalli) is a tiny frogfish, usually under 5 cm, often black or deep red with a few white spots and white-tipped fins. Yellow and orange individuals also occur. It is named after the ichthyologist John E. Randall.","It lives hidden in crevices and holes on rocky and coral reefs, often at depths of 10-30 m, and hunts like other frogfish with a small lure above its mouth. Its small size and secretive habits make it a prized subject for macro photographers.","Randall's frogfish is found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is an occasional but memorable find on rocky reef areas and artificial structures.","Photo: [Matthew Collette](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/293280436), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"randalls-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-cbd2b6.webp","title":"Randall's frogfish","status":"published","excerpt":"Randall's frogfish (Antennarius randalli) is a tiny frogfish, usually under 5 cm, often black or deep red with a few white spots and white-tipped fins.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennarius randalli"}],"scientificName":"Antennarius randalli"},{"body":["Nudiantennarius subteres, sometimes called the pygmy frogfish, is a minute frogfish only a few centimetres long and the sole member of its genus. It has smooth skin without the spines found in most frogfish, and often shows a pinkish, yellow or brown body with darker spots.","Its tiny size and excellent camouflage make it one of the hardest frogfish to find. It perches among rubble, algae and sponges on sandy or silty slopes, using its small lure to catch tiny shrimps and fish.","The species is known from the western Pacific, including Indonesia and the Philippines. In the Philippines it is a rare treat on muck dives, usually only found by experienced critter spotters.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40295646), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"nudiantennarius","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-8c2aca.webp","title":"Nudiantennarius","status":"published","excerpt":"Nudiantennarius subteres, sometimes called the pygmy frogfish, is a minute frogfish only a few centimetres long and the sole member of its genus.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Nudiantennarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Nudiantennarius subteres"}],"scientificName":"Nudiantennarius subteres"},{"body":["Antennatus tuberosus, the tuberculated or pygmy frogfish, is a small frogfish that lives deep inside branching corals, often hidden right in the middle of a coral head. Its skin is covered in small bumps, and its colour, often cream, yellow or pinkish with dark bands on the fins, blends with the coral branches.","It rarely exceeds 9 cm. It ambushes small fish and crustaceans that shelter among the coral, using a short lure to tempt them. Because it stays so deep in the branches, divers usually only get a glimpse.","The species is found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it occurs on shallow coral reefs and may be found by searching carefully among branching Acropora and Pocillopora corals.","Photo: [jeyre](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81104978), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"antennatus-tuberosus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-63e7dc.webp","title":"Antennatus tuberosus","status":"published","excerpt":"Antennatus tuberosus, the tuberculated or pygmy frogfish, is a small frogfish that lives deep inside branching corals, often hidden right in the middle of a coral head.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennatus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennatus tuberosus"}],"scientificName":"Antennatus tuberosus"},{"body":["The shaggy frogfish (Antennarius hispidus) is a furry-looking frogfish with dense skin spinules and dark stripes radiating across its yellow to brown body. Its lure ends in a large, fluffy tassel, which helps tell it apart from the similar [hairy frogfish](/critter/hairy-frogfish).","It grows to about 20 cm and lives on sand, mud and rubble, often near sponges or weed where it can sit unnoticed. It feeds on fish and crustaceans that it lures within range and swallows whole.","The shaggy frogfish ranges across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines. It is a classic muck-diving species and can be found on black sand slopes there."],"slug":"shaggy-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c4cc49.webp","title":"Shaggy frogfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c4cc49.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The shaggy frogfish (Antennarius hispidus) is a furry-looking frogfish with dense skin spinules and dark stripes radiating across its yellow to brown body.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennarius hispidus"}],"scientificName":"Antennarius hispidus"},{"body":["The coconut octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) is a small, clever octopus famous for carrying coconut shells and clam shells across the sand to use as a portable shelter. It is one of the few invertebrates known to use tools, and watching one stack two shell halves under its body and 'stilt-walk' away is a highlight of any muck dive.","Its mantle is usually only around 8 cm long, with an arm span of roughly 15 cm. It is typically brown to beige with darker veining, pale suckers and a distinctive dark, mottled pattern, and like other octopuses it can change colour and skin texture in an instant. It feeds mainly on small crabs, shrimp and clams.","Coconut octopuses live on sandy and silty bottoms across the tropical Indo-Pacific and are a regular find on black sand slopes in the Philippines, where discarded coconut shells and bottles make perfect homes. They are most active around dusk and on night dives."],"slug":"coconut-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-efc74e.webp","title":"Coconut octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The coconut octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) is a small, clever octopus famous for carrying coconut shells and clam shells across the sand to use as a portable shelter.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphioctopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphioctopus marginatus"}],"scientificName":"Amphioctopus marginatus"},{"body":["The mototi octopus (Amphioctopus mototi), also called the poison ocellate octopus, is a small sand-dwelling octopus that flashes a pair of iridescent blue-ringed eyespots (ocelli) at the base of its arms when disturbed.","It usually has a body of only a few centimetres and an arm span of around 20-30 cm. At rest it is mottled brown and cream to match the sand, but when alarmed it turns darker and shows bold patterns together with its eyespots. It is often confused with the [blue-ringed octopus](/critter/blue-ringed-octopus), and although its bite is considered venomous it should never be handled. It hunts small crabs, shrimp and molluscs, mostly at night.","The mototi octopus lives on sand and rubble slopes in the western Pacific, including the Philippines. It is a sought-after but uncommon find for muck divers, and patient searching on night dives gives the best chance of seeing one out of its burrow."],"slug":"mototi-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-5d9843.webp","title":"Mototi octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The mototi octopus (Amphioctopus mototi), also called the poison ocellate octopus, is a small sand-dwelling octopus that flashes a pair of iridescent blue-ringed eyespots when disturbed.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphioctopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphioctopus mototi"}],"scientificName":"Amphioctopus mototi"},{"body":["The dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis) is a tiny Indo-Pacific cuttlefish, rarely longer than 7-8 cm, that changes colour and texture in an instant to vanish against sand, rubble and seagrass.","Like other cuttlefish it has eight arms and two long feeding tentacles that shoot out to grab shrimp, small crabs and fish, and an internal cuttlebone that lets it hover perfectly still. It often 'walks' slowly over the bottom using its arms while flashing mottled browns, greens and white patches.","Dwarf cuttlefish live fast, growing to adulthood and breeding within a year. They are common in shallow, sheltered muck and seagrass sites across the Philippines and are a fun, easy-going subject for macro photographers."],"slug":"dwarf-cuttlefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-af06ee.webp","title":"Dwarf cuttlefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis) is a tiny Indo-Pacific cuttlefish, rarely longer than 7-8 cm, that changes colour and texture in an instant to vanish against sand, rubble and seagrass.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Sepiida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Sepiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sepia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sepia bandensis"}],"scientificName":"Sepia bandensis"},{"body":["The bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) is a shimmering, semi-transparent squid with a broad fin running the full length of its body, often seen hovering in small groups over the reef. Its wide fin makes it look almost like a cuttlefish, and its skin glows with iridescent greens and blues.","Adults typically reach a mantle length of 20-30 cm. They feed mainly at night on shrimps and small fish, and during the day they cruise shallow reefs, seagrass and sandy areas, sometimes curious enough to approach divers. Their lives are short, often under a year, and females attach finger-like egg capsules to rocks, coral or seagrass.","The species is common across the tropical Indo-West Pacific, including throughout the Philippines, where schools of bigfin reef squid are a regular sight on night dives and in the shallows, and they are also caught by local fishermen."],"slug":"bigfin-reef-squid","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-7d10c6.webp","title":"Bigfin reef squid","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-7d10c6.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) is a shimmering, semi-transparent squid with a broad fin running the full length of its body, often seen hovering in small groups over the reef.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Myopsida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Loliginidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sepioteuthis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sepioteuthis lessoniana"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Sepioteuthis lessoniana"},{"body":["The broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) is the big reef cuttlefish of the Indo-Pacific, a master of camouflage that can ripple waves of colour across its body to mesmerise prey. It can also mimic the look of coral or rock almost perfectly.","Growing to about 50 cm in mantle length and up to around 10 kg, it is one of the largest cuttlefish in the world. It hunts fish and crustaceans on coral reefs, approaching slowly before firing out its tentacles. During breeding, males guard females and the pair lay large eggs deep inside branching corals.","Broadclub cuttlefish occur from the Andaman Sea to northern Australia and the western Pacific, including the Philippines. Divers on Philippine coral reefs can sometimes watch them hovering, hunting or laying eggs among the corals."],"slug":"broadclub-cuttlefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-cdbce9.webp","title":"Broadclub cuttlefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-cdbce9.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-fc3569.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-4408b3.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) is the big reef cuttlefish of the Indo-Pacific, a master of camouflage that can ripple waves of colour across its body to mesmerise prey.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Sepiida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Sepiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sepia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sepia latimanus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Sepia latimanus"},{"body":["The day octopus, also called the big blue octopus or cyanea octopus, is one of the few octopuses that does most of its hunting in daylight. Adults reach a mantle length of around 16 cm with arms up to about 80 cm, and they are masters of disguise, shifting in seconds from mottled brown to pale cream, deep red, or nearly black while raising skin papillae to match the reef. A dark false eyespot sometimes shows at the base of the arms.","It lives on shallow coral and rubble reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific, including across the Philippines, usually from the shallows down to about 25 m. Divers most often find it moving boldly between dens, probing holes with its arms for crabs, shrimps and small fish, or sitting in a den entrance ringed with discarded shells. Groupers, goatfish and wrasses often follow it closely, hoping to snatch prey it flushes out.","Recent genetic work suggests this species does not belong in the true Octopus vulgaris group and is closer to the genus Abdopus, so its genus is currently unresolved and the name Octopus cyanea is kept for now. Like most octopuses it lives only about a year, and females guard their eggs in a den until they hatch, dying soon afterwards."],"slug":"day-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b77276.webp","title":"Day octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"A large, bold reef octopus that hunts in broad daylight, flashing through colours and textures as it moves across the coral.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Octopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Octopus cyanea"}],"scientificName":"Octopus cyanea"},{"body":["Berry's bobtail squid is a small, rounded cephalopod with a mantle of only about 3 to 5 cm, short arms and two little ear-like fins. Its translucent body is covered in dark chromatophores and shimmering iridescent patches that flash electric blue, green and purple under a torch, making it one of the most photogenic critters on a night dive.","It lives on sandy and silty bottoms in the western Pacific, including across the Philippines, where it is a regular find on night dives over muck sites. By day it buries itself in the sand, using its arms to pull a coat of grains over its body, and it emerges after dark to hunt small shrimps and other crustaceans.","Like other Euprymna bobtails, it carries a light organ that houses bioluminescent bacteria, which it uses to cancel out its own shadow against moonlight. When threatened it can squirt ink or quickly dig back into the sand. It lives only a few months, and is easily confused with other bobtails, so close-up photos of its colour pattern help with identification."],"slug":"berrys-bobtail-squid","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d064bd.webp","title":"Berry's bobtail squid","status":"published","excerpt":"A tiny, jewel-like squid that buries itself in sand by day and comes out at night glowing with iridescent blue and green spots.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Sepiolida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Sepiolidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Euprymna"},{"label":"Species","value":"Euprymna berryi"}],"scientificName":"Euprymna berryi"},{"body":["The algae octopus (Abdopus aculeatus) is a small, shaggy-looking octopus that disguises itself as a clump of seaweed and can even 'walk' on two arms across the bottom. Raised skin papillae and mottled green-brown colours let it vanish among algae and seagrass.","Its mantle is only a few centimetres long, with arms reaching around 10-15 cm. Unusually, it is active by day, hunting crabs and other crustaceans in shallow intertidal pools and reef flats, and it is known to leave the water briefly to cross between tide pools. It was one of the first octopuses filmed using bipedal walking as camouflage.","Algae octopuses live in the shallow waters of the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where they are found on seagrass beds, rubble and reef flats. Divers and snorkellers may spot them in very shallow water, if they can tell octopus from weed."],"slug":"algae-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-77f9ef.webp","title":"Algae octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The algae octopus (Abdopus aculeatus) is a small, shaggy-looking octopus that disguises itself as a clump of seaweed and can even 'walk' on two arms across the bottom.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Abdopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Abdopus aculeatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Abdopus aculeatus"},{"body":["The starry night octopus (Callistoctopus luteus) is a nocturnal octopus with a deep red-orange body scattered with bright white spots, like stars in a night sky. When disturbed it can flush even darker red, making the white spots stand out further.","It has a slender body and long arms, with a total length that can reach around 60-90 cm. During the day it hides in holes and under rocks, coming out after dark to forage over sand, rubble and reef for crabs, shrimps and small fish, often probing crevices with its long arms.","The species ranges across the western Pacific and is found in the Philippines, where night divers regularly meet it hunting on black sand, and its glowing spots make it one of the most photogenic octopuses of the night."],"slug":"starry-night-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-571317.webp","title":"Starry night octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The starry night octopus (Callistoctopus luteus) is a nocturnal octopus with a deep red-orange body scattered with bright white spots, like stars in a night sky.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Callistoctopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Callistoctopus luteus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Callistoctopus luteus"},{"body":["The long arm octopus is a delicate sand-dwelling octopus with a tiny body and very long, thin arms, often seen on night dives over open sand. Its arms can be many times the length of its mantle, giving it a spidery look.","Its body is usually only a couple of centimetres long, and it relies on camouflage and quick burying to stay safe. It can match the colour of the sand, raise small skin papillae, and sometimes holds its arms in shapes that resemble a flatfish or other animals. It hunts small crustaceans on the sand after dark.","Long arm octopuses are found on the soft sandy bottoms of the Philippines, and they are a favourite find on muck and night dives, where guides spot them stretched out across the black sand."],"slug":"long-arm-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d91632.webp","title":"Long arm octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The long arm octopus is a delicate sand-dwelling octopus with a tiny body and very long, thin arms, often seen on night dives over open sand.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Macrotritopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Macrotritopus sp."}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Macrotritopus sp."},{"body":["The white V octopus is a small, still-undescribed octopus named for the pale V-shaped mark between its eyes. The rest of its body is usually mottled brown, grey or reddish, and it can raise skin papillae to blend with the bottom.","It is a small species, with a body of only a few centimetres. It is mostly nocturnal, hiding in holes, shells or rubble by day and emerging at night to hunt small crabs and shrimps over sand and rubble.","The white V octopus is known from the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers come across it on night dives over black sand slopes, and the white V on its head is the quickest way to recognise it."],"slug":"white-v-octopus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-a14e99.webp","title":"White V octopus","status":"published","excerpt":"The white V octopus is a small, still-undescribed octopus named for the pale V-shaped mark between its eyes.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Octopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Octopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Abdopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Abdopus sp."}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Abdopus sp."},{"body":["Pygmy squid (Idiosepius sp.) are among the smallest cephalopods in the world, only around 1-2 cm long, and glue themselves to seagrass and leaves with a special adhesive gland on their back. Their translucent bodies are speckled with tiny chromatophores.","Hanging upside down from a blade of seagrass, a pygmy squid waits for small shrimps to pass, then grabs them with its arms. Despite their size they are fierce hunters, sometimes tackling prey larger than themselves. They live only a few months.","Pygmy squid live in shallow seagrass beds and mangroves in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where they are a classic find for patient macro divers searching seagrass and floating leaves in the shallows."],"slug":"pygmy-squid","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-cdc025.webp","title":"Pygmy squid","status":"published","excerpt":"Pygmy squid (Idiosepius sp.) are among the smallest cephalopods in the world, only around 1-2 cm long, and glue themselves to seagrass and leaves with a special adhesive gland.","category":"cephalopods","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Cephalopoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Idiosepida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Idiosepiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Idiosepius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Idiosepius sp."}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Idiosepius sp."},{"body":["The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a reef-dwelling turtle named for its narrow, hooked beak and famous for its beautifully patterned, overlapping shell plates. Its amber, brown and gold shell made it a target of the tortoiseshell trade for centuries.","Adults usually have a shell length of 60-90 cm and weigh around 45-70 kg. Hawksbills are specialist feeders, using their pointed beak to pull sponges, soft corals and other invertebrates from cracks in the reef, which helps keep sponge growth in check. They nest on tropical beaches, often in small numbers, and are listed as Critically Endangered.","Hawksbills are found throughout tropical oceans, and the Philippines is an important feeding and nesting area. They are commonly seen by divers on Philippine reefs, where they often allow close, calm encounters as they feed along the reef.","Photo: [Bernard DUPONT](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/307956914), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"hawksbill-sea-turtle","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/turtles/original-fbde37.webp","title":"Hawksbill sea turtle","status":"published","excerpt":"The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a reef-dwelling turtle named for its narrow, hooked beak and famous for its beautifully patterned, overlapping shell plates.","category":"turtles","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Reptilia"},{"label":"Order","value":"Testudines"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cheloniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Eretmochelys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Eretmochelys imbricata"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Eretmochelys imbricata"},{"body":["The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a large, gentle grazer of seagrass and algae, named not for its shell but for the greenish fat beneath it. It has a short, rounded snout and a smooth, olive-brown to dark shell.","Adults can reach over 1 m in shell length and weigh 100-200 kg. Young turtles eat a mixed diet, but adults are almost entirely herbivorous, cropping seagrass meadows like underwater lawnmowers and keeping them healthy. Females return to the beaches where they hatched to nest every few years. The species is listed as Endangered.","Green turtles occur in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide, and the Philippines has important nesting beaches, notably the Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi. They are commonly seen grazing on seagrass beds and resting on Philippine reefs."],"slug":"green-sea-turtle","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-db2cb6.webp","title":"Green sea turtle","status":"published","excerpt":"The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a large, gentle grazer of seagrass and algae, named not for its shell but for the greenish fat beneath it.","category":"turtles","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Reptilia"},{"label":"Order","value":"Testudines"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cheloniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chelonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chelonia mydas"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Chelonia mydas"},{"body":["The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is named for its massive head and powerful jaws, built for crushing hard-shelled prey. It has a reddish-brown shell and yellowish skin.","Adults typically reach 80-100 cm in shell length and weigh 80-150 kg. Loggerheads feed on crabs, conchs, clams, sea urchins and other hard-shelled animals, and they make some of the longest migrations of any sea turtle, crossing entire ocean basins. The species is listed as Vulnerable.","Loggerheads occur in temperate and tropical seas worldwide, but they are rare in the Philippines. Most records here come from bycatch and strandings, with very little nesting, so they are seldom seen by divers.","Photo: [Olly Morgan](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/381647790), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"loggerhead-sea-turtle","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/turtles/original-398246.webp","title":"Loggerhead sea turtle","status":"published","excerpt":"The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is named for its massive head and powerful jaws, built for crushing hard-shelled prey.","category":"turtles","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Reptilia"},{"label":"Order","value":"Testudines"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cheloniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Caretta"},{"label":"Species","value":"Caretta caretta"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Caretta caretta"},{"body":["The shortpouch pygmy pipehorse (Acentronura breviperula) is a tiny relative of the seahorse that looks like a seahorse stretched into a pipefish, with a curled, grasping tail. Its head is angled slightly downward and its skin is often covered in small fleshy filaments.","Usually only 3-6 cm long, it wraps its tail around algae, seagrass or hydroids and sways with the surge, coloured green, brown or tan to match its perch. It feeds on tiny crustaceans, and males brood the eggs in a short pouch under the tail.","It occurs in shallow waters of the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found in algae and seagrass patches on sandy slopes, but its size and camouflage make it a true challenge to spot."],"slug":"shortpouch-pygmy-pipehorse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-68644c.webp","title":"Shortpouch Pygmy Pipehorse","status":"published","excerpt":"The shortpouch pygmy pipehorse (Acentronura breviperula) is a tiny relative of the seahorse that looks like a seahorse stretched into a pipefish, with a curled, grasping tail.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Acentronura"},{"label":"Species","value":"Acentronura breviperula"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Acentronura breviperula"},{"body":["The Lembeh seadragon (Kyonemichthys rumengani) is a thread-thin pipehorse barely 2-3 cm long, so translucent and fine it can look like a stray piece of hydroid. Despite the name, it is not a true seadragon but a tiny member of the seahorse and pipefish family.","It was described only in 2008 from Lembeh Strait in Indonesia. It clings with its prehensile tail to hydroids, algae and sponges, often in groups, and feeds on minute plankton. Its colour ranges from pale pink to reddish-brown with a slightly hairy-looking body.","The Lembeh seadragon has since been found elsewhere in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where experienced guides sometimes find it on muck sites. It is one of the smallest syngnathids a diver can hope to see."],"slug":"lembeh-seadragon","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d5edba.webp","title":"Lembeh Seadragon","status":"published","excerpt":"The Lembeh seadragon (Kyonemichthys rumengani) is a thread-thin pipehorse barely 2-3 cm long, so translucent and fine it can look like a stray piece of hydroid.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Kyonemichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Kyonemichthys rumengani"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Kyonemichthys rumengani"},{"body":["The briarium pipefish (Apterygocampus epinnulatus) is a minute pipefish that lives only on Briareum soft corals, its body mimicking the coral's fuzzy polyps. It has no dorsal or pectoral fins, which makes it look even more like part of the coral.","Reaching only about 2-3 cm, it clings to its host with a prehensile tail, much like a pygmy seahorse, and picks tiny crustaceans from among the polyps. Its colour shifts between green, brown and purple to match the coral it lives on.","It is known from the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers who know to inspect Briareum colonies closely can sometimes find this remarkable little pipefish."],"slug":"briarium-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c8d817.webp","title":"Briarium Pipefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The briarium pipefish (Apterygocampus epinnulatus) is a minute pipefish that lives only on Briareum soft corals, its body mimicking the coral's fuzzy polyps.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Apterygocampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Apterygocampus epinnulatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Apterygocampus epinnulatus"},{"body":["The barred xenia-pipefish (Siokunichthys bentuviai) is a slender little pipefish with pale bands along its body that hides among the pulsing polyps of Xenia soft corals. Its bars break up its outline among the waving coral stalks.","It grows to only around 5 cm. Living permanently with its coral host, it slips between the polyps and feeds on tiny planktonic crustaceans. Males carry the eggs along the underside of the trunk until they hatch.","The species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea east to the western Pacific, including the Philippines. On Philippine reefs, Xenia patches are the place to look for it."],"slug":"barred-xenia-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-ea239c.webp","title":"Barred Xenia-Pipefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The barred xenia-pipefish (Siokunichthys bentuviai) is a slender little pipefish with pale bands along its body that hides among the pulsing polyps of Xenia soft corals.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Siokunichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Siokunichthys bentuviai"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Siokunichthys bentuviai"},{"body":["The mushroom-coral pipefish (Siokunichthys nigrolineatus) is a small, dark-lined pipefish that lives among the tentacles of free-living mushroom corals. A thin black line runs along its pale, translucent body.","Growing to around 5-6 cm, it often shares a single mushroom coral with several others, weaving through the long tentacles that the coral extends, especially when the tentacles are out during the day. It feeds on tiny crustaceans caught near the coral.","It is found across the western Pacific, including the Philippines. On Philippine reefs, checking mushroom corals with extended tentacles is the best way to find one."],"slug":"mushroom-coral-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b27c10.webp","title":"Mushroom-Coral Pipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b27c10.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The mushroom-coral pipefish (Siokunichthys nigrolineatus) is a small, dark-lined pipefish that lives among the tentacles of free-living mushroom corals.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Siokunichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Siokunichthys nigrolineatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Siokunichthys nigrolineatus"},{"body":["Lynne's pipefish (Festucalex rufus) is a small, reddish pipefish that hides among algae and rubble on sandy slopes. Its body is covered with tiny skin filaments that help it blend into weed and debris.","Only a few centimetres long, it moves slowly along the bottom or clings with its tail to algae, sucking up tiny crustaceans with its tube-like snout. It is a recently described species and still poorly known.","Lynne's pipefish has been recorded in the Philippines, where it is an occasional find for sharp-eyed macro divers searching algae and rubble on muck sites."],"slug":"lynnes-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-a6f7d5.webp","title":"Lynne's Pipefish","status":"published","excerpt":"Lynne's pipefish (Festucalex rufus) is a small, reddish pipefish that hides among algae and rubble on sandy slopes.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Festucalex"},{"label":"Species","value":"Festucalex rufus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Festucalex rufus"},{"body":["The spotted xenia-pipefish (Siokunichthys herrei) is a tiny, speckled pipefish that lives hidden among the polyps of Xenia and other soft corals. Its pale body is dotted with small dark spots that mimic the texture of the coral.","It reaches only a few centimetres and stays deep within its host colony, where it feeds on minute zooplankton. Like its relatives, the male carries the developing eggs on his belly.","This pipefish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where slow, careful searching of Xenia colonies on the reef can reveal one tucked among the pulsing polyps."],"slug":"spotted-xenia-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-a931e8.webp","title":"Spotted Xenia-Pipefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The spotted xenia-pipefish (Siokunichthys herrei) is a tiny, speckled pipefish that lives hidden among the polyps of Xenia and other soft corals.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Siokunichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Siokunichthys herrei"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Siokunichthys herrei"},{"body":["The velvet ghostpipefish (Solenostomus sp.) is an undescribed ghostpipefish with a soft, velvety-looking skin covered in fine filaments. It is often red, orange, black or brown, and its fuzzy texture sets it apart from other ghostpipefish.","Usually 5-10 cm long, it often hides among sponges, hydroids or algae, or near sea fans, where its colour and texture make it hard to pick out. Like other ghostpipefish, the female carries the eggs in a pouch formed by her pelvic fins.","The velvet ghostpipefish is known from the western Pacific, including the Philippines, and is one of the rarer ghostpipefish finds on Philippine muck dives."],"slug":"velvet-ghostpipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-839093.webp","title":"Velvet Ghostpipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-839093.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-618e38.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b09f0e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The velvet ghostpipefish (Solenostomus sp.) is an undescribed ghostpipefish with a soft, velvety-looking skin covered in fine filaments.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Solenostomidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Solenostomus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Solenostomus sp."}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Solenostomus sp."},{"body":["The ornate harlequin ghostpipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) is one of the most spectacular macro subjects on the reef, a lacy, spiny fish decorated in reds, yellows, whites and blacks. Its fins are covered in branching filaments and spots, giving it a delicate, ornamental look.","Adults grow to around 10-12 cm and usually hover head-down beside feather stars, black corals or sea fans, blending in with their host. Pairs are often found together, with the larger female carrying her eggs in a pouch made by her fused pelvic fins.","It occurs widely across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a favourite of underwater photographers and is regularly found next to crinoids and sea fans on sandy slopes."],"slug":"ornate-harlequin-ghostpipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-769ed3.webp","title":"Ornate Harlequin Ghostpipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-769ed3.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d49db4.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The ornate harlequin ghostpipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) is one of the most spectacular macro subjects on the reef, a lacy, spiny fish decorated in reds, yellows, whites and blacks.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Solenostomidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Solenostomus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Solenostomus paradoxus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Solenostomus paradoxus"},{"body":["The robust ghostpipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) is a leaf-like ghostpipefish that drifts in the surge looking exactly like a fragment of seagrass or algae. Its colour varies from green and yellow to brown, red or nearly black, matching its surroundings.","It can reach about 15-17 cm, making it one of the larger ghostpipefish. It is often found in pairs hovering head-down near seagrass, algae or sand, and it feeds by sucking up tiny shrimps. Females brood the eggs in a pouch formed by their large, joined pelvic fins.","The robust ghostpipefish occurs throughout the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is commonly seen on sandy and seagrass areas and is easily mistaken for a drifting leaf."],"slug":"robust-ghostpipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d6008b.webp","title":"Robust Ghostpipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d6008b.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The robust ghostpipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) is a leaf-like ghostpipefish that drifts in the surge looking exactly like a fragment of seagrass or algae.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Solenostomidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Solenostomus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Solenostomus cyanopterus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Solenostomus cyanopterus"},{"body":["The radial filefish (Acreichthys radiatus) is a small, leaf-shaped filefish that lives among soft corals and algae, its mottled green-brown body covered in fine radiating lines. Small skin tassels and white spots complete its disguise.","It grows to only about 6-7 cm. It hovers close to its host, often Xenia or other soft corals, and can lock its dorsal spine in place to wedge itself into shelter. It feeds on tiny invertebrates and may nibble on the soft coral polyps it lives among.","The radial filefish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where macro divers find it hiding in soft coral patches on reefs and rubble slopes.","Photo: [desertnaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/163067911), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"radial-filefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-b3df25.webp","title":"Radial Filefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The radial filefish (Acreichthys radiatus) is a small, leaf-shaped filefish that lives among soft corals and algae, its mottled green-brown body covered in fine radiating lines.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Monacanthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Acreichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Acreichthys radiatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Acreichthys radiatus"},{"body":["The snake blenny (Xiphasia setifer), also called the hairtail blenny, is an extraordinarily long, eel-like blenny that lives in burrows in sand and mud. Its pale body is ringed with dark bands, and it has a pair of large fangs in its lower jaw.","It can reach over 50 cm in length, making it one of the longest blennies in the world. Usually only its head is visible poking out of its burrow, and it quickly retreats when approached. It feeds on small crustaceans and other invertebrates.","The snake blenny occurs across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is an unusual find on sandy and muddy muck sites."],"slug":"snake-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-45766b.webp","title":"Snake Blenny","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-45766b.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The snake blenny (Xiphasia setifer), also called the hairtail blenny, is an extraordinarily long, eel-like blenny that lives in burrows in sand and mud.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Xiphasia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Xiphasia setifer"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Xiphasia setifer"},{"body":["The segmented blenny (Salarias segmentatus) is a small blenny with a banded, segmented-looking body and a fringe of cirri above the eyes. Its colour is a mix of olive, brown and white bars with fine pale spots.","Reaching around 6 cm, it lives on shallow reef flats and rubble, perching on rocks and dead coral. Like other Salarias blennies, it grazes on algae and detritus, scraping films from hard surfaces with its comb-like teeth.","The segmented blenny is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it can be seen in shallow coral and rubble areas, often watching divers from its perch."],"slug":"segmented-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-0db945.webp","title":"Segmented Blenny","status":"published","excerpt":"The segmented blenny (Salarias segmentatus) is a small rockskipper-type blenny with a banded, segmented-looking body and a fringe of cirri above the eyes.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Salarias"},{"label":"Species","value":"Salarias segmentatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Salarias segmentatus"},{"body":["The jewelled blenny (Salarias fasciatus) is a chunky, algae-grazing blenny with a mottled green-brown body sprinkled with tiny pale spots like jewels. Feathery cirri above its eyes give it a whiskery look.","It reaches around 13-14 cm and lives in shallow lagoons, reef flats and seagrass areas. It spends its day grazing on algae, which makes it popular in aquariums as an 'algae blenny', and it defends a small territory around its shelter.","The jewelled blenny is common across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found in shallow, algae-rich reef areas and rubble."],"slug":"jewelled-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-67c703.webp","title":"Jewelled Blenny","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-67c703.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-da8c59.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The jewelled blenny (Salarias fasciatus) is a chunky, algae-grazing blenny with a mottled green-brown body sprinkled with tiny pale spots like jewels.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Salarias"},{"label":"Species","value":"Salarias fasciatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Salarias fasciatus"},{"body":["The floral blenny (Petroscirtes mitratus), also known as the highfin fangblenny, is a small blenny with a tall dorsal fin and leafy, flower-like cirri on its head. It is mottled in greens, browns and whites to blend with algae and seagrass.","It grows to around 5-6 cm and lives in shallow seagrass beds, algae and rubble. Like other fangblennies it has enlarged canine teeth in the lower jaw, and it feeds on algae, small crustaceans and other tiny invertebrates. It often lays eggs inside empty shells or tubes.","The floral blenny is widespread across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found in seagrass and algae patches in shallow water."],"slug":"floral-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-7b7bd2.webp","title":"Floral Blenny","status":"published","excerpt":"The floral blenny (Petroscirtes mitratus), also known as the highfin fangblenny, is a small blenny with a tall dorsal fin and leafy, flower-like cirri on its head.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Petroscirtes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Petroscirtes mitratus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Petroscirtes mitratus"},{"body":["The shorthead fangblenny (Petroscirtes breviceps) is a small, striped blenny that often shelters in bottles, cans and empty shells on muck sites. It usually shows dark stripes along a pale body, a pattern that mimics the venomous striped poison-fang blenny.","Reaching around 10 cm, it lives in seagrass, algae and sandy areas. It has a pair of large fangs in its lower jaw and feeds on small invertebrates and algae. Males guard eggs laid inside their chosen shelter.","The shorthead fangblenny occurs across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a familiar sight peering out of discarded bottles and shells on sandy slopes."],"slug":"shorthead-fangblenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-68cec1.webp","title":"Shorthead Fangblenny","status":"published","excerpt":"The shorthead fangblenny (Petroscirtes breviceps) is a small, striped blenny that often shelters in bottles, cans and empty shells on muck sites.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Petroscirtes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Petroscirtes breviceps"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Petroscirtes breviceps"},{"body":["The pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) is a small combtooth blenny with a pale body marked by rows of dark spots and lines, usually seen perched on sponges or coral. Its big eyes and alert posture make it a charming macro subject.","It grows to about 5 cm and lives on coral reef slopes, often around sponges and coral heads in clear water. It grazes on algae and detritus and darts into holes when disturbed.","The pictus blenny is known from the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it can be found on reef slopes and walls."],"slug":"pictus-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-db5d20.webp","title":"Pictus Blenny","status":"published","excerpt":"The pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) is a small combtooth blenny with a pale body marked by rows of dark spots and lines, usually seen perched on sponges or coral.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ecsenius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ecsenius pictus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Ecsenius pictus"},{"body":["The twinspot blenny (Ecsenius bimaculatus) is a small combtooth blenny named for the two dark spots near its tail. Its body is usually pale to brownish with darker markings and a yellowish tinge toward the tail.","Reaching about 4-5 cm, it lives on coral reefs, perching on coral heads and rocks and ducking into holes when threatened. It feeds mainly by grazing algae and detritus from hard surfaces.","The twinspot blenny is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on shallow coral reefs.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/223304025), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"twinspot-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/blennies/original-66fbaf.webp","title":"Twinspot Blenny","status":"published","excerpt":"The twinspot blenny (Ecsenius bimaculatus) is a small combtooth blenny named for the two dark spots near its tail.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ecsenius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ecsenius bimaculatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Ecsenius bimaculatus"},{"body":["The false cleanerfish (Aspidontus taeniatus) is a sabretooth blenny that mimics the bluestreak cleaner wrasse, using the disguise to bite chunks of fin and skin from unsuspecting fish. Its blue body and black stripe are an almost perfect copy of the real cleaner.","It grows to about 11-12 cm. The best way to tell it from the cleaner wrasse is its underslung mouth, set back from the snout tip, while the real cleaner's mouth is at the very tip. Besides attacking fish, it also eats fish eggs, tube worms and other invertebrates.","The false cleanerfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs, often close to real cleaner wrasse stations."],"slug":"false-cleanerfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-9473a5.webp","title":"False Cleanerfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The false cleanerfish (Aspidontus taeniatus) is a sabretooth blenny that mimics the bluestreak cleaner wrasse, using the disguise to bite chunks of fin and skin from unsuspecting fish.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Aspidontus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Aspidontus taeniatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Aspidontus taeniatus"},{"body":["The starry blenny (Salarias ramosus) is a dark, white-speckled blenny with branched cirri on its head, often seen resting on coral rubble. Its brown to black body is dusted with small pale spots like stars.","It grows to about 13 cm and lives in sheltered lagoons and on reef slopes with rubble and algae. It is a herbivore, grazing on filamentous algae and detritus, and tends to stay close to a favourite hole or crevice.","The starry blenny occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found on rubble and algae-covered areas of the reef."],"slug":"starry-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-166775.webp","title":"Starry Blenny","status":"published","excerpt":"The starry blenny (Salarias ramosus) is a dark, white-speckled blenny with branched cirri on its head, often seen resting on coral rubble.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Salarias"},{"label":"Species","value":"Salarias ramosus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Salarias ramosus"},{"body":["Forster's hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri), also called the freckled hawkfish, is a bold reef predator with dark freckles on its head and a broad dark band along its body. Colour varies with age, from reddish juveniles to olive, yellow and brown adults.","It grows to around 22 cm. Like all hawkfish it lacks a swim bladder and perches on top of coral heads, propped on its thick pectoral fins, watching for prey. It pounces on small fish and shrimps that come too close.","Forster's hawkfish is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight perched on branching and table corals.","Photo: [Roger Rittmaster](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/377535189), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"forsters-hawkfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-a3f30a.webp","title":"Forster's Hawkfish","status":"published","excerpt":"Forster's hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri), also called the freckled hawkfish, is a bold reef predator with dark freckles on its head and a broad dark band along its body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cirrhitidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Paracirrhites"},{"label":"Species","value":"Paracirrhites forsteri"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Paracirrhites forsteri"},{"body":["The arc eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) is a small hawkfish named for the distinctive horseshoe-shaped ring of colour behind its eye. Some individuals also have a pale stripe along the rear of the body.","Reaching around 14 cm, it sits motionless among the branches of corals such as Pocillopora and Stylophora, waiting to ambush shrimps, crabs and small fish. Males guard a small harem of females within their patch of coral.","The arc eye hawkfish is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a familiar resident of branching corals on shallow reefs."],"slug":"arc-eye-hawkfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a1d4c4.webp","title":"Arc Eye Hawkfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a1d4c4.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The arc eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) is a small hawkfish named for the distinctive horseshoe-shaped ring of colour behind its eye.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cirrhitidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Paracirrhites"},{"label":"Species","value":"Paracirrhites arcatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Paracirrhites arcatus"},{"body":["The longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) is an elegant hawkfish with a long snout and a red-checkered pattern, almost always found perched in sea fans or black corals. Its crisscross markings blend perfectly with the mesh of a gorgonian.","It grows to about 13 cm and usually lives at depths of 10-30 m or more, on steep slopes and walls exposed to current. It snaps up small crustaceans and plankton drifting past its perch, using its long snout like tweezers.","The longnose hawkfish occurs across the Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a favourite subject for photographers on walls and sea fan-covered slopes.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54588384), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"longnose-hawkfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-23d3da.webp","title":"Longnose Hawkfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) is an elegant hawkfish with a long snout and a red-checkered pattern, almost always found perched in sea fans or black corals.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cirrhitidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Oxycirrhites"},{"label":"Species","value":"Oxycirrhites typus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Oxycirrhites typus"},{"body":["The dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco) is a small, white hawkfish with red-brown saddles and tufted cirri on its dorsal spines. Two dark bars below the eye help distinguish it from similar species.","It reaches only about 7 cm. It perches on coral heads, rocks and sponges, propped up on its pectoral fins, and darts out to catch small crustaceans and fish. Males are territorial and keep a small group of females.","The dwarf hawkfish is common across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found on coral reefs and rocky slopes at a wide range of depths."],"slug":"dwarf-hawkfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-0989a4.webp","title":"Dwarf Hawkfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco) is a small, white hawkfish with red-brown saddles and tufted cirri on its dorsal spines.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cirrhitidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cirrhitichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cirrhitichthys falco"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Cirrhitichthys falco"},{"body":["The threadfin hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys aprinus), also called the spotted hawkfish, is a small hawkfish covered in reddish-brown blotches, with a dark spot on its gill cover. The tips of its dorsal spines carry small tufts of cirri.","It grows to around 12 cm and perches on rocks, sponges and coral, often under ledges or near the base of the reef. It ambushes small crustaceans and fish, darting out from its perch before returning to the same spot.","The threadfin hawkfish lives in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is regularly seen on reef slopes and rocky areas.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197374567), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"threadfin-hawkfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-72a317.webp","title":"Threadfin Hawkfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The threadfin hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys aprinus), also called the spotted hawkfish, is a small hawkfish covered in reddish-brown blotches, with a dark spot on its gill cover.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cirrhitidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cirrhitichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cirrhitichthys aprinus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Cirrhitichthys aprinus"},{"body":["The mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) is one of the most colourful fish in the sea, a small dragonet patterned in swirling blue, orange and green. Its skin lacks scales and is covered in a foul-tasting, protective mucus.","It grows to about 6-7 cm and lives among rubble and branching corals in sheltered lagoons. Shy by day, mandarin fish become active at dusk, when pairs rise together above the coral in a brief mating dance and release their eggs into the water.","The mandarin fish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where sunset dives on rubble and staghorn coral patches offer the best chance to watch their courtship.","Photo: [Jim Moore (Maryland)](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/252892248), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"mandarin-fish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-e0dcf3.webp","title":"Mandarin Fish","status":"published","excerpt":"The mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) is one of the most colourful fish in the sea, a small dragonet patterned in swirling blue, orange and green.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Callionymiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Callionymidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Synchiropus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Synchiropus splendidus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Synchiropus splendidus"},{"body":["The orange and black dragonet (Dactylopus kuiteri) is a striking sand-dwelling dragonet with a huge, sail-like dorsal fin and finger-like pelvic fins it uses to walk across the bottom. Its fins are decorated with orange, black and blue patterns.","It grows to around 10-15 cm. It spends most of its time on sand and silt, flaring its dorsal fin in display and picking small invertebrates from the sediment. When disturbed it can bury itself in the sand.","The orange and black dragonet is known from the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a sought-after find on sandy muck sites."],"slug":"orange-and-black-dragonet","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c12eef.webp","title":"Orange and Black Dragonet","status":"published","excerpt":"The orange and black dragonet (Dactylopus kuiteri) is a striking sand-dwelling dragonet with a huge, sail-like dorsal fin and finger-like pelvic fins it uses to walk across the bottom.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Callionymiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Callionymidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dactylopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dactylopus kuiteri"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Dactylopus kuiteri"},{"body":["The one-line clingfish (Discotrema monogrammum) is a tiny clingfish that lives on feather stars, marked with a single pale stripe running down its back. Its body colour matches its crinoid host, often dark red, black or purple.","Growing to only about 3 cm, it holds onto the crinoid's arms with a sucker-like disc formed from its pelvic fins. It feeds on small crustaceans and other tiny animals living on its host, and hides among the arms when threatened.","It is known from the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where carefully searching feather stars on reefs and muck sites can reveal this little fish. It is closely related to the [crinoid clingfish](/critter/crinoid-clingfish), which has two stripes.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37716213), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"one-line-clingfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-ed7e0b.webp","title":"One-line Clingfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The one-line clingfish (Discotrema monogrammum) is a tiny clingfish that lives on feather stars, marked with a single pale stripe running down its back.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiesociformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiesocidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Discotrema"},{"label":"Species","value":"Discotrema monogrammum"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Discotrema monogrammum"},{"body":["The long-snout clingfish (Diademichthys lineatus) is a slender, striped clingfish that lives among the spines of sea urchins and has a remarkably long snout. It is reddish-brown with pale lines along its body that help it blend in with urchin spines.","It grows to around 5 cm. Sheltering among the long spines of Diadema urchins or in branching corals, it feeds on tiny crustaceans, urchin tube feet and fish eggs. Females have a much longer snout than males.","The long-snout clingfish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers can spot it by checking long-spined sea urchins, especially on night dives."],"slug":"long-snout-clingfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-ec73a6.webp","title":"Long-snout Clingfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-ec73a6.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The long-snout clingfish (Diademichthys lineatus) is a slender, striped clingfish that lives among the spines of sea urchins and has a remarkably long snout.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiesociformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiesocidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Diademichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Diademichthys lineatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Diademichthys lineatus"},{"body":["The ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) is a slender moray with flared nostrils and an open mouth, famous for changing colour from black to blue to yellow as it ages. Juveniles are black with a yellow fin, adult males are bright blue with yellow, and the largest individuals turn mostly yellow.","It can reach around 1-1.3 m but is very thin, and it usually shows only its head and front of its body from a burrow in sand or rubble. Ribbon eels are thought to change sex from male to female as they grow, and they feed on small fish.","The ribbon eel is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a classic sight on sandy and rubble slopes, waving gently from its hole."],"slug":"ribbon-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-5a298e.webp","title":"Ribbon Eel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-5a298e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-4e68df.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) is a slender moray with flared nostrils and an open mouth, famous for changing colour from black to blue to yellow as it ages.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Rhinomuraena"},{"label":"Species","value":"Rhinomuraena quaesita"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Rhinomuraena quaesita"},{"body":["The black-banded damsel (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) is a small, silvery-grey damselfish with bold dark bands, typically found on open sand and silt rather than coral reefs. Juveniles often show touches of yellow or blue on the fins.","It grows to about 8 cm. It lives in small groups around isolated shelters on soft bottoms, such as sponges, debris, sea pens or patches of rubble, and feeds on plankton and tiny invertebrates. Males guard eggs laid on hard surfaces.","The black-banded damsel occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common fish on sandy muck sites around scattered shelter.","Photo: [Ben Costamagna](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/399384500), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"black-banded-damsel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-f340ca.webp","title":"Black-banded Damsel","status":"published","excerpt":"The black-banded damsel (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) is a small, silvery-grey damselfish with bold dark bands, typically found on open sand and silt rather than coral reefs.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblypomacentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblypomacentrus breviceps"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amblypomacentrus breviceps"},{"body":["Springer's demoiselle (Chrysiptera springeri) is a small, electric-blue damselfish with a black line running from its snout through the eye. Its vivid colour makes it stand out among the corals.","It reaches about 5-6 cm and lives among branching corals on sheltered reefs and lagoons, often in small groups. It feeds on plankton just above the coral and darts into the branches when threatened.","Springer's demoiselle is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it brightens shallow reefs with branching coral."],"slug":"springers-demoiselle","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-7b1e4d.webp","title":"Springer's Demoiselle","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-7b1e4d.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"Springer's demoiselle (Chrysiptera springeri) is a small, electric-blue damselfish with a black line running from its snout through the eye.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chrysiptera"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chrysiptera springeri"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Chrysiptera springeri"},{"body":["The whitetail dascyllus (Dascyllus aruanus), or humbug damselfish, is a small black-and-white striped damselfish that lives in tight groups among branching corals. Three bold black bars cross its white body, and its tail is plain white.","It grows to about 8-10 cm. Each group claims a single coral head, hovering above it to feed on plankton and diving into the branches at the first sign of danger. Groups are led by a dominant male, and these feisty fish will chase much larger intruders.","The whitetail dascyllus is common throughout the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found on almost every shallow reef with branching corals."],"slug":"whitetail-dascyllus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f9d128.webp","title":"Whitetail Dascyllus","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f9d128.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-4b258c.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The whitetail dascyllus (Dascyllus aruanus), or humbug damselfish, is a small black-and-white striped damselfish that lives in tight groups among branching corals.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dascyllus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dascyllus aruanus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Dascyllus aruanus"},{"body":["The reticulated damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus) is a grey-green damsel with a fine net-like scale pattern and a dark bar behind the head. A second, fainter dark band often crosses the rear of the body.","It reaches about 8-9 cm and lives in groups over branching corals on reef slopes and lagoons. The group feeds on plankton above the coral and shelters among the branches, with larger males dominating each colony.","The reticulated damselfish is common across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is one of the most familiar damsels hovering over coral heads."],"slug":"reticulated-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-6a9f6f.webp","title":"Reticulated Damselfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-6a9f6f.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-ed405c.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The reticulated damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus) is a grey-green damsel with a fine net-like scale pattern and a dark bar behind the head.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dascyllus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dascyllus reticulatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Dascyllus reticulatus"},{"body":["The threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus), or domino damsel, is a black damselfish with white spots, one on the forehead and one on each side. The spots fade as the fish grows older.","It can reach around 11-14 cm. Juveniles often live alongside [anemonefish](/marine-life/clownfish) in large sea anemones, while adults form groups over coral heads and rocks. They feed on plankton and algae.","The threespot dascyllus is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is commonly seen around anemones and coral bommies."],"slug":"threespot-dascyllus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-a7c15f.webp","title":"Threespot Dascyllus","status":"published","excerpt":"The threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus), or domino damsel, is a black damselfish with white spots that young fish often shelter among the tentacles of sea anemones.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dascyllus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dascyllus trimaculatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Dascyllus trimaculatus"},{"body":["The black damsel (Neoglyphidodon melas) is a dark adult damselfish whose juveniles look completely different: white with bright yellow and blue fins. As they grow, they slowly darken to a uniform black.","Adults reach around 15-18 cm and live on coral reefs, often near soft corals and giant clams, which form a large part of their diet. They are solitary and territorial.","The black damsel is found across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where both the colourful juveniles and dark adults are seen on coral reefs.","Photo: [Ben Costamagna](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/330842673), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"black-damsel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-d449ff.webp","title":"Black Damsel","status":"published","excerpt":"The black damsel (Neoglyphidodon melas) is a dark adult damselfish whose juveniles look completely different: white with bright yellow and blue fins.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Neoglyphidodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Neoglyphidodon melas"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Neoglyphidodon melas"},{"body":["The speckled damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) is a small damsel with a speckled head, a white tail and a dark eyespot on its dorsal fin. Its body is brownish with fine blue or pale spots, especially on the head.","It grows to around 9 cm and lives on shallow reef flats and rubble areas, staying close to the bottom. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates and is quick to defend its patch against intruders.","The speckled damselfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on shallow reefs and rubble.","Photo: [libby hepburn](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188860308), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"speckled-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-c4c80b.webp","title":"Speckled Damselfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The speckled damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) is a small damsel with a speckled head, a white tail and a dark eyespot on its dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pomacentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pomacentrus bankanensis"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Pomacentrus bankanensis"},{"body":["Burrough's damselfish (Pomacentrus burroughi) is a plain brownish damsel with a pale tail and a dark spot at the base of its pectoral fin. Juveniles show a small dark eyespot on the dorsal fin.","It grows to about 8 cm and lives on coral reef slopes and in lagoons, usually close to the coral. It feeds on algae and plankton and is less flashy than many of its relatives.","Burrough's damselfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common but easily overlooked reef resident.","Photo: [Ditch Townsend](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202034201), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"burroughs-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-0cd46b.webp","title":"Burrough's Damselfish","status":"published","excerpt":"Burrough's damselfish (Pomacentrus burroughi) is a plain brownish damsel with a pale tail and a dark spot at the base of its pectoral fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pomacentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pomacentrus burroughi"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Pomacentrus burroughi"},{"body":["The neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) is a brilliant blue damsel with a yellow belly and tail, often seen in loose groups over rubble. In sunlight its blue colour almost glows.","It grows to about 9 cm and lives on reef slopes and rubble areas, feeding on plankton and algae just above the bottom. Males guard eggs laid on rocks or rubble.","The neon damselfish is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is one of the most eye-catching small fish on rubble slopes."],"slug":"neon-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d4b620.webp","title":"Neon Damselfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d4b620.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) is a brilliant blue damsel with a yellow belly and tail, often seen in loose groups over rubble.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pomacentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pomacentrus coelestis"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Pomacentrus coelestis"},{"body":["The princess damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) is a colourful damsel with blue-lined scales, a yellow tint and a dark, blue-ringed eyespot on its dorsal fin. Its colours vary from mostly blue to purple-grey and yellow.","It reaches around 10 cm and lives on reef slopes and outer reefs, usually close to coral and rocks. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates and defends a small territory.","The princess damselfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on coral reefs."],"slug":"princess-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a375db.webp","title":"Princess Damselfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a375db.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The princess damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) is a colourful damsel with blue-lined scales, a yellow tint and a dark, blue-ringed eyespot on its dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pomacentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pomacentrus vaiuli"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Pomacentrus vaiuli"},{"body":["The redbreasted wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) is a robust wrasse with dark and white bands and a bright orange-red chest. Large males develop a slightly humped forehead and extended tail lobes.","It grows to around 35-40 cm. It hunts over mixed coral, sand and rubble, flipping over stones and digging for crabs, molluscs and sea urchins, and other fish often follow it to grab what it disturbs.","The redbreasted wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common and curious resident of coral reefs.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217618086), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"redbreasted-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-93f000.webp","title":"Redbreasted Wrasse","status":"published","excerpt":"The redbreasted wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) is a robust wrasse with dark and white bands and a bright orange-red chest.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cheilinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cheilinus fasciatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Cheilinus fasciatus"},{"body":["The canary wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) is a bright yellow wrasse with small dark spots on its dorsal fin, often seen darting over sand and rubble. Juveniles and females have several dark eyespots, while males usually have fewer.","It grows to about 12 cm. It feeds on small invertebrates picked from the bottom, and like many wrasses it buries itself in the sand to sleep at night.","The canary wrasse occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on sandy patches next to reefs.","Photo: [Rachel Crane](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/164755867), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"canary-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-6b258d.webp","title":"Canary Wrasse","status":"published","excerpt":"The canary wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) is a bright yellow wrasse with small dark spots on its dorsal fin, often seen darting over sand and rubble.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Halichoeres"},{"label":"Species","value":"Halichoeres chrysus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Halichoeres chrysus"},{"body":["The cheeklined wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) is a reddish-brown predatory wrasse with fine diagonal lines across its cheeks. Its colour ranges from greenish to deep red, and it can quickly change shade.","It reaches around 30-40 cm. It hunts small fish and crustaceans, often by shadowing goatfish or other foragers and pouncing on prey they flush out.","The cheeklined wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it patrols coral reefs and rubble slopes."],"slug":"cheeklined-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e261ac.webp","title":"Cheeklined Wrasse","status":"published","excerpt":"The cheeklined wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) is a reddish-brown predatory wrasse with fine diagonal lines across its cheeks.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Oxycheilinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Oxycheilinus digramma"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Oxycheilinus digramma"},{"body":["The yellow-flanked fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis) is a small, brilliantly coloured wrasse whose males flash yellow flanks and electric blue and purple fins during display. Females and juveniles are much plainer, in shades of pink and orange.","It grows to about 10-12 cm and lives in loose groups over rubble and coral slopes, hovering above the bottom to pick zooplankton from the water. A single male guards a harem of females, and in the late afternoon he puts on dazzling courtship displays with his fins fully spread.","The yellow-flanked fairy wrasse is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where groups are often seen over rubble slopes and reef edges.","Photo: [Pierre Pericard](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/281460383), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"yellow-flanked-fairy-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-fcd442.webp","title":"Yellow-flanked Fairy Wrasse","status":"published","excerpt":"The yellow-flanked fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis) is a small, brilliantly coloured wrasse whose males flash yellow flanks and electric blue and purple fins during display.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cirrhilabrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis"},{"body":["The little dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis), also called the short dragonfish or seamoth, is a strange, armoured little fish that 'walks' across sand on its fin rays. Its flattened body is encased in bony plates, and its broad pectoral fins spread like wings.","It grows to about 8-10 cm and is usually seen in pairs on sand and rubble, picking tiny invertebrates from the bottom. It regularly sheds its skin in one piece, which may help keep it free of parasites. Colour varies from brown and grey to almost white to match the sand.","The little dragonfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a much-loved find on sandy muck sites.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197679412), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"little-dragonfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-3004a1.webp","title":"Little Dragonfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The little dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis), also called the short dragonfish or seamoth, is a strange, armoured little fish that 'walks' across sand on its fin rays.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pegasidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Eurypegasus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Eurypegasus draconis"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Eurypegasus draconis"},{"body":["Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) is one of the smallest seahorses in the world, a smooth, orange to yellow pygmy that lives on sea fans. Unlike Bargibant's pygmy it lacks large bumps, and its body is slimmer.","Adults are usually under 2 cm long. They cling with their tails to the branches of gorgonians such as Annella and Muricella, matching their host's colour, and feed on tiny crustaceans. As in all seahorses, the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch.","Denise's pygmy seahorse is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sea fans on reef slopes and walls, usually below about 15 m.","Photo: [Piotr Lukasik](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/258210145), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"denises-pygmy-seahorse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/seahorses-and-pipefishes/original-17daf8.webp","title":"Denise's Pygmy Seahorse","status":"published","excerpt":"Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) is one of the smallest seahorses in the world, a smooth, orange to yellow pygmy that lives on sea fans.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hippocampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hippocampus denise"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Hippocampus denise"},{"body":["Pontoh's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus pontohi) is a tiny, free-living pygmy seahorse that lives among hydroids and algae on reef walls rather than on a single sea fan. It is usually white to pale yellow or pinkish, sometimes with darker patches.","It reaches only about 1.5-2 cm. It clings to hydroids, coralline algae and fine growth on walls and overhangs, feeding on tiny crustaceans, and is often found in pairs. It was named after Hence Pontoh, the dive guide who first found it.","Pontoh's pygmy seahorse is known from the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where sharp-eyed guides find it on walls and steep reef slopes."],"slug":"pontohs-pygmy-seahorse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-00e978.webp","title":"Pontoh's Pygmy Seahorse","status":"published","excerpt":"Pontoh's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus pontohi) is a tiny, free-living pygmy seahorse that lives among hydroids and algae on reef walls rather than on a single sea fan.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hippocampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hippocampus pontohi"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Hippocampus pontohi"},{"body":["Severns' pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus severnsi) is a minute, free-living pygmy seahorse that hides among hydroids and algae on reefs and walls. Its colour ranges from tan and brown to pinkish, often with a mottled, textured look.","It grows to only about 1.5 cm. Closely related to [Pontoh's pygmy seahorse](/critter/pontohs-pygmy-seahorse), it clings to fine growth on rocks and walls and feeds on tiny crustaceans. It is named after underwater photographer Mike Severns.","Severns' pygmy seahorse is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is one of the hardest seahorses to spot on reef walls and slopes.","Photo: [Jean-Paul Boerekamps](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142348620), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"severns-pygmy-seahorse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/seahorses-and-pipefishes/original-beb4ee.webp","title":"Severns' Pygmy Seahorse","status":"published","excerpt":"Severns' pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus severnsi) is a minute, free-living pygmy seahorse that hides among hydroids and algae on reefs and walls.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hippocampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hippocampus severnsi"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Hippocampus severnsi"},{"body":["Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) is the classic pygmy seahorse, a tiny, knobbly fish that perfectly mimics the polyps of the Muricella sea fan it lives on. It comes in a pink-with-red-bumps form and a yellow-with-orange-bumps form, matching its host.","Adults are only about 2 cm tall. They spend their whole lives on a single sea fan, often in pairs or small groups, feeding on tiny crustaceans. The species was discovered by accident when a sea fan was collected for a museum and the seahorses were found on it.","Bargibant's pygmy seahorse occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on Muricella sea fans on deeper reef slopes and walls.","Photo: [Rachel Crane](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/164755832), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"bargibants-pygmy-seahorse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/seahorses-and-pipefishes/original-38981b.webp","title":"Bargibant's Pygmy Seahorse","status":"published","excerpt":"Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) is the classic pygmy seahorse, a tiny, knobbly fish that perfectly mimics the polyps of the Muricella sea fan it lives on.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hippocampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hippocampus bargibanti"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Hippocampus bargibanti"},{"body":["The scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) is a small, secretive frogfish that hides in reef crevices, usually red, orange or brown with darker blotches. Despite its name it varies a lot in colour, and its skin is covered in fine spinules.","It grows to about 10-13 cm. It lives in shallow reef areas, wedged into holes and under rocks, where it ambushes small fish and crustaceans using a short lure. Because it stays so well hidden, it is seen far less often than the larger frogfish.","The scarlet frogfish is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where patient divers may find it tucked into reef crevices and rubble.","Photo: [Justin Philbois](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/263113935), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"scarlet-frogfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/frogfish/original-5e4f7e.webp","title":"Scarlet Frogfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) is a small, secretive frogfish that hides in reef crevices, usually red, orange or brown with darker blotches.","category":"frogfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Lophiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Antennariidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Antennatus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Antennatus coccineus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Antennatus coccineus"},{"body":["The twinspot lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) is a small, shy lionfish with two eye-spots on its dorsal fin and feathery tentacles around its face. Its body is a rich mix of red, brown and white bands.","It grows to about 10-12 cm. It spends the day hidden in crevices and under ledges, coming out at night to hunt small shrimps and fish. Like other lionfish, its spines are venomous.","The twinspot lionfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is usually found on night dives along reefs and rocky slopes.","Photo: [Jean-Paul Boerekamps](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191831394), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"twinspot-lionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/lionfish-and-scorpionfish/original-22b039.webp","title":"Twinspot Lionfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The twinspot lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) is a small, shy lionfish with two eye-spots on its dorsal fin and feathery tentacles around its face.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Scorpaeniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dendrochirus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dendrochirus biocellatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Dendrochirus biocellatus"},{"body":["The gurnard lionfish (Parapterois heterura), also called the blackfoot lionfish, is a sand-dwelling lionfish with huge, fan-like pectoral fins that flash vivid blue and black when spread. Its tail fin has a distinctive long filament.","It grows to around 20 cm and lives on sand and mud bottoms, often partly buried during the day. At night it hunts small fish and crustaceans in the open, and when threatened it opens its fins in a dramatic warning display. Its spines are venomous.","The gurnard lionfish occurs in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a rare and exciting find on sandy night dives.","Photo: [Chris Spain](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/383274450), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"gurnard-lionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/lionfish-and-scorpionfish/original-4cd697.webp","title":"Gurnard Lionfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The gurnard lionfish (Parapterois heterura), also called the blackfoot lionfish, is a sand-dwelling lionfish with huge, fan-like pectoral fins that flash vivid blue and black when spread.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Scorpaeniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Parapterois"},{"label":"Species","value":"Parapterois heterura"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Parapterois heterura"},{"body":["Randall's shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris randalli) is an elegant goby with orange-red bands and a tall, sail-like dorsal fin marked with a black eye-spot. It often raises the fin when disturbed.","It grows to about 9-12 cm and shares a burrow with a blind or near-blind alpheid shrimp. The shrimp digs and maintains the burrow while the goby keeps watch, warning its partner with a flick of the tail when danger approaches.","Randall's shrimp goby is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sandy slopes, often a little deeper than other shrimp gobies."],"slug":"randalls-shrimp-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a05ffb.webp","title":"Randall's Shrimp Goby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a05ffb.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"Randall's shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris randalli) is an elegant goby with orange-red bands and a tall, sail-like dorsal fin marked with a black eye-spot.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblyeleotris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblyeleotris randalli"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amblyeleotris randalli"},{"body":["The redhead goby (Paragobiodon echinocephalus) is a tiny coral goby with a bristly red head and a dark body, living deep inside branching corals. Its head is covered in short whisker-like papillae.","It grows to about 3-4 cm and lives in pairs in Stylophora and Pocillopora corals, rarely leaving its host. It feeds on tiny plankton and is thought to help defend its coral from harmful seaweeds.","The redhead goby is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it can be spotted by peering carefully between the branches of shallow corals.","Photo: [Gregor Bailar](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/394238618), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"redhead-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-8dd927.webp","title":"Redhead Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The redhead goby (Paragobiodon echinocephalus) is a tiny coral goby with a bristly red head and a dark body, living deep inside branching corals.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Paragobiodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Paragobiodon echinocephalus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Paragobiodon echinocephalus"},{"body":["The emerald coral goby (Paragobiodon xanthosoma) is a small, greenish-yellow goby that lives deep within branching corals. Its rounded head and soft green colour help it blend with its coral home.","It grows to about 3-4 cm and lives in pairs inside Seriatopora and similar corals. It rarely leaves the shelter of the branches, feeding on plankton and tiny invertebrates.","The emerald coral goby is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common but easily overlooked resident of shallow coral reefs."],"slug":"emerald-coral-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f3753c.webp","title":"Emerald Coral Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The emerald coral goby (Paragobiodon xanthosoma) is a small, greenish-yellow goby that lives deep within branching corals.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Paragobiodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Paragobiodon xanthosoma"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Paragobiodon xanthosoma"},{"body":["The crab-eye goby (Signigobius biocellatus) is a sand goby with two large eye-spots on its dorsal fins, which together with its fins make it look like a crab. It moves in a jerky, side-to-side way that adds to the illusion.","It grows to about 6-10 cm and lives in pairs on sheltered sand and silt, often near a burrow. It feeds by taking mouthfuls of sand and sifting out tiny animals through its gills.","The crab-eye goby is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where pairs are seen on sandy and silty bottoms in calm water."],"slug":"crab-eye-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-20c5fb.webp","title":"Crab-eye Goby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-20c5fb.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The crab-eye goby (Signigobius biocellatus) is a sand goby with two large eye-spots on its dorsal fins, which together with its fins make it look like a crab.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Signigobius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Signigobius biocellatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Signigobius biocellatus"},{"body":["The yellow pygmy goby (Lubricogobius exiguus) is a tiny, bright yellow goby that often makes its home inside empty bottles, cans and shells on sandy bottoms. Its smooth, scaleless body and round head make it look like a little yellow bean.","It grows to only about 2-3 cm. Pairs live together in their shelter, peeking out from the opening and darting back inside when approached. They feed on tiny plankton and lay their eggs on the inside walls of their home.","The yellow pygmy goby occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a favourite subject on muck dives among discarded bottles and debris.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40163943), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"yellow-pygmy-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-fcac21.webp","title":"Yellow Pygmy Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The yellow pygmy goby (Lubricogobius exiguus) is a tiny, bright yellow goby that often makes its home inside empty bottles, cans and shells on sandy bottoms.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lubricogobius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lubricogobius exiguus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Lubricogobius exiguus"},{"body":["The pink-eye goby (Bryaninops natans) is a tiny, glassy goby with a bright pink-magenta eye, often seen hovering in small groups above Acropora corals. Its transparent body has a yellowish belly.","It grows to only around 2-3 cm. Unlike many gobies, it spends much of its time hovering just above the coral branches, feeding on plankton, and dives back into the coral when threatened.","The pink-eye goby is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on shallow reefs with healthy branching corals.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/204136531), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"pink-eye-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-37fe84.webp","title":"Pink-eye Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The pink-eye goby (Bryaninops natans) is a tiny, glassy goby with a bright pink-magenta eye, often seen hovering in small groups above Acropora corals.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Bryaninops"},{"label":"Species","value":"Bryaninops natans"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Bryaninops natans"},{"body":["The banded shrimp goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus), also called the yellow shrimp goby, is a stocky goby that can be bright yellow or pale with dark bands. Both colour forms often have small blue spots on the head and fins.","It grows to about 7-10 cm and lives in a burrow it shares with an alpheid shrimp. The goby stands guard at the entrance while the shrimp keeps the burrow clear, touching the goby with its antennae to stay in contact.","The banded shrimp goby is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sandy and silty bottoms in sheltered areas.","Photo: [libby hepburn](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188855037), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"banded-shrimp-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-aa4aff.webp","title":"Banded Shrimp Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The banded shrimp goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus), also called the yellow shrimp goby, is a stocky goby that can be bright yellow or pale with dark bands.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cryptocentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cryptocentrus cinctus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Cryptocentrus cinctus"},{"body":["The ringeye pygmy goby (Trimma benjamini) is a tiny, translucent orange-red goby with a ring of colour around each eye. Its body is often dotted with small yellow or orange spots.","It grows to only about 2-3 cm. It hovers in small groups in caves, under overhangs and along reef walls, often upside down beneath ledges, feeding on tiny zooplankton.","The ringeye pygmy goby is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives in the shade of overhangs and crevices on reef slopes and walls.","Photo: [Jean-Paul Boerekamps](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191606699), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"ringeye-pygmy-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-ca27dd.webp","title":"Ringeye Pygmy Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The ringeye pygmy goby (Trimma benjamini) is a tiny, translucent orange-red goby with a ring of colour around each eye.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trimma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trimma benjamini"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Trimma benjamini"},{"body":["The flagtail shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris yanoi) is a beautiful shrimp goby with orange-red bands, a bright yellow-and-blue tail and fins edged in colour. It is one of the most colourful of the shrimp gobies.","It grows to about 10-13 cm and shares a burrow with an alpheid shrimp in sand or rubble. As with other shrimp gobies, the goby watches for danger while the shrimp keeps the burrow in order.","The flagtail shrimp goby occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found on sandy slopes, often at moderate depths.","Photo: [Ben Costamagna](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/327031103), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"flagtail-shrimp-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-bcd5ae.webp","title":"Flagtail Shrimp Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The flagtail shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris yanoi) is a beautiful shrimp goby with orange-red bands, a bright yellow-and-blue tail and fins edged in colour.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblyeleotris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblyeleotris yanoi"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amblyeleotris yanoi"},{"body":["The banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) is a medium-sized sand goby with dark vertical bars and a dark spot on its first dorsal fin. Its greenish-brown body is often marked with fine blue lines on the head.","It grows to about 12-15 cm and lives in pairs near a burrow on sand, rubble and seagrass. It sifts sand through its mouth and gills to feed on small invertebrates and algae, and dashes into its burrow when alarmed.","The banded goby is common across the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found in shallow sandy and rubble areas."],"slug":"banded-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-924eae.webp","title":"Banded Goby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-924eae.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) is a medium-sized sand goby with dark vertical bars and a dark spot on its first dorsal fin.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblygobius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblygobius phalaena"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amblygobius phalaena"},{"body":["The Tangaroa shrimp goby (Ctenogobiops tangaroai) is a pale, speckled shrimp goby with rows of small brown and orange spots and a tall first dorsal fin. Its sandy colours blend with the bottom.","It grows to about 6 cm and shares a burrow with an alpheid shrimp on sand and fine rubble. The pair work together, with the goby on lookout and the shrimp tending the burrow.","The Tangaroa shrimp goby is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sandy patches near reefs.","Photo: [Debra Baker](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197765920), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"tangaroa-shrimp-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-9e4445.webp","title":"Tangaroa Shrimp Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The Tangaroa shrimp goby (Ctenogobiops tangaroai) is a pale, speckled shrimp goby with rows of small brown and orange spots and a tall first dorsal fin.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ctenogobiops"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ctenogobiops tangaroai"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Ctenogobiops tangaroai"},{"body":["The redbelly dwarfgoby (Eviota nigriventris) is a minute, translucent goby with a red body and a dark belly, often seen in groups among branching corals. Despite its name, the lower body often looks black against the red.","It grows to only about 2 cm. Small groups hover just above or within the branches of corals, feeding on tiny plankton and darting back into the coral when threatened.","The redbelly dwarfgoby is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives around branching corals on shallow reefs.","Photo: [jeyre](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/376322946), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"redbelly-dwarfgoby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-8fd2b6.webp","title":"Redbelly Dwarfgoby","status":"published","excerpt":"The redbelly dwarfgoby (Eviota nigriventris) is a minute, translucent goby with a red body and a dark belly, often seen in groups among branching corals.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Eviota"},{"label":"Species","value":"Eviota nigriventris"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Eviota nigriventris"},{"body":["The seven-figure pygmy goby (Eviota sigillata) is one of the shortest-lived vertebrates known, a tiny goby that lives only around eight weeks. Its translucent body is marked with small dark and reddish spots.","Reaching just 2 cm, it spends about three weeks as larvae in the plankton, then settles on the reef, matures within a couple of weeks and breeds before dying. It lives among coral rubble and on reef surfaces, feeding on tiny plankton.","The seven-figure pygmy goby occurs across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on shallow reefs and rubble.","Photo: [Debra Baker](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/151712799), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"seven-figure-pygmy-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-1442bd.webp","title":"Seven-figure Pygmy Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The seven-figure pygmy goby (Eviota sigillata) is one of the shortest-lived vertebrates known, a tiny goby that lives only around eight weeks.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Eviota"},{"label":"Species","value":"Eviota sigillata"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Eviota sigillata"},{"body":["The stony coral ghost goby (Pleurosicya micheli) is a nearly transparent goby that sits on the surface of hard corals, almost invisible except for its eyes and internal organs. A faint reddish line runs along its body.","It grows to only about 2-3 cm. It perches on stony corals such as Porites and Montipora, gripping with its fused pelvic fins, and snatches tiny plankton from the water.","The stony coral ghost goby is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where macro divers find it resting on hard corals on shallow reefs."],"slug":"stony-coral-ghost-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e05b42.webp","title":"Stony Coral Ghost Goby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e05b42.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The stony coral ghost goby (Pleurosicya micheli) is a nearly transparent goby that sits on the surface of hard corals, almost invisible except for its eyes and internal organs.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pleurosicya"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pleurosicya micheli"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Pleurosicya micheli"},{"body":["The convict reefgoby (Priolepis cincta) is a small, shy goby with bold pale bars across a brown body, usually seen hiding in reef crevices. Its striped pattern gives it the 'convict' name.","It grows to about 6-8 cm and lives under ledges, in holes and among rubble, rarely venturing far into the open. It feeds on small crustaceans and other invertebrates.","The convict reefgoby is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is found in crevices on coral and rocky reefs.","Photo: [jeyre](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105638212), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"convict-reefgoby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-e338a3.webp","title":"Convict Reefgoby","status":"published","excerpt":"The convict reefgoby (Priolepis cincta) is a small, shy goby with bold pale bars across a brown body, usually seen hiding in reef crevices.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Priolepis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Priolepis cincta"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Priolepis cincta"},{"body":["The black-rayed shrimpgoby (Stonogobiops nematodes) is an elegant little goby with a yellow head, diagonal dark bands and a long, threadlike first dorsal fin. Pairs often hover together just above their burrow.","It grows to about 5 cm and shares its burrow with the striking red-banded snapping shrimp Alpheus randalli. The goby watches for danger while the shrimp keeps the burrow clean.","The black-rayed shrimpgoby is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sand and rubble slopes, usually below about 15 m."],"slug":"black-rayed-shrimpgoby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-988ddb.webp","title":"Black-rayed Shrimpgoby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-988ddb.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The black-rayed shrimpgoby (Stonogobiops nematodes) is an elegant little goby with a yellow head, diagonal dark bands and a long, threadlike first dorsal fin.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Stonogobiops"},{"label":"Species","value":"Stonogobiops nematodes"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Stonogobiops nematodes"},{"body":["The skinspot pygmy goby (Trimma halonevum) is a tiny, reddish pygmy goby speckled with small pale spots, usually found hovering near reef crevices. Its large eyes are typical of the Trimma pygmy gobies.","It grows to only around 2-3 cm and lives on reef walls and slopes, staying close to holes and overhangs. It feeds on tiny plankton and darts into cover when approached.","The skinspot pygmy goby is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on rocky and coral reefs.","Photo: [Gregor Bailar](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/399513897), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"skinspot-pygmy-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-21e96e.webp","title":"Skinspot Pygmy Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The skinspot pygmy goby (Trimma halonevum) is a tiny, reddish pygmy goby speckled with small pale spots, usually found hovering near reef crevices.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trimma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trimma halonevum"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Trimma halonevum"},{"body":["The Okinawa pygmy goby (Trimma okinawae) is a tiny orange-red goby with yellow spots, famous for being able to change sex in both directions. Its translucent body glows in a torch beam.","It grows to about 3 cm and lives in small groups in caves and crevices on the reef. The largest fish in a group is usually male, and if a bigger male appears it can switch back to female, a rare ability among vertebrates.","The Okinawa pygmy goby occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives in shaded holes and overhangs on reef slopes."],"slug":"okinawa-pygmy-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-09687a.webp","title":"Okinawa Pygmy Goby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-09687a.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The Okinawa pygmy goby (Trimma okinawae) is a tiny orange-red goby with yellow spots, famous for being able to change sex in both directions.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trimma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trimma okinawae"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Trimma okinawae"},{"body":["The red-lined pygmygoby (Trimma striatum) is a tiny goby with fine red stripes along a pale body, often seen hovering head-up against reef walls. Its big eyes and delicate stripes make it a pretty macro subject.","It grows to only about 2-3 cm and lives in small groups near caves, overhangs and steep walls, picking plankton from the water.","The red-lined pygmygoby is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on walls and in shaded areas of the reef.","Photo: [jeyre](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102332937), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"red-lined-pygmygoby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/gobies/original-e342de.webp","title":"Red-lined Pygmygoby","status":"published","excerpt":"The red-lined pygmygoby (Trimma striatum) is a tiny goby with fine red stripes along a pale body, often seen hovering head-up against reef walls.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trimma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trimma striatum"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Trimma striatum"},{"body":["The tomato anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) is a deep red-orange clownfish with a single white head bar, usually living in bubble-tip anemones. Adult females often darken to nearly black on the sides.","It grows to about 12-14 cm. A group lives in one anemone, led by a large female and her mate, with smaller non-breeding males waiting their turn. If the female dies, the dominant male changes sex to take her place. Eggs are laid on rock beside the anemone and guarded by the male.","The tomato anemonefish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common in bubble-tip anemones on shallow reefs."],"slug":"tomato-anemonefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e47e9c.webp","title":"Tomato Anemonefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The tomato anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) is a deep red-orange clownfish with a single white head bar, usually living in bubble-tip anemones.","category":"clownfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphiprion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphiprion frenatus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amphiprion frenatus"},{"body":["The false clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is the classic orange-and-white clownfish, with three white bands edged in thin black lines. It is the species that made clownfish famous worldwide.","It grows to about 8-11 cm and lives in magnificent, giant and Merten's carpet anemones, protected from the stinging tentacles by a special mucus coat. Like other clownfish, groups are led by a dominant female, and males can change sex to replace her.","The false clown anemonefish occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a favourite sight on shallow reefs with large anemones."],"slug":"false-clown-anemonefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-9215de.webp","title":"False Clown Anemonefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The false clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is the classic orange-and-white clownfish, with three white bands edged in thin black lines.","category":"clownfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphiprion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphiprion ocellaris"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amphiprion ocellaris"},{"body":["The pink skunk clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion) is a delicate pinkish-orange anemonefish with a white stripe down its back and a thin white head bar. It is one of the smaller clownfish.","It grows to about 8-10 cm and most often lives in magnificent sea anemones, sometimes sharing them with other clownfish species. A dominant female and her mate breed, while smaller males wait in the group.","The pink skunk clownfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common in anemones on shallow reef slopes."],"slug":"pink-clownfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f176de.webp","title":"Pink Skunk Clownfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The pink skunk clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion) is a delicate pinkish-orange anemonefish with a white stripe down its back and a thin white head bar.","category":"clownfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphiprion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphiprion perideraion"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amphiprion perideraion"},{"body":["The orange skunk clownfish (Amphiprion sandaracinos), also called the orange anemonefish or yellow skunk clownfish, is a bright orange clownfish with a white stripe running from its lip along its back. Unlike the [pink skunk clownfish](/critter/pink-clownfish), it has no white head bar.","It grows to about 11-14 cm and usually lives in Merten's carpet anemones and leathery sea anemones. As in other clownfish, the group is headed by a large female, and eggs are laid next to the anemone and tended by the male.","The orange skunk clownfish occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives in anemones on shallow reefs and sandy slopes."],"slug":"orange-anemonefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-dc2600.webp","title":"Orange Skunk Clownfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The orange skunk clownfish (Amphiprion sandaracinos), also called the orange anemonefish or yellow skunk clownfish, is a bright orange clownfish with a white stripe running from its lip along its back.","category":"clownfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphiprion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphiprion sandaracinos"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amphiprion sandaracinos"},{"body":["The saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) is a dark brown to orange clownfish with a white head bar and a slanting white saddle across its back. The edge of its tail is often white.","It grows to about 12-13 cm and typically lives in Haddon's and gigantic carpet anemones on open sand and silt, rather than on the reef. The group defends its anemone fiercely, and the male guards the eggs laid on nearby debris or shells.","The saddleback clownfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a classic sight on sandy muck slopes, nestled in carpet anemones."],"slug":"saddleback-clownfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-485927.webp","title":"Saddleback Clownfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) is a dark brown to orange clownfish with a white head bar and a slanting white saddle across its back.","category":"clownfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphiprion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphiprion polymnus"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amphiprion polymnus"},{"body":["Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) is a variable clownfish, usually dark brown to black with a yellow snout and fins and two or three white bars. Colour varies a lot between regions and host anemones.","It grows to about 12-15 cm and is the least picky of all clownfish, living in around ten different anemone species. Groups are led by a dominant female, and males guard the eggs laid on rock next to the anemone.","Clark's anemonefish has one of the widest ranges of any clownfish, across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on reefs and sandy slopes."],"slug":"clarks-anemonefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e82fd7.webp","title":"Clark's Anemonefish","status":"published","excerpt":"Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) is a variable clownfish, usually dark brown to black with a yellow snout and fins and two or three white bars.","category":"clownfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amphiprion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amphiprion clarkii"}],"youtubeId":"","scientificName":"Amphiprion clarkii"},{"body":["The anemone decorator crab (Cyclocoeloma tuberculatum) is a spider crab that plants small living anemones all over its shell, turning itself into a walking garden. Beneath its decorations the carapace is rounded and knobbly, but usually only the crab's legs and eyes give it away.","It typically reaches a carapace width of around 3-5 cm. The crab cultivates its anemones by attaching them with hooked setae, and the stinging tentacles help deter fish and octopus. It feeds at night, picking at algae, detritus and small invertebrates, and if it moves home it can transfer its anemones too.","In the Philippines the anemone decorator crab is a favourite muck-diving find on sand and rubble slopes, most often encountered on night dives when it wanders slowly across the bottom looking like a drifting clump of anemones.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62610992), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"anemone-decorator-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-a90956.webp","title":"Anemone Decorator Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The anemone decorator crab (Cyclocoeloma tuberculatum) is a spider crab that plants small living anemones all over its shell, turning itself into a walking garden.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Majidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cyclocoeloma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cyclocoeloma tuberculatum"}],"scientificName":"Cyclocoeloma tuberculatum"},{"body":["The whip coral xeno crab (Xenocarcinus tuberculatus) is a slender spider crab that lives on sea whips and black corals, matching their colour and banding almost perfectly. Its elongated, pointed carapace is lined with small bumps, and it may be red, orange, yellow or white with pale stripes depending on its host.","Usually only 1-2 cm long, it lies flat along the stem of its whip coral, legs tucked in, so that it looks like part of the coral itself. It feeds on mucus, plankton and particles trapped on the coral, and it rarely leaves its host.","Sea whips on walls and slopes in the Philippines regularly host this little crab. Finding one means slowly following a whip coral from base to tip, often with a torch, and macro photographers prize it for its graphic stripes.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54588388), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"whip-coral-xeno-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-fbd5c9.webp","title":"Whip Coral Xeno Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The whip coral xeno crab (Xenocarcinus tuberculatus) is a slender spider crab that lives on sea whips and black corals, matching their colour and banding almost perfectly.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Epialtidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Xenocarcinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Xenocarcinus tuberculatus"}],"scientificName":"Xenocarcinus tuberculatus"},{"body":["The candy crab (Hoplophrys oatesii) is a tiny, brightly coloured spider crab that lives on Dendronephthya soft corals and is almost impossible to tell apart from them. Its pink, red, orange or white body is covered in pointed spines and white patches that mimic the coral's polyps and spicules.","It is usually only 1-2 cm long. The crab enhances its disguise by attaching bits of its host's polyps to its body, and it feeds on mucus, plankton and organic particles collected by the soft coral. It almost never leaves its host colony.","Candy crabs are a classic macro subject in the Philippines, found on colourful Dendronephthya soft corals on walls and slopes. Spotting one takes patience, and careful buoyancy is essential so the delicate coral is not damaged."],"slug":"candy-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b42d9b.webp","title":"Candy Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The candy crab (Hoplophrys oatesii) is a tiny, brightly coloured spider crab that lives on Dendronephthya soft corals and is almost impossible to tell apart from them.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Epialtidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hoplophrys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hoplophrys oatesii"}],"scientificName":"Hoplophrys oatesii"},{"body":["The pentagonal urchin crab (Echinoecus pentagonus) is a small symbiotic crab that lives on sea urchins, sheltering among their spines or near their mouth. Its rounded, five-sided carapace gives it its name, and its colour usually blends with its host.","Only around 1 cm wide, it is most often associated with Echinothrix urchins. Adults can live close to the urchin's mouth or anal area, feeding on the host's tissue and on food particles, while the spines protect the crab from predators.","These crabs are found on urchins on sand and rubble slopes in the Philippines. Spotting one means carefully checking urchins with a torch, without touching the spines.","Photo: [Jonathan Walz](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/329548592), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"pentagonal-urchin-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-b5e1b8.webp","title":"Pentagonal Urchin Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The pentagonal urchin crab (Echinoecus pentagonus) is a small symbiotic crab that lives on sea urchins, sheltering among their spines or near their mouth.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pilumnidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Echinoecus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Echinoecus pentagonus"}],"scientificName":"Echinoecus pentagonus"},{"body":["The zebra urchin crab (Zebrida adamsii) is a striking little crab with bold zebra-like stripes that lives among the spines of sea urchins. Its stripes, usually brown or purple on white, run in the same direction as the urchin's spines, helping it blend in.","It reaches about 1-2 cm across and has a flattened carapace with pointed edges. Clinging to its host with hooked legs, it grazes on the urchin's tissue and spines, often leaving a bare patch where it sits. It usually lives on fire urchins and other sea urchins, sometimes with a mate.","The zebra urchin crab is a favourite muck-diving find in the Philippines, where guides check urchins on the sand for it. Because its hosts can be venomous, it is best photographed without getting too close.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40529946), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"zebra-urchin-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-2e2e73.webp","title":"Zebra Urchin Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The zebra urchin crab (Zebrida adamsii) is a striking little crab with bold zebra-like stripes that lives among the spines of sea urchins.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pilumnidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Zebrida"},{"label":"Species","value":"Zebrida adamsii"}],"scientificName":"Zebrida adamsii"},{"body":["The bird's nest coral crab (Trapezia guttata) is a small guard crab that lives among the branches of Seriatopora and other branching corals, defending its host against predators. It has a smooth, pale body and claws, often with small reddish spots along the margins.","Usually around 1-2 cm across, it lives in pairs within a single coral colony. In exchange for shelter and the coral's mucus and fat bodies, the crab pinches and chases away crown-of-thorns starfish, snails and other coral eaters, and it helps clear sediment from the coral.","Bird's nest corals on shallow reefs in the Philippines often host these crabs. Peering carefully into the branches will usually reveal one or two guard crabs watching back.","Photo: [Daniel Eisenhauer](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/318598347), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"birds-nest-coral-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-f5a742.webp","title":"Bird's Nest Coral Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The bird's nest coral crab (Trapezia guttata) is a small guard crab that lives among the branches of Seriatopora and other branching corals, defending its host against predators.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Trapeziidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trapezia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trapezia guttata"}],"scientificName":"Trapezia guttata"},{"body":["The bandit coral crab (Tetralia nigrolineata) is a tiny guard crab with a dark 'bandit mask' band across its front, living in branching Acropora corals. Its smooth, rounded body is usually pale cream or tan, edged with a thin black line.","It measures only about 1 cm across and lives in pairs deep within its host coral. Like other coral guard crabs, it feeds on coral mucus and in return defends the colony from coral-eating predators, pinching at their tube feet or soft parts.","Branching Acropora on reef flats and slopes in the Philippines is where this crab lives. It stays hidden deep in the branches, so a torch and some patience are needed to spot its distinctive masked face.","Photo: [Borja Fierro-Leva](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/312182070), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"bandit-coral-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-c9251d.webp","title":"Bandit Coral Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The bandit coral crab (Tetralia nigrolineata) is a tiny guard crab with a dark 'bandit mask' band across its front, living in branching Acropora corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tetraliidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Tetralia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Tetralia nigrolineata"}],"scientificName":"Tetralia nigrolineata"},{"body":["The rusted coral guard crab (Trapezia rufopunctata) is a small coral crab covered in rusty red spots that guards Pocillopora corals. Its pale, smooth carapace and large claws are densely dotted with red, making it one of the most colourful guard crabs.","It grows to around 2-3 cm across and lives in pairs among the branches of its host. It feeds on coral mucus and tissue secretions, and actively defends the coral from crown-of-thorns starfish and other predators, which helps its host survive.","Pocillopora colonies on Philippine reefs are the place to look for this crab. It tends to stay in the shadows of the branches, but often peers out at divers who approach slowly."],"slug":"rusted-coral-guard-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-28a5de.webp","title":"Rusted Coral Guard Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The rusted coral guard crab (Trapezia rufopunctata) is a small coral crab covered in rusty red spots that guards Pocillopora corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Trapeziidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trapezia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trapezia rufopunctata"}],"scientificName":"Trapezia rufopunctata"},{"body":["The Xenia swimming crab (Caphyra loevis) is a tiny swimming crab that lives inside pulsing Xenia soft corals and decorates itself with their polyps. Covered in pieces of its host, it is almost impossible to see until it moves.","It is usually under 1-2 cm across. Although it belongs to the swimming crab family and has paddle-shaped rear legs, it spends its life within one soft coral colony, feeding on the coral and on particles in the water while using its host as shelter and camouflage.","Xenia soft corals are common on reefs in the Philippines, and patient divers who look closely among the pulsing polyps can sometimes find this crab hiding in plain sight.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40527480), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"xenia-swimming-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-1a1049.webp","title":"Xenia Swimming Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The Xenia swimming crab (Caphyra loevis) is a tiny swimming crab that lives inside pulsing Xenia soft corals and decorates itself with their polyps.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Portunidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Caphyra"},{"label":"Species","value":"Caphyra loevis"}],"scientificName":"Caphyra loevis"},{"body":["The brilliant coral gall crab (Pseudocryptochirus viridis) is a tiny, shiny green crab that lives in shallow pits on stony corals. Its glossy, iridescent colour makes it one of the most eye-catching coral gall crabs.","It is only a few millimetres across. Like all coral gall crabs, the female settles on a living coral and the coral grows around her to form a protective pit, from which she feeds on mucus and particles. The species is especially associated with Turbinaria and related corals.","This crab has been recorded in the Philippines, where it lives hidden on coral reefs. Finding one takes a careful search of coral surfaces and a strong macro lens."],"slug":"brilliant-coral-gall-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-15e74c.webp","title":"Brilliant Coral Gall Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The brilliant coral gall crab (Pseudocryptochirus viridis) is a tiny, shiny green crab that lives in shallow pits on stony corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cryptochiridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pseudocryptochirus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pseudocryptochirus viridis"}],"scientificName":"Pseudocryptochirus viridis"},{"body":["The Hong Kong coral gall crab (Neotroglocarcinus hongkongensis) is a tiny crab that lives in a pit inside living stony coral, named after the place it was first described. Despite the name, it is widespread across the Indo-West Pacific.","Females measure only a few millimetres and live permanently inside their coral dwelling, feeding on mucus and food particles, while the smaller males move between corals. This species is mostly associated with faviid-type massive corals.","In the Philippines it lives hidden on coral reefs, where its small, crescent-shaped openings can be spotted on coral heads by divers who know what to look for.","Photo: [Gregor Bailar](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/395075053), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"hong-kong-coral-gall-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-bba171.webp","title":"Hong Kong Coral Gall Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The Hong Kong coral gall crab (Neotroglocarcinus hongkongensis) is a tiny crab that lives in a pit inside living stony coral, named after the place it was first described.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cryptochiridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Neotroglocarcinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Neotroglocarcinus hongkongensis"}],"scientificName":"Neotroglocarcinus hongkongensis"},{"body":["The orange coral gall crab is a tiny orange crab from the coral gall crab family that lives in a pit inside living stony coral. Its warm colour can make it stand out against paler coral, though it rarely ventures beyond its doorway.","Only a few millimetres long, the female lives permanently in the dwelling formed as the coral grows around her, feeding on mucus and particles in the water. Like several coral gall crabs seen by divers, it has not been identified to species.","This crab is found on reefs in the Philippines. Look for small openings in coral heads and, with a torch and macro lens, you may see a bright orange crab looking back."],"slug":"orange-coral-gall-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-3d550c.webp","title":"Orange Coral Gall Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The orange coral gall crab is a tiny orange crab from the coral gall crab family that lives in a pit inside living stony coral.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cryptochiridae"}],"scientificName":"Cryptochiridae"},{"body":["The chocolate shrimp (Periclimenes sp.) is a small, rich brown commensal shrimp whose colour makes it look as if it has been dipped in chocolate. Its translucent legs and pale markings stand out against the deep brown of its body.","Like many Periclimenes, it is only around 1-2 cm long and lives in close association with a host animal on the reef, using it for shelter and feeding on mucus, detritus and tiny particles. It has not yet been formally described, so it is known mainly by its common name.","This shrimp has been found by macro divers in the Philippines, where the huge variety of host animals supports an equally rich community of small commensal shrimps."],"slug":"chocolate-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c2bd1c.webp","title":"Chocolate Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The chocolate shrimp (Periclimenes sp.) is a small, rich brown commensal shrimp whose colour makes it look as if it has been dipped in chocolate.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Periclimenes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Periclimenes sp."}],"scientificName":"Periclimenes sp."},{"body":["The flower coral shrimp (Hamopontonia corallicola) is a tiny, translucent shrimp that lives among the long polyps of flower pot and other large-polyp stony corals. Its glassy body is lightly marked with white and coloured spots that help it disappear between the swaying tentacles.","Usually under 1.5 cm long, it holds onto its host with specially hooked walking legs, a feature that gives the genus its name. It feeds on mucus and particles trapped by the coral and seldom leaves the safety of its polyps.","In the Philippines this shrimp is found on Goniopora and similar corals on reef slopes. It is easily overlooked, but a slow look among the polyps with a torch can reveal one or more of these little shrimps."],"slug":"flower-coral-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4c656a.webp","title":"Flower Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The flower coral shrimp (Hamopontonia corallicola) is a tiny, translucent shrimp that lives among the long polyps of flower pot and other large-polyp stony corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hamopontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hamopontonia corallicola"}],"scientificName":"Hamopontonia corallicola"},{"body":["The egg shell shrimp (Hamopontonia fungicola) is a tiny, pale shrimp that lives on mushroom corals, its smooth whitish body resembling a fragment of egg shell. Fine coloured speckles and translucent legs complete its camouflage against the coral's tissue.","Described in 2012, it reaches only around 1 cm in length. As its scientific name suggests, it is associated with free-living mushroom corals (Fungiidae), where it clings among the septa and tentacles and feeds on mucus and small particles.","Mushroom corals are common on sandy reef slopes in the Philippines, and checking them carefully can turn up this delicate shrimp. Patience and a good macro lens are needed to spot it."],"slug":"egg-shell-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-2daa8c.webp","title":"Egg Shell Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The egg shell shrimp (Hamopontonia fungicola) is a tiny, pale shrimp that lives on mushroom corals, its smooth whitish body resembling a fragment of egg shell.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hamopontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hamopontonia fungicola"}],"scientificName":"Hamopontonia fungicola"},{"body":["The cactus shrimp (Pontonides maldivensis) is a tiny shrimp that lives on black corals and sea whips, its body covered in bumps that mimic the host's polyps. Its colour usually matches its host, from yellow and green to brown or white.","It grows to only about 1 cm and sits pressed against the stem of its coral, where it is nearly invisible. It feeds on mucus and particles caught on the coral surface, and pairs often share a single host.","Black corals and whip corals on walls and slopes in the Philippines are good places to look for the cactus shrimp. Following a stem slowly from base to tip is often the only way to find one."],"slug":"cactus-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-5b4d34.webp","title":"Cactus Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The cactus shrimp (Pontonides maldivensis) is a tiny shrimp that lives on black corals and sea whips, its body covered in bumps that mimic the host's polyps.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pontonides"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pontonides maldivensis"}],"scientificName":"Pontonides maldivensis"},{"body":["Coleman's coral shrimp (Palaemonella colemani, formerly Vir colemani) is a glassy, purple-banded shrimp that lives among the polyps of bubble corals. Its transparent body is marked with fine violet lines along the legs and claws, and it is named after marine naturalist Neville Coleman.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and is usually seen on Plerogyra and related bubble corals, sheltering between the inflated vesicles. It feeds on mucus and small particles from its host. The species was moved from the genus Vir to Palaemonella.","In the Philippines it is a well-known macro subject on bubble corals along reef slopes and walls. A torch helps reveal its fine purple markings against the pale coral.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/218805956), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"colemans-coral-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-883993.webp","title":"Coleman's Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"Coleman's coral shrimp (Palaemonella colemani, formerly Vir colemani) is a glassy, purple-banded shrimp that lives among the polyps of bubble corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Palaemonella"},{"label":"Species","value":"Palaemonella colemani"}],"scientificName":"Palaemonella colemani"},{"body":["The bubble coral shrimp (Palaemonella philippinensis, formerly Vir philippinensis) is a transparent shrimp with purple-tipped legs that lives on bubble corals. Its almost invisible body and violet markings make it a favourite of macro photographers.","Reaching about 1-2 cm, it shelters among the grape-like vesicles of Plerogyra and Physogyra corals, often in pairs, and feeds on mucus and particles. The species was described from the Philippines and has since been moved from Vir to the genus Palaemonella.","Bubble corals on reefs across the Philippines are home to this shrimp. Look carefully between the bubbles with a torch, as the shrimp is easiest to spot by its coloured leg tips."],"slug":"bubble-coral-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-80d656.webp","title":"Bubble Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The bubble coral shrimp (Palaemonella philippinensis, formerly Vir philippinensis) is a transparent shrimp with purple-tipped legs that lives on bubble corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Palaemonella"},{"label":"Species","value":"Palaemonella philippinensis"}],"scientificName":"Palaemonella philippinensis"},{"body":["The marble shrimp (Saron marmoratus) is a stocky, mottled shrimp with tufts of hair-like filaments, best known as a nocturnal reef wanderer. Its marbled pattern of green, brown, red and white helps it vanish against algae-covered rock.","It can reach about 4-6 cm. Males have very long first claws, while females are more compact. By day it hides in crevices, and at night it forages over the reef for algae, detritus and small invertebrates.","Marble shrimps are regularly seen on night dives across the Philippines, where their glowing eyes often give them away in the torch beam."],"slug":"marble-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-2342cd.webp","title":"Marble Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The marble shrimp (Saron marmoratus) is a stocky, mottled shrimp with tufts of hair-like filaments, best known as a nocturnal reef wanderer.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Saron"},{"label":"Species","value":"Saron marmoratus"}],"scientificName":"Saron marmoratus"},{"body":["The neglected marble shrimp (Saron neglectus) is a close relative of the common marble shrimp, with a finely speckled body and tufts of filaments. It is often confused with [Saron marmoratus](/critter/marble-shrimp), which is how it earned its 'neglected' name.","It grows to around 4-5 cm and is generally more finely spotted than the common marble shrimp, with fewer large blotches. It shares the same nocturnal habits, sheltering in crevices by day and roaming the reef at night to feed.","This shrimp is found on reefs in the Philippines, where night divers may see both marble shrimp species. Close-up photos of the colour pattern are the best way to tell them apart.","Photo: [Jay Paroline](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/339748888), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"neglected-marble-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-07a3b5.webp","title":"Neglected Marble Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The neglected marble shrimp (Saron neglectus) is a close relative of the common marble shrimp, with a finely speckled body and tufts of filaments.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Saron"},{"label":"Species","value":"Saron neglectus"}],"scientificName":"Saron neglectus"},{"body":["The mushroom coral shrimp (Cuapetes kororensis) is a translucent shrimp with bright spots that lives on mushroom corals and other large-polyp corals. Its glassy body is decorated with small white, yellow and purple dots.","It measures about 1-2 cm and is named after Koror in Palau, where it was first described. It sits among its host's tentacles and feeds on mucus and small particles, staying close to the coral for protection.","In the Philippines this shrimp can be found on mushroom corals on sandy reef slopes. Checking the edges and undersides of the corals with a torch is the best way to spot it."],"slug":"mushroom-coral-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b43e0d.webp","title":"Mushroom Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The mushroom coral shrimp (Cuapetes kororensis) is a translucent shrimp with bright spots that lives on mushroom corals and other large-polyp corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cuapetes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cuapetes kororensis"}],"scientificName":"Cuapetes kororensis"},{"body":["The white-stripe urchin shrimp (Stegopontonia commensalis) is a long, needle-thin shrimp that lives along the spines of sea urchins, striped to match them. Its dark body has a pale stripe running from head to tail.","Reaching about 2-3 cm, it lies flat along a single spine of its host, usually a Diadema or Echinothrix urchin, and moves from spine to spine to stay hidden. It feeds on particles and tissue from the urchin's surface.","Long-spined urchins on reefs and sandy slopes in the Philippines often host this shrimp. Look carefully along the spines, without touching them, to find it.","Photo: [呂一起(Lyu yi-chi)](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/240770702), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"white-stripe-urchin-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-81f2af.webp","title":"White-stripe Urchin Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The white-stripe urchin shrimp (Stegopontonia commensalis) is a long, needle-thin shrimp that lives along the spines of sea urchins, striped to match them.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Stegopontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Stegopontonia commensalis"}],"scientificName":"Stegopontonia commensalis"},{"body":["The emperor shrimp (Zenopontonia rex) is a colourful shrimp that rides on [nudibranchs](/marine-life/nudibranchs), sea cucumbers and Spanish dancers, hitching a lift across the reef. Its body is usually orange, red or purple with white edges, often matching its host.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and lives on the surface of its host, feeding on mucus, faeces and particles. It may hop between hosts when they meet, and pairs are sometimes found on large sea cucumbers.","In the Philippines the emperor shrimp is a classic macro find, especially on Spanish dancer nudibranchs and sea cucumbers on sandy slopes. Checking every large sea cucumber is a good way to find one."],"slug":"emperor-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-6010ef.webp","title":"Emperor Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The emperor shrimp (Zenopontonia rex) is a colourful shrimp that rides on nudibranchs, sea cucumbers and Spanish dancers, hitching a lift across the reef.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Zenopontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Zenopontonia rex"}],"scientificName":"Zenopontonia rex"},{"body":["Brock's urchin shrimp (Allopontonia brockii) is a small, striped shrimp that lives among the spines of fire urchins and other sea urchins. Its body is marked with lines and bands that match the colours of its host.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and clings to the urchin's skin between the spines, where few predators dare to follow. It feeds on particles and tissue from its host, and is often found alongside other urchin commensals such as Coleman shrimp and zebra crabs.","Fire urchins on sandy slopes in the Philippines are a good place to look for this shrimp. Always keep a safe distance, as the spines of fire urchins are venomous.","Photo: [Pierre Pericard](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/393426494), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"brocks-urchin-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-5d8cc8.webp","title":"Brock's Urchin Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"Brock's urchin shrimp (Allopontonia brockii) is a small, striped shrimp that lives among the spines of fire urchins and other sea urchins.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Allopontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Allopontonia brockii"}],"scientificName":"Allopontonia brockii"},{"body":["The starfish shrimp (Zenopontonia soror) is a small, flattened shrimp that lives on the underside of sea stars, matching their colour. Depending on its host it can be blue, orange, red, cream or mottled.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and lives on a range of sea stars, including cushion stars and crown-of-thorns starfish. It shelters near the oral groove and among the tube feet, feeding on mucus and food particles.","In the Philippines the starfish shrimp can be found by gently looking at the edges and underside of sea stars on reefs and sandy slopes. It is a close relative of the [emperor shrimp](/critter/emperor-shrimp)."],"slug":"starfish-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f713ab.webp","title":"Starfish Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The starfish shrimp (Zenopontonia soror) is a small, flattened shrimp that lives on the underside of sea stars, matching their colour.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Zenopontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Zenopontonia soror"}],"scientificName":"Zenopontonia soror"},{"body":["The basket star shrimp (Lipkemenes lanipes) is a slender, translucent shrimp that lives among the coiled arms of basket stars. Its glassy body is lined with fine colour that matches its host's branching arms.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and stays with its basket star day and night. During the day the host is tightly curled, and at night when the basket star unfurls to feed, the shrimp moves along its arms picking up food particles.","In the Philippines this shrimp is best seen on night dives, when basket stars spread their arms over gorgonians and reef tops. A careful look along the arms with a dim torch can reveal it.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41479051), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"basket-star-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-4da8bc.webp","title":"Basket Star Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The basket star shrimp (Lipkemenes lanipes) is a slender, translucent shrimp that lives among the coiled arms of basket stars.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lipkemenes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lipkemenes lanipes"}],"scientificName":"Lipkemenes lanipes"},{"body":["The disc anemone shrimp (Pliopontonia furtiva) is a tiny, secretive shrimp that lives hidden on corallimorpharians, or disc anemones. Its name 'furtiva' refers to its stealthy habits, and its colour closely matches its host.","Only around 1 cm long, it lives on the oral disc or under the edge of its host, often in pairs. It feeds on mucus and particles from the disc anemone and relies on camouflage rather than escape.","Disc anemones on reefs in the Philippines occasionally host this shrimp. Finding one requires a very close look at the surface of the disc, ideally with a macro lens."],"slug":"disc-anemone-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-5681ed.webp","title":"Disc Anemone Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The disc anemone shrimp (Pliopontonia furtiva) is a tiny, secretive shrimp that lives hidden on corallimorpharians, or disc anemones.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pliopontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pliopontonia furtiva"}],"scientificName":"Pliopontonia furtiva"},{"body":["The peacock-tail anemone shrimp (Ancylocaris brevicarpalis) is a glassy anemone shrimp with white patches and a tail fan decorated with orange-ringed eyespots. It was long known as Periclimenes brevicarpalis before being placed in Ancylocaris.","Females reach about 2-3 cm and are much larger than males. The shrimp lives among the tentacles of sea anemones, especially carpet anemones, and is immune to their stings. It feeds on mucus and food scraps and sometimes cleans fish.","This is one of the most commonly seen anemone shrimps in the Philippines, often found in groups on carpet and other anemones on sandy slopes. Its eyespotted tail makes it a favourite photo subject.","Photo: [Jim Moore (Maryland)](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/252801165), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"peacock-tail-anemone-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-8b0542.webp","title":"Peacock-tail Anemone Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The peacock-tail anemone shrimp (Ancylocaris brevicarpalis) is a glassy anemone shrimp with white patches and a tail fan decorated with orange-ringed eyespots.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ancylocaris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ancylocaris brevicarpalis"}],"scientificName":"Ancylocaris brevicarpalis"},{"body":["The yellow-spotted anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes luteomaculatus) is a transparent anemone shrimp decorated with bright yellow and white spots. Its long, banded claws and clear body make it look almost like glass.","Described in 2010, it grows to about 2-3 cm and lives among the tentacles of sea anemones and sometimes other cnidarians. It is protected from stings and acts as a cleaner, picking parasites from visiting fish.","In the Philippines this shrimp is found on anemones on reefs and sandy slopes, where it can sometimes be seen waving its claws to attract fish to be cleaned.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56929061), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"yellow-spotted-anemone-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-1d4397.webp","title":"Yellow-spotted Anemone Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The yellow-spotted anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes luteomaculatus) is a transparent anemone shrimp decorated with bright yellow and white spots.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ancylomenes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ancylomenes luteomaculatus"}],"scientificName":"Ancylomenes luteomaculatus"},{"body":["The Zanzibar shrimp (Dasycaris zanzibarica) is a tiny shrimp with a hairy, bumpy body that lives on sea whips and sea pens. Its colour varies with its host, from white and yellow to red or purple, often with bands.","It is only about 1 cm long and lies along its host with its legs tucked in, so that it looks like part of the coral. It feeds on particles and mucus from its host and is rarely seen away from it.","In the Philippines this shrimp is found on whip corals and sea pens on sandy and rubble slopes. Searching slowly along the stems is the best way to find it.","Photo: [Justin Philbois](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/263113890), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"zanzibar-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-2b7d47.webp","title":"Zanzibar Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The Zanzibar shrimp (Dasycaris zanzibarica) is a tiny shrimp with a hairy, bumpy body that lives on sea whips and sea pens.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dasycaris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dasycaris zanzibarica"}],"scientificName":"Dasycaris zanzibarica"},{"body":["Boschma's gorgonian shrimp (Hamodactylus boschmai) is a tiny shrimp that lives on gorgonian sea fans, colour-matched to its host. It is often pink, red or orange with pale markings that imitate the gorgonian's polyps.","Only around 1 cm long, it holds onto the branches with hooked legs, a feature typical of the genus. It feeds on mucus and particles and spends its life on a single gorgonian colony.","Sea fans on walls and slopes in the Philippines can host this shrimp. A slow, close look along the branches is needed to separate it from the polyps around it.","Photo: [Justin Philbois](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256721467), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"boschmas-gorgonian-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-1a518c.webp","title":"Boschma's Gorgonian Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"Boschma's gorgonian shrimp (Hamodactylus boschmai) is a tiny shrimp that lives on gorgonian sea fans, colour-matched to its host.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hamodactylus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hamodactylus boschmai"}],"scientificName":"Hamodactylus boschmai"},{"body":["The Japanese dragon shrimp (Anachlorocurtis commensalis) is a slender, spiny shrimp that lives on black corals and whip corals. Its long, thin body is covered with small projections and often coloured to match its host.","It grows to about 2-3 cm and was first described from Japan. It clings to the stem of its host and feeds on particles and mucus, relying on its colour and shape to blend in with the coral's polyps.","In the Philippines this shrimp is found on whip corals and black corals on deeper slopes. It is a close relative of the [dragon shrimp](/critter/dragon-shrimp), and both are prized finds for macro photographers."],"slug":"japanese-dragon-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-52fc4c.webp","title":"Japanese Dragon Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The Japanese dragon shrimp (Anachlorocurtis commensalis) is a slender, spiny shrimp that lives on black corals and whip corals.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chlorotocellidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Anachlorocurtis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Anachlorocurtis commensalis"}],"scientificName":"Anachlorocurtis commensalis"},{"body":["The dragon shrimp (Miropandalus hardingi) is a spiny, knobbly shrimp that lives on whip corals and comes in striking green and red colour forms. Its body is covered in bumps and projections that make it look like a tiny dragon.","It grows to about 2 cm. The green form matches green whip corals, while the red form lives on red or orange whips, and in both the shrimp's knobs mimic the coral's polyps. It clings to the stem of its host and feeds on mucus and particles.","In the Philippines the dragon shrimp is a much sought-after macro subject on whip corals along sandy slopes and walls. Both colour forms can be found by carefully scanning the length of each whip."],"slug":"dragon-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4b372a.webp","title":"Dragon Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The dragon shrimp (Miropandalus hardingi) is a spiny, knobbly shrimp that lives on whip corals and comes in striking green and red colour forms.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chlorotocellidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Miropandalus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Miropandalus hardingi"}],"scientificName":"Miropandalus hardingi"},{"body":["The harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta) is a spectacular shrimp with a white body, pink or purple spots and huge, flattened claws, which feeds only on sea stars. Its paddle-like claws and petal-shaped antennae make it one of the most beautiful shrimps on the reef.","It grows to about 5 cm and usually lives in pairs. Working together, the pair flips a sea star over and slowly eats its tube feet and soft tissue, sometimes keeping the star alive for days. They hide in crevices and under ledges.","In the Philippines the harlequin shrimp is a top find for macro divers, usually spotted in pairs under rocks or coral rubble, sometimes with a sea star nearby."],"slug":"harlequin-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-8a37a0.webp","title":"Harlequin Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta) is a spectacular shrimp with white body, pink or purple spots and huge, flattened claws, which feeds only on sea stars.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hymenocera"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hymenocera picta"}],"scientificName":"Hymenocera picta"},{"body":["The banded coral shrimp (Stenopus hispidus), also known as the banded boxer shrimp, is a striking red-and-white banded cleaner shrimp with long white antennae and large claws. It holds its banded claws up like a boxer, which gives it its other common name.","It grows to about 5-6 cm and usually lives in pairs under ledges and in crevices. It acts as a cleaner, removing parasites and dead tissue from fish that visit its station, and it is found in tropical seas worldwide.","The banded coral shrimp is a common sight on reefs throughout the Philippines, often seen with its white antennae waving from a crack in the rock to attract fish."],"slug":"banded-boxer-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d6fb69.webp","title":"Banded Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The banded coral shrimp (Stenopus hispidus), also known as the banded boxer shrimp, is a striking red-and-white banded cleaner shrimp with long white antennae and large claws.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Stenopodidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Stenopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Stenopus hispidus"}],"scientificName":"Stenopus hispidus"},{"body":["The spiny tiger shrimp (Phyllognathia ceratophthalma) is a tiny, stocky shrimp with tiger-like bands and horn-like projections on its eyes. Its body is cream to white with bold brown or black stripes and is covered in small spines.","Usually under 1 cm long, it is a close relative of the [bumblebee shrimps](/critter/bumblebee-shrimp) and is believed to feed on the tube feet of sea urchins and sea stars. It hides under rocks and rubble during the day and is more active at night.","In the Philippines it is a sought-after critter on rubble slopes, most often spotted by carefully scanning rubble with a torch on night dives. Its 'horned' eyes make it easy to recognise up close.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197441481), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"spiny-tiger-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-2560e5.webp","title":"Spiny Tiger Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The spiny tiger shrimp (Phyllognathia ceratophthalma) is a tiny, stocky shrimp with tiger-like bands and horn-like projections on its eyes.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phyllognathia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phyllognathia ceratophthalma"}],"scientificName":"Phyllognathia ceratophthalma"},{"body":["The bumblebee shrimp (Gnathophyllum americanum) is a small, stout shrimp with dark brown and cream bands that make it look like a bumblebee. Its body is often dotted with tiny white or yellow spots inside the dark bands.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and feeds on the tube feet of sea urchins and sea stars. It hides under rocks and in crevices by day, coming out at night to forage. Despite its name, it is found in tropical waters around the world, not only in the Americas.","In the Philippines the bumblebee shrimp is found under rocks and rubble on shallow reefs, often near sea urchins. Night dives give the best chance of seeing it out in the open."],"slug":"bumblebee-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-349032.webp","title":"Bumblebee Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The bumblebee shrimp (Gnathophyllum americanum) is a small, stout shrimp with dark brown and cream bands that make it look like a bumblebee.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gnathophyllum"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gnathophyllum americanum"}],"scientificName":"Gnathophyllum americanum"},{"body":["The Donald Duck shrimp (Leander plumosus) is a slender, translucent shrimp with a long, upturned snout that gives it a duck-like profile. Its glassy body is marked with fine red, purple and white lines and spots, and its rostrum has feathery edges.","It grows to about 2-3 cm and lives among algae, seagrass and hydroids, where its transparency makes it hard to see. It feeds on small particles and tiny invertebrates.","In the Philippines it is a favourite subject for macro photographers, found on algae and rubble on sandy slopes. Its comical face is unmistakable once spotted."],"slug":"donald-duck-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-02087f.webp","title":"Donald Duck Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The Donald Duck shrimp (Leander plumosus) is a slender, translucent shrimp with a long, upturned snout that gives it a duck-like profile.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Leander"},{"label":"Species","value":"Leander plumosus"}],"scientificName":"Leander plumosus"},{"body":["The clear cleaner shrimp (Urocaridella antonbruunii) is a transparent cleaner shrimp with red and white spots that gathers in groups to clean fish. Its almost invisible body makes the coloured spots seem to float in the water.","It grows to about 3 cm and lives under ledges, in caves and among coral, often in groups. The shrimps sway from side to side to advertise their cleaning service, then pick parasites and dead skin from visiting fish and sometimes from divers' hands.","In the Philippines clear cleaner shrimps are common at cleaning stations on reefs and wrecks, where they are fun to watch at work.","Photo: [Gregor Bailar](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/400141953), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"clear-cleaner-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-0901c5.webp","title":"Clear Cleaner Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The clear cleaner shrimp (Urocaridella antonbruunii) is a transparent cleaner shrimp with red and white spots that gathers in groups to clean fish.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Urocaridella"},{"label":"Species","value":"Urocaridella antonbruunii"}],"scientificName":"Urocaridella antonbruunii"},{"body":["The ocellated sawblade shrimp (Tozeuma lanceolatum) is a long, slender shrimp with a lance-like rostrum that lives among sea whips and seagrass. Its body is usually translucent white, green or pink, sometimes with small eye-like spots.","It reaches around 4-5 cm and aligns its body with the stem or blade it sits on, becoming almost invisible. It feeds on small particles and tiny invertebrates and moves slowly to avoid being noticed.","In the Philippines it is found in seagrass beds and on sea whips on sandy slopes. It is a close relative of the sawblade shrimp and is just as easy to overlook.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/46355358), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"ocellated-sawblade-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-2714bf.webp","title":"Ocellated Sawblade Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The ocellated sawblade shrimp (Tozeuma lanceolatum) is a long, slender shrimp with a lance-like rostrum that lives among sea whips and seagrass.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Tozeuma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Tozeuma lanceolatum"}],"scientificName":"Tozeuma lanceolatum"},{"body":["The red-striped cleaner shrimp (Lysmatella prima) is a small, translucent shrimp with fine red stripes that lives in crevices on the reef. Its red lines run along the body and legs, and its long antennae are often white.","It grows to around 2-3 cm and belongs to the Lysmatidae, the family that includes the well-known Lysmata cleaner shrimps. It shelters in holes and under ledges, coming out to feed and, like its relatives, may pick at parasites on fish.","In the Philippines this shrimp is found in crevices and under rocks on reefs, and is most often seen on night dives.","Photo: [Justin Philbois](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/263053417), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"red-striped-cleaner-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-fe8f28.webp","title":"Red-striped Cleaner Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The red-striped cleaner shrimp (Lysmatella prima) is a small, translucent shrimp with fine red stripes that lives in crevices on the reef.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Lysmatidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lysmatella"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lysmatella prima"}],"scientificName":"Lysmatella prima"},{"body":["The yellow-spotted cleaner shrimp (Urocaridella degravei) is a transparent cleaner shrimp marked with yellow and red spots. Described in 2018, it was separated from similar-looking Urocaridella species by its colour pattern and genetics.","It grows to about 2-3 cm and lives in groups under ledges and in caves. The shrimps sway rhythmically to signal to fish, then clean parasites and dead tissue from their visitors.","In the Philippines it can be seen at cleaning stations on reefs. Divers who hold still near a ledge may find these shrimps hopping over to inspect their hands.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42070323), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"yellow-spotted-cleaner-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-4d9b1b.webp","title":"Yellow-spotted Cleaner Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The yellow-spotted cleaner shrimp (Urocaridella degravei) is a transparent cleaner shrimp marked with yellow and red spots.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Urocaridella"},{"label":"Species","value":"Urocaridella degravei"}],"scientificName":"Urocaridella degravei"},{"body":["The common Xenia coral shrimp (Hippolyte commensalis) is a tiny, highly variable shrimp that lives on soft corals and comes in many colour forms. Shrimps once described as separate species, the marbled soft coral shrimp (Alcyonohippolyte brachycarpus), the freckled soft coral shrimp (A. maculata) and the striped Xenia coral shrimp (A. tenuicarpus), are now all treated as this one species.","It is usually under 1 cm long. Its colour and pattern match its host: marbled forms live on Sarcophyton and similar leather corals, freckled forms are covered in spots that mimic polyps, and striped forms on Xenia carry lines that follow the pulsing polyps. It feeds on mucus and particles from its soft coral host.","In the Philippines this shrimp is common on Xenia and other soft corals on reefs and slopes, but its camouflage makes it easy to miss. A slow look among the polyps with a macro lens will often reveal one."],"slug":"common-xenia-coral-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c31810.webp","title":"Common Xenia Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The common Xenia coral shrimp (Hippolyte commensalis) is a tiny, highly variable shrimp that lives on soft corals and comes in many colour forms.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hippolyte"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hippolyte commensalis"}],"scientificName":"Hippolyte commensalis"},{"body":["The humpback soft coral shrimp (Hippolyte dossena) is a tiny, hunched shrimp that lives on soft corals and matches their colour and texture. Its strongly humped back gives it its common name.","Described in 2011 (originally in the genus Alcyonohippolyte), it is usually under 1 cm long. It clings to its soft coral host and feeds on mucus and particles, with knobs and colour patches that mimic the coral's polyps.","In the Philippines it lives on soft corals on reef slopes, where it is a challenging but rewarding find for macro photographers."],"slug":"humpback-soft-coral-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-206f2b.webp","title":"Humpback Soft Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The humpback soft coral shrimp (Hippolyte dossena) is a tiny, hunched shrimp that lives on soft corals and matches their colour and texture.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hippolyte"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hippolyte dossena"}],"scientificName":"Hippolyte dossena"},{"body":["The banded hairy shrimp (Phycocaris sp.) is a tiny, fuzzy shrimp marked with alternating light and dark bands across its body. Like other hairy shrimps, it is covered in fine setae that trap algae and debris.","It is only a few millimetres long and has not been formally described. It clings to algae, hydroids and rubble and rocks gently with the surge, feeding on tiny particles caught in its hairs.","In the Philippines it is a classic muck-diving find on algae-covered rubble, usually spotted only by sharp-eyed guides or with the help of a magnifier."],"slug":"banded-hairy-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-64fece.webp","title":"Banded Hairy Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The banded hairy shrimp (Phycocaris sp.) is a tiny, fuzzy shrimp marked with alternating light and dark bands across its body.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phycocaris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phycocaris sp."}],"scientificName":"Phycocaris sp."},{"body":["The leafy hairy shrimp (Phycocaris sp.) is a tiny hairy shrimp with leaf-like flaps that make it resemble a scrap of seaweed. Its colour usually matches the algae it lives on.","It is only a few millimetres long and has not been formally described. It clings to algae and rubble, swaying with the water so that it looks like a piece of drifting weed, and feeds on tiny particles.","In the Philippines it is found among algae on sand and rubble slopes, and spotting one takes patience and very sharp eyes."],"slug":"leafy-hairy-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-6cbe63.webp","title":"Leafy Hairy Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The leafy hairy shrimp (Phycocaris sp.) is a tiny hairy shrimp with leaf-like flaps that make it resemble a scrap of seaweed.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phycocaris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phycocaris sp."}],"scientificName":"Phycocaris sp."},{"body":["The Ambon crinoid shrimp (Laomenes amboinensis) is a small feather star shrimp, often striped, that lives among the arms of crinoids. It is named after Ambon in Indonesia, where it was first described.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and has a compact body with stout claws. Its colours vary with its host, and it shelters among the crinoid's pinnules, feeding on food particles collected by the feather star.","In the Philippines this shrimp is found on feather stars across reefs and slopes. Careful searching of the host's arms near the centre can reveal it.","Photo: [Gregor Bailar](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/395075055), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"ambon-crinoid-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-0f7f0b.webp","title":"Ambon Crinoid Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The Ambon crinoid shrimp (Laomenes amboinensis) is a small feather star shrimp, often striped, that lives among the arms of crinoids.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Laomenes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Laomenes amboinensis"}],"scientificName":"Laomenes amboinensis"},{"body":["The leopard crinoid shrimp (Laomenes pardus) is a feather star shrimp covered in leopard-like spots. Its name 'pardus' means leopard, and its spotted pattern makes it one of the most attractive crinoid shrimps.","Described in 2009, it grows to about 1-2 cm and lives among the arms of feather stars. Its spots and colours blend with its host, and it feeds on particles caught by the crinoid.","In the Philippines it is found on feather stars on reefs and slopes, where it is a lovely find for macro photographers.","Photo: [Bart](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2405227), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"leopard-crinoid-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-374193.webp","title":"Leopard Crinoid Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The leopard crinoid shrimp (Laomenes pardus) is a feather star shrimp covered in leopard-like spots.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Laomenes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Laomenes pardus"}],"scientificName":"Laomenes pardus"},{"body":["The white crinoid shrimp (Laomenes sp.) is a small, pale feather star shrimp that blends with white and cream crinoids. Its almost white body can be lightly translucent, making it hard to separate from its host's arms.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and shelters among the pinnules of its feather star, feeding on particles the crinoid collects. It is an undescribed species known by its colour.","In the Philippines it is found on pale feather stars on reefs and walls. A torch and a slow look are needed to spot it."],"slug":"white-crinoid-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-beafbf.webp","title":"White Crinoid Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The white crinoid shrimp (Laomenes sp.) is a small, pale feather star shrimp that blends with white and cream crinoids.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Laomenes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Laomenes sp."}],"scientificName":"Laomenes sp."},{"body":["The western king prawn (Penaeus latisulcatus) is a large penaeid prawn with blue-tipped tail fan and legs, active on sandy bottoms at night. Its pale, cream to yellowish body makes the blue tips stand out.","It can grow to around 20 cm and is an important commercial species across the Indo-West Pacific. By day it buries in sand and mud, emerging at night to feed on small invertebrates and detritus.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and muddy bottoms and is sometimes seen by night divers as it leaves its burrow to forage.","Photo: [呂一起(Lyu yi-chi)](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178318821), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"western-king-prawn","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-587ace.webp","title":"Western King Prawn","status":"published","excerpt":"The western king prawn (Penaeus latisulcatus) is a large penaeid prawn with blue-tipped tail fan and legs, active on sandy bottoms at night.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Penaeidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Penaeus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Penaeus latisulcatus"}],"scientificName":"Penaeus latisulcatus"},{"body":["The simplex shrimp (Phyllognathia simplex) is a tiny, stocky shrimp related to the [spiny tiger shrimp](/critter/spiny-tiger-shrimp), with a smoother body and banded colours. Its name 'simplex' refers to its simpler, less spiny form.","It is usually under 1 cm long and, like its relatives, is thought to feed on the tube feet of echinoderms. It hides under rocks and rubble by day and becomes more active at night.","In the Philippines it is a rare find on rubble slopes, usually spotted by careful searching with a torch on night dives."],"slug":"simplex-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d53eca.webp","title":"Simplex Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The simplex shrimp (Phyllognathia simplex) is a tiny, stocky shrimp related to the spiny tiger shrimp, with a smoother body and banded colours.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phyllognathia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phyllognathia simplex"}],"scientificName":"Phyllognathia simplex"},{"body":["The painted tunicate shrimp (Odontonia katoi) is a tiny, colourfully patterned shrimp that lives inside solitary sea squirts. Its body is decorated with painted-looking spots and patches.","It is usually under 1 cm long and lives in pairs inside the body cavity of its ascidian host, feeding on particles drawn in by the host's filtering. It was first described from Japan in 1940.","In the Philippines it is found inside sea squirts on reefs and slopes, and is only seen by divers who look closely into the host's siphons."],"slug":"painted-tunicate-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-66c761.webp","title":"Painted Tunicate Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The painted tunicate shrimp (Odontonia katoi) is a tiny, colourfully patterned shrimp that lives inside solitary sea squirts.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Odontonia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Odontonia katoi"}],"scientificName":"Odontonia katoi"},{"body":["The blue cryptic sponge shrimp (Gelastocaris paronai) is a small shrimp that lives on and matches the colour of blue and purple sponges. Its colour is so close to its host that it is almost invisible.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and clings to the sponge surface, feeding on particles and mucus. It relies entirely on camouflage and seldom leaves its host.","In the Philippines it is found on blue sponges on reefs, where only a slow, close search reveals it.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68578866), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"blue-cryptic-sponge-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/crustaceans/original-2742bf.webp","title":"Blue Cryptic Sponge Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The blue cryptic sponge shrimp (Gelastocaris paronai) is a small shrimp that lives on and matches the colour of blue and purple sponges.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Subphylum","value":"Crustacea"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Hippolytidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gelastocaris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gelastocaris paronai"}],"scientificName":"Gelastocaris paronai"},{"body":["Phyllodesmium briareum is a solar-powered aeolid nudibranch that lives on and mimics the soft coral Briareum. Its brownish-purple cerata look almost exactly like the coral's polyps.","It grows to about 3-4 cm and keeps symbiotic zooxanthellae from its coral prey alive in its body, gaining extra energy from their photosynthesis. It feeds only on Briareum and stays on its host.","In the Philippines it is found on Briareum colonies on shallow reefs, where it is easy to overlook among the swaying polyps."],"slug":"phyllodesmium-briareum","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-7c6f60.webp","title":"Phyllodesmium briareum","status":"published","excerpt":"Phyllodesmium briareum is a solar-powered aeolid nudibranch that lives on and mimics the soft coral Briareum.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Myrrhinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Phyllodesmium"},{"label":"Species","value":"Phyllodesmium briareum"}],"scientificName":"Phyllodesmium briareum"},{"body":["Philinopsis speciosa is a predatory headshield slug with a brown to black body and pale or orange edges on its parapodia. Its colouring varies from dark and uniform to mottled.","It grows to about 5-7 cm and hunts bubble snails and other sea slugs, following their trails and swallowing them whole. It often burrows just under the sand.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy slopes, most often encountered at night."],"slug":"philinopsis-speciosa","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-89d2c7.webp","title":"Philinopsis speciosa","status":"published","excerpt":"Philinopsis speciosa is a predatory headshield slug with a brown to black body and pale or orange edges on its parapodia.","category":"headshield-slugs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Cephalaspidea"},{"label":"Family","value":"Aglajidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Philinopsis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Philinopsis speciosa"}],"scientificName":"Philinopsis speciosa"},{"body":["Aplysia parvula is a small sea hare, usually red-brown to green, with dark-edged parapodia and rhinophores. Its colour often matches the algae it eats.","It grows to only a few centimetres and feeds mainly on red algae, from which it takes its colour and chemical defences. It can release purple ink when disturbed.","In the Philippines it is found on algae-covered rubble and reef flats, where it is easily overlooked."],"slug":"aplysia-parvula","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e71c34.webp","title":"Aplysia parvula","status":"published","excerpt":"Aplysia parvula is a small sea hare, usually red-brown to green, with dark-edged parapodia and rhinophores.","category":"sea-hares","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Aplysiida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Aplysiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Aplysia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Aplysia parvula"}],"scientificName":"Aplysia parvula"},{"body":["Siphopteron makisig is a tiny gastropterid headshield slug described from the Philippines in 2017. 'Makisig' is a Filipino word meaning handsome or dashing.","It is only a few millimetres long. Like other Siphopteron, it has wing-like parapodia it can use to swim and a small siphon at the rear.","In the Philippines it is found on sand and rubble, and its tiny size makes it a true super-macro subject."],"slug":"siphopteron-makisig","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-54ca85.webp","title":"Siphopteron makisig","status":"published","excerpt":"Siphopteron makisig is a tiny gastropterid headshield slug described from the Philippines in 2017.","category":"headshield-slugs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Cephalaspidea"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gastropteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Siphopteron"},{"label":"Species","value":"Siphopteron makisig"}],"scientificName":"Siphopteron makisig"},{"body":["The psychedelic batwing slug (Sagaminopteron psychedelicum) is a tiny headshield slug with a mesh of blue, orange and green lines. Its wing-like parapodia give it the batwing name.","It grows to about 1 cm and lives and feeds on Dysidea sponges. It can swim by flapping its parapodia.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs on its sponge host."],"slug":"psychedelic-batwing-slug","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d9ad73.webp","title":"Psychedelic Batwing Slug","status":"published","excerpt":"The psychedelic batwing slug (Sagaminopteron psychedelicum) is a tiny headshield slug with a mesh of blue, orange and green lines.","category":"headshield-slugs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Cephalaspidea"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gastropteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sagaminopteron"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sagaminopteron psychedelicum"}],"scientificName":"Sagaminopteron psychedelicum"},{"body":["The electric flame scallop or disco clam (Ctenoides ales) is a file clam with red tentacles and a lip that flashes like a light show. Despite the name, it is a file clam rather than a true scallop.","It grows to about 6-8 cm. The flashing comes from tiny silica spheres on the edge of its mantle that reflect light as it rolls the tissue in and out, and is thought to deter predators or attract food.","In the Philippines it is found wedged in crevices and under overhangs on reefs, where its flickering is easy to spot with a torch.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197449064), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"electric-flame-scallop","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snails-and-clams/original-78fa5a.webp","title":"Electric Flame Scallop","status":"published","excerpt":"The electric flame scallop or disco clam (Ctenoides ales) is a file clam with red tentacles and a lip that flashes like a light show.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Bivalvia"},{"label":"Order","value":"Limida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Limidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ctenoides"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ctenoides ales"}],"scientificName":"Ctenoides ales"},{"body":["The fragile file shell (Limaria fragilis) is a small, thin-shelled file clam fringed with long, sticky red-orange tentacles. Its delicate white shell gives it its name.","It grows to about 2-3 cm and filters plankton from the water. When disturbed it can swim by clapping its valves, and its tentacles can break off to distract predators.","In the Philippines it is found hiding under rocks and rubble, often seen when a piece of rubble is gently turned over."],"slug":"fragile-file-shell","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b905a6.webp","title":"Fragile File Shell","status":"published","excerpt":"The fragile file shell (Limaria fragilis) is a small, thin-shelled file clam fringed with long, sticky red-orange tentacles.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Bivalvia"},{"label":"Order","value":"Limida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Limidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Limaria"},{"label":"Species","value":"Limaria fragilis"}],"scientificName":"Limaria fragilis"},{"body":["The clear sundial (Architectonica perspectiva) is a sand-dwelling snail with a flat, spiralled shell banded in brown and cream. Seen from below, its deep, open umbilicus looks like a spiral staircase.","Its shell grows to about 4-6 cm. It burrows in sand by day and feeds on sea pens and other soft cnidarians at night.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy slopes, most often seen crawling on night dives.","Photo: [portioid](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/204279733), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"clear-sundial","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snails-and-clams/original-cc38ca.webp","title":"Clear Sundial","status":"published","excerpt":"The clear sundial (Architectonica perspectiva) is a sand-dwelling snail with a flat, spiralled shell banded in brown and cream.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Superfamily","value":"Architectonicoidea"},{"label":"Family","value":"Architectonicidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Architectonica"},{"label":"Species","value":"Architectonica perspectiva"}],"scientificName":"Architectonica perspectiva"},{"body":["The scorpion conch (Lambis scorpius) is a spider conch with long, knobbly spines along the lip of its shell. The spines resemble a scorpion's legs and tail.","Its shell grows to about 10-15 cm and is often covered in algae, while the aperture is purple and banded. It grazes on algae and moves with a hopping motion using its claw-like operculum.","In the Philippines it is found on reef flats, seagrass and rubble, where its camouflaged shell is easy to miss.","Photo: [Debra Baker](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143029852), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"scorpion-conch","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snails-and-clams/original-1568c7.webp","title":"Scorpion Conch","status":"published","excerpt":"The scorpion conch (Lambis scorpius) is a spider conch with long, knobbly spines along the lip of its shell.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Strombidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lambis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lambis scorpius"}],"scientificName":"Lambis scorpius"},{"body":["The toenail cowry (Calpurnus verrucosus) is a white ovulid with a pink-tipped knob at each end of its shell, living on leather corals. Its mantle is mottled white with dark spots and often covers the shell.","Its shell grows to about 2-3 cm. It feeds on the soft corals it lives on, especially Sarcophyton and Lobophytum.","In the Philippines it is found on leather corals on reefs, sometimes in pairs."],"slug":"toenail-cowry","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-3ba8db.webp","title":"Toenail Cowry","status":"published","excerpt":"The toenail cowry (Calpurnus verrucosus) is a white ovulid with a pink-tipped knob at each end of its shell, living on leather corals.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ovulidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Calpurnus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Calpurnus verrucosus"}],"scientificName":"Calpurnus verrucosus"},{"body":["The margarita pearl-ovulid (Diminovula margarita) is a tiny ovulid with a rounded, pearl-like shell, living on soft corals. Its name comes from the Greek for pearl.","Its shell is usually under 1.5 cm. The mantle, often coloured to match its host, can wrap the shell and gives it excellent camouflage as it feeds on the coral's polyps.","In the Philippines it is found on soft corals on reefs, and takes careful searching to find.","Photo: [Chris Spain](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/281612884), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"margarita-pearl-ovulid","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snails-and-clams/original-339d3d.webp","title":"Margarita Pearl-ovulid","status":"published","excerpt":"The margarita pearl-ovulid (Diminovula margarita) is a tiny ovulid with a rounded, pearl-like shell, living on soft corals.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ovulidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Diminovula"},{"label":"Species","value":"Diminovula margarita"}],"scientificName":"Diminovula margarita"},{"body":["The ridged pearl-ovulid (Diminovula culmen) is a tiny ovulid with a ridge across its shell, camouflaged on soft corals. 'Culmen' means summit or ridge.","Its shell is only about 1 cm long. Its mantle matches the colour and texture of its host coral, on which it feeds.","In the Philippines it is found on soft corals on reefs.","Photo: [Micha Baum](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/259581058), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"ridged-pearl-ovulid","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snails-and-clams/original-9d3fc8.webp","title":"Ridged Pearl-ovulid","status":"published","excerpt":"The ridged pearl-ovulid (Diminovula culmen) is a tiny ovulid with a ridge across its shell, camouflaged on soft corals.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ovulidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Diminovula"},{"label":"Species","value":"Diminovula culmen"}],"scientificName":"Diminovula culmen"},{"body":["Rosewater's primovula (Primovula rosewateri) is a tiny ovulid that lives on gorgonians and soft corals, matching its host's colours. It is named after malacologist Joseph Rosewater.","Its shell is only about 1 cm long. Its mantle, with small papillae, mimics the polyps of its host, which it feeds on.","In the Philippines it is found on gorgonians and soft corals on reef slopes.","Photo: [Kai Squires](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40384621), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"rosewaters-primovula","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snails-and-clams/original-e004a5.webp","title":"Rosewater's Primovula","status":"published","excerpt":"Rosewater's primovula (Primovula rosewateri) is a tiny ovulid that lives on gorgonians and soft corals, matching its host's colours.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ovulidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Primovula"},{"label":"Species","value":"Primovula rosewateri"}],"scientificName":"Primovula rosewateri"},{"body":["Semper's ovulid (Prosimnia semperi) is a small ovulid with a pink to purple shell, living on gorgonian sea fans. It is named after naturalist Carl Semper, who worked in the Philippines.","Its shell is about 1-1.5 cm long. Its mantle matches the colour of its host gorgonian, on which it feeds.","In the Philippines it is found on sea fans on reef slopes and walls.","Photo: [apteryx54](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193248795), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"sempers-ovulid","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snails-and-clams/original-d5b26f.webp","title":"Semper's Ovulid","status":"published","excerpt":"Semper's ovulid (Prosimnia semperi) is a small ovulid with a pink to purple shell, living on gorgonian sea fans.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ovulidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Prosimnia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Prosimnia semperi"}],"scientificName":"Prosimnia semperi"},{"body":["The comet (Calloplesiops altivelis), also called the marine betta, is a dark, white-spotted fish that mimics the head of a [moray eel](/marine-life/snakes-and-eels) with its tail. An eyespot near the base of its dorsal fin completes the illusion.","It grows to about 15-20 cm and hunts small fish and shrimps. When threatened it pokes its head into a hole, leaving the 'moray' tail on display.","In the Philippines it is found in caves, crevices and under ledges on reefs, and is shy and mostly seen at dusk or night."],"slug":"comet","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-452c8d.webp","title":"Comet","status":"published","excerpt":"The comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) is a dark, white-spotted fish that mimics the head of a moray eel with its tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Plesiopidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Calloplesiops"},{"label":"Species","value":"Calloplesiops altivelis"}],"scientificName":"Calloplesiops altivelis"},{"body":["Barnes' garden eel (Gorgasia barnesi) is a slender garden eel that lives in colonies on sandy slopes, swaying up from its burrow to feed. Its pale body is finely speckled.","It grows to around 60-80 cm, though most of its body stays hidden in the sand. It picks drifting plankton from the current and retreats instantly when approached.","In the Philippines it is found in colonies on sandy slopes with gentle currents; a slow, low approach gives the best views.","Photo: [Bernard DUPONT](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/295111652), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"barnes-garden-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-de479a.webp","title":"Barnes' Garden Eel","status":"published","excerpt":"Barnes' garden eel (Gorgasia barnesi) is a slender garden eel that lives in colonies on sandy slopes, swaying up from its burrow to feed.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Congridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gorgasia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gorgasia barnesi"}],"scientificName":"Gorgasia barnesi"},{"body":["The barred-fin moray (Gymnothorax zonipectis) is a small, shy moray with a pale brown body marked by dark bars and spots. A dark streak runs behind its eye.","It grows to about 40-50 cm and hunts small fish and crustaceans, mostly at night. During the day it stays hidden deep in the reef.","In the Philippines it is found in reef crevices and rubble, and is most often seen on night dives."],"slug":"barred-fin-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-2cdae1.webp","title":"Barred-fin Moray","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-2cdae1.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The barred-fin moray (Gymnothorax zonipectis) is a small, shy moray with a pale brown body marked by dark bars and spots.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax zonipectis"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax zonipectis"},{"body":["The black garden eel (Heteroconger perissodon) is a dark garden eel that lives in colonies on sand, rising from its burrow to feed on plankton. Its dark colour sets it apart from paler garden eels.","It grows to about 40-50 cm and rarely leaves its burrow, which it lines with mucus. It disappears into the sand when divers come too close.","In the Philippines it is found in colonies on sandy slopes, often alongside other garden eel species.","Photo: [Justin Philbois](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/263040876), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"black-garden-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-f43dc2.webp","title":"Black Garden Eel","status":"published","excerpt":"The black garden eel (Heteroconger perissodon) is a dark garden eel that lives in colonies on sand, rising from its burrow to feed on plankton.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Congridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Heteroconger"},{"label":"Species","value":"Heteroconger perissodon"}],"scientificName":"Heteroconger perissodon"},{"body":["The crocodile snake eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) is an ambush predator that buries itself in sand with only its toothy head showing. Its upturned mouth and small eyes give it a crocodile-like face.","It can grow to around 1 m. It waits motionless for small fish to pass, then strikes from below with surprising speed.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and muddy slopes, a classic muck-diving find.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55244062), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"crocodile-snake-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-884b4f.webp","title":"Crocodile Snake Eel","status":"published","excerpt":"The crocodile snake eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) is an ambush predator that buries itself in sand with only its toothy head showing.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ophichthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Brachysomophis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Brachysomophis crocodilinus"}],"scientificName":"Brachysomophis crocodilinus"},{"body":["The enigmatic moray (Gymnothorax enigmaticus) is a banded moray with dark brown and pale rings, often mistaken for a sea snake. Its banding may help it mimic venomous sea kraits.","It grows to about 50-60 cm and feeds on small fish and crustaceans. It lives in shallow water, often on reef flats.","In the Philippines it is found in shallow rocky and rubble areas, hiding in holes by day.","Photo: [Jean-Paul Boerekamps](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191830728), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"enigmatic-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-4a3300.webp","title":"Enigmatic Moray","status":"published","excerpt":"The enigmatic moray (Gymnothorax enigmaticus) is a banded moray with dark brown and pale rings, often mistaken for a sea snake.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax enigmaticus"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax enigmaticus"},{"body":["The fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) is a yellowish-green moray covered in dark spots, with a dark-tinged head. The spots are irregular and vary in size.","It grows to about 80 cm and hunts fish and crustaceans, mostly at night. It is commonly seen with cleaner shrimps working on its head.","In the Philippines it is common in reef crevices, rubble and even on muck sites, often sharing holes with cleaner shrimps."],"slug":"fimbriated-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d62cc8.webp","title":"Fimbriated Moray","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d62cc8.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) is a yellowish-green moray covered in dark spots, with a dark-tinged head.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax fimbriatus"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax fimbriatus"},{"body":["The giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus) is the bulkiest moray on the reef, brown with dark leopard-like blotches. A dark patch around the gill opening helps identify it.","It can reach over 2.5 m and hunts fish and crustaceans, sometimes cooperatively with groupers. Despite its size, it is generally not aggressive unless provoked.","In the Philippines it is found in large holes and under coral heads on reef slopes."],"slug":"giant-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b3f484.webp","title":"Giant Moray","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b3f484.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus) is the bulkiest moray on the reef, brown with dark leopard-like blotches.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax javanicus"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax javanicus"},{"body":["The harlequin snake eel (Myrichthys colubrinus) is a black-and-white banded eel that mimics the venomous banded sea krait. A pointed snout and lack of a flattened tail tell it apart from the snake.","It grows to about 90 cm and hunts small fish and crustaceans by poking its head into holes in the sand. Some individuals have dark saddles and spots instead of full bands.","In the Philippines it is found on sand and seagrass, often foraging in the open during the day."],"slug":"harlequin-snake-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-68363b.webp","title":"Harlequin Snake Eel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-68363b.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a9c4e5.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The harlequin snake eel (Myrichthys colubrinus) is a black-and-white banded eel that mimics the venomous banded sea krait.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ophichthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Myrichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Myrichthys colubrinus"}],"scientificName":"Myrichthys colubrinus"},{"body":["The highfin snake eel (Ophichthus altipennis) is a burrowing snake eel usually seen with just its head poking out of the sand. Its head is brownish with fine dark spots and pale lips.","It can grow to around 1 m. It waits for small fish and crustaceans to pass, then strikes or retreats quickly into the sand.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and muddy slopes, a regular sight on muck dives."],"slug":"highfin-snake-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-81aafb.webp","title":"Highfin Snake Eel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-81aafb.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The highfin snake eel (Ophichthus altipennis) is a burrowing snake eel usually seen with just its head poking out of the sand.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ophichthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ophichthus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ophichthus altipennis"}],"scientificName":"Ophichthus altipennis"},{"body":["The honeycomb moray (Gymnothorax favagineus) is a large moray covered in a striking honeycomb pattern of dark spots on a pale background. Also called the laced or tessellate moray, its pattern varies between individuals.","It can grow to over 2 m and feeds on fish, octopus and crustaceans. It is usually seen with its head out of a hole.","In the Philippines it is found on reef slopes and in large crevices.","Photo: [Borja Fierro-Leva](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/328272227), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"honeycomb-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-ca9d56.webp","title":"Honeycomb Moray","status":"published","excerpt":"The honeycomb moray (Gymnothorax favagineus) is a large moray covered in a striking honeycomb pattern of dark spots on a pale background.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax favagineus"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax favagineus"},{"body":["The marbled snake eel (Callechelys marmorata) is a slender burrowing eel with a pale body covered in dark spots. Its spotting gives it a marbled appearance.","It can grow to around 1 m and spends most of its time buried, with only the head exposed. It feeds on small fish and invertebrates.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy slopes, usually seen with just its head out of the sand.","Photo: [Justin Philbois](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/263053423), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"marbled-snake-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-8c6cf1.webp","title":"Marbled Snake Eel","status":"published","excerpt":"The marbled snake eel (Callechelys marmorata) is a slender burrowing eel with a pale body covered in dark spots.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ophichthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Callechelys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Callechelys marmorata"}],"scientificName":"Callechelys marmorata"},{"body":["The Napoleon snake eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) is a burrowing snake eel with a brown-spotted head that pokes out of the sand. Its body is ringed with dark, saddle-like blotches.","It grows to about 75 cm and ambushes small fish and crustaceans from its burrow. It sometimes leaves the sand to hunt at night.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and muddy bottoms, a common muck-diving subject."],"slug":"napoleon-snake-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-9a18ec.webp","title":"Napoleon Snake Eel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-9a18ec.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The Napoleon snake eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) is a burrowing snake eel with a brown-spotted head that pokes out of the sand.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ophichthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ophichthus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ophichthus bonaparti"}],"scientificName":"Ophichthus bonaparti"},{"body":["The reptilian snake eel (Brachysomophis henshawi) is a heavy-jawed ambush predator that lies buried in sand with only its head visible. Its head is often orange-brown with fringed lips.","It grows to about 1 m and strikes passing fish from below with great speed. It can stay hidden in the same spot for long periods.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy slopes, where it is a prized muck-diving find."],"slug":"reptilian-snake-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-bee25b.webp","title":"Reptilian Snake Eel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-bee25b.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-ddee89.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The reptilian snake eel (Brachysomophis henshawi) is a heavy-jawed ambush predator that lies buried in sand with only its head visible.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ophichthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Brachysomophis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Brachysomophis henshawi"}],"scientificName":"Brachysomophis henshawi"},{"body":["The snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa) is a small moray with a white body patterned with dark, star-shaped blotches and yellow spots. Its yellow eyes and nostrils add to its distinctive look.","It grows to about 70 cm and has blunt, crushing teeth for feeding on crabs and other crustaceans. It often forages in very shallow water.","In the Philippines it is found on reef flats and rocky shallows, sometimes out in the open hunting."],"slug":"snowflake-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-223123.webp","title":"Snowflake Moray","status":"published","excerpt":"The snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa) is a small moray with a white body patterned with dark, star-shaped blotches and yellow spots.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Echidna"},{"label":"Species","value":"Echidna nebulosa"}],"scientificName":"Echidna nebulosa"},{"body":["The spotted garden eel (Heteroconger hassi) is a slender white eel with dark spots that lives in large colonies on sandy slopes. A large dark spot near the gill and one near the vent are characteristic.","It grows to about 40 cm and feeds on plankton, rising from its burrow into the current. The whole colony vanishes into the sand when disturbed.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy slopes with gentle currents, sometimes in colonies of hundreds."],"slug":"spotted-garden-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e1b808.webp","title":"Spotted Garden Eel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e1b808.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The spotted garden eel (Heteroconger hassi) is a slender white eel with dark spots that lives in large colonies on sandy slopes.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Congridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Heteroconger"},{"label":"Species","value":"Heteroconger hassi"}],"scientificName":"Heteroconger hassi"},{"body":["The spotted moray (Gymnothorax isingteena) is a large pale moray densely covered in dark brown spots. The spots become smaller and closer together towards the head.","It can reach around 1.5 m and hunts fish and crustaceans. It usually stays in its hole with only the head showing.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and rocky areas, often on deeper slopes.","Photo: [Ditch Townsend](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/204982061), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"spotted-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-db1d62.webp","title":"Spotted Moray","status":"published","excerpt":"The spotted moray (Gymnothorax isingteena) is a large pale moray densely covered in dark brown spots.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax isingteena"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax isingteena"},{"body":["Taylor's garden eel (Heteroconger taylori) is a pale, finely speckled garden eel that lives in colonies on sand. It is less boldly marked than the [spotted garden eel](/critter/spotted-garden-eel).","It grows to around 40-50 cm and feeds on plankton drifting past its burrow. Like other garden eels, it retreats into the sand when approached.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy slopes, sometimes mixed in with other garden eel colonies.","Photo: [Gregor Bailar](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/394329172), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"taylors-garden-eel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-ca041d.webp","title":"Taylor's Garden Eel","status":"published","excerpt":"Taylor's garden eel (Heteroconger taylori) is a pale, finely speckled garden eel that lives in colonies on sand.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Congridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Heteroconger"},{"label":"Species","value":"Heteroconger taylori"}],"scientificName":"Heteroconger taylori"},{"body":["The white-eyed moray (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus) is a greyish-brown moray with striking pale eyes and a darker head. Its body is finely peppered with small dark dots.","It grows to about 65 cm and is often seen sharing holes with other morays. It feeds on small fish and crustaceans.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs, rubble and around structures such as wrecks."],"slug":"white-eyed-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-0fa269.webp","title":"White-eyed Moray","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-0fa269.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The white-eyed moray (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus) is a greyish-brown moray with striking pale eyes and a darker head.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax thyrsoideus"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax thyrsoideus"},{"body":["The white-margined moray (Gymnothorax albimarginatus) is a brown moray with a thin white edge along its fins. Its head pores are often outlined in white.","It grows to about 1 m and is reported to have a toxic bite. It feeds mainly on fish.","In the Philippines it is found on reef slopes and in crevices, often at moderate depths.","Photo: [TonyT](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/336118840), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"white-margined-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-cff173.webp","title":"White-margined Moray","status":"published","excerpt":"The white-margined moray (Gymnothorax albimarginatus) is a brown moray with a thin white edge along its fins.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax albimarginatus"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax albimarginatus"},{"body":["The whitemouth moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) is a brown moray covered in small white spots, with a white mouth lining. The white inside of its mouth is visible as it breathes.","It grows to about 1 m and hunts fish and crustaceans, mostly at night. It is often seen with its head out of a reef hole.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and rubble slopes.","Photo: [desertnaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189942728), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"whitemouth-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-4f4936.webp","title":"Whitemouth Moray","status":"published","excerpt":"The whitemouth moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) is a brown moray covered in small white spots, with a white mouth lining.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnothorax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnothorax meleagris"}],"scientificName":"Gymnothorax meleagris"},{"body":["The zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) is a dark brown moray ringed with many thin white bands. Its blunt head and small eyes give it a gentle look.","It can grow to about 1.5 m and has flat, pebble-like teeth for crushing crabs, sea urchins and molluscs. It is generally shy and harmless to divers.","In the Philippines it is found in reef crevices and shallow rocky areas.","Photo: [Jim Moore (Maryland)](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/252892272), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"zebra-moray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/snakes-and-eels/original-54ffab.webp","title":"Zebra Moray","status":"published","excerpt":"The zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) is a dark brown moray ringed with many thin white bands.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Muraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Gymnomuraena"},{"label":"Species","value":"Gymnomuraena zebra"}],"scientificName":"Gymnomuraena zebra"},{"body":["The striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus) forms dense, rolling balls of juveniles that sweep across sand and seagrass. Its dark body has two white stripes and barbels around the mouth.","It grows to about 30 cm. Its fin spines are venomous and can cause very painful wounds, so it should never be handled. The school forages together, stirring up the sand for small invertebrates.","In the Philippines it is found over sand, rubble and seagrass, and a moving catfish ball is a memorable sight on any dive."],"slug":"striped-catfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-2fc566.webp","title":"Striped Catfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus) forms dense, rolling balls of juveniles that sweep across sand and seagrass.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Siluriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Plotosidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Plotosus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Plotosus lineatus"}],"scientificName":"Plotosus lineatus"},{"body":["The black-tail sergeant (Abudefduf lorenzi) is a silvery damselfish with dark bars and a black-edged tail. It has a small dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin.","It grows to about 18 cm and feeds on algae, plankton and small invertebrates. Males guard egg patches laid on rocks.","In the Philippines it is found in shallow rocky and reef areas, often near the surface.","Photo: [Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156417598), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"black-tail-sergeant","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-e36d7f.webp","title":"Black-tail Sergeant","status":"published","excerpt":"The black-tail sergeant (Abudefduf lorenzi) is a silvery damselfish with dark bars and a black-edged tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Abudefduf"},{"label":"Species","value":"Abudefduf lorenzi"}],"scientificName":"Abudefduf lorenzi"},{"body":["The surge damsel (Chrysiptera brownriggii) is a small damselfish of wave-swept shallows, with variable colours often including a blue line. Juveniles are bright with blue stripes, while adults may be brown, yellow or two-toned.","It grows to about 8 cm and feeds on algae and small invertebrates. It is well adapted to life in the surge zone.","In the Philippines it is found on shallow reef flats and outer reef edges with strong water movement."],"slug":"surge-damsel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d58e0a.webp","title":"Surge Damsel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-d58e0a.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The surge damsel (Chrysiptera brownriggii) is a small damselfish of wave-swept shallows, with variable colours often including a blue line.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chrysiptera"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chrysiptera brownriggii"}],"scientificName":"Chrysiptera brownriggii"},{"body":["The bristle-tail filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) is a small, mottled filefish that hides in seagrass and algae. Males have bristles near the tail that give it its name.","It grows to about 10 cm and can change colour to match its surroundings. It is known for eating the pest anemone Aiptasia.","In the Philippines it is found in seagrass beds and algae-covered rubble in shallow water."],"slug":"bristle-tail-filefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4e81f3.webp","title":"Bristle-tail Filefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The bristle-tail filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) is a small, mottled filefish that hides in seagrass and algae.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Monacanthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Acreichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Acreichthys tomentosus"}],"scientificName":"Acreichthys tomentosus"},{"body":["The mimic filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) copies the toxic black-saddled pufferfish to avoid being eaten. Its white body with dark saddles and a yellow tail is almost identical to its model.","It grows to about 10 cm. Long dorsal and anal fins and a small dorsal spine reveal that it is a filefish rather than a puffer.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs, often near the pufferfish it imitates.","Photo: [Jean-Paul Boerekamps](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142000994), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"mimic-filefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-c7c257.webp","title":"Mimic Filefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The mimic filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) copies the toxic black-saddled pufferfish to avoid being eaten.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Monacanthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Paraluteres"},{"label":"Species","value":"Paraluteres prionurus"}],"scientificName":"Paraluteres prionurus"},{"body":["The rhino filefish (Pseudalutarius nasicornis) is a slender filefish with a long horn-like spine above its eyes. Dark stripes run along its pale body.","It grows to about 15-19 cm and swims head-down among sea pens, soft corals and seagrass. It feeds on small invertebrates.","In the Philippines it is found on sand and rubble slopes, often close to sea whips or sea pens.","Photo: [Ben Costamagna](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/399385043), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"rhino-filefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-44cbfb.webp","title":"Rhino Filefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The rhino filefish (Pseudalutarius nasicornis) is a slender filefish with a long horn-like spine above its eyes.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Monacanthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pseudalutarius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pseudalutarius nasicornis"}],"scientificName":"Pseudalutarius nasicornis"},{"body":["The scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) is a large, flat filefish covered in blue scribbles and dark spots. Its long, broom-like tail is distinctive.","It can reach over 1 m and feeds on algae, seagrass, hydroids and gorgonians. It often drifts head-down or swims slowly over the reef.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and in open water near the reef, sometimes seen in pairs.","Photo: [River Ahlquist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/127304650), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"scrawled-filefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-f1faf2.webp","title":"Scrawled Filefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) is a large, flat filefish covered in blue scribbles and dark spots.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Monacanthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Aluterus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Aluterus scriptus"}],"scientificName":"Aluterus scriptus"},{"body":["The fingered dragonet (Dactylopus dactylopus) walks over sand on finger-like pelvic fin rays and flashes colourful fins. Its mottled body blends with the sand until it raises its large, patterned dorsal fin.","It grows to about 15 cm and feeds on small invertebrates it finds in the sediment. Males display their fins to rivals and females.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and muddy slopes, a favourite of muck divers."],"slug":"fingered-dragonet","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e049a3.webp","title":"Fingered Dragonet","status":"published","excerpt":"The fingered dragonet (Dactylopus dactylopus) walks over sand on finger-like pelvic fin rays and flashes colourful fins.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Callionymiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Callionymidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dactylopus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dactylopus dactylopus"}],"scientificName":"Dactylopus dactylopus"},{"body":["The angler flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) is a small flatfish that wiggles a lure on its first dorsal ray to attract prey. Like a [frogfish](/marine-life/frogfish), it uses this lure to draw small fish within striking range.","It grows to about 15 cm and lies flat on the sand with both eyes on its left side. Its mottled colouring makes it almost invisible until it moves.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and rubble slopes, a rewarding find for patient muck divers."],"slug":"angler-flounder","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-689db6.webp","title":"Angler Flounder","status":"published","excerpt":"The angler flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) is a small flatfish that wiggles a lure on its first dorsal ray to attract prey.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Pleuronectiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Bothidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Asterorhombus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Asterorhombus intermedius"}],"scientificName":"Asterorhombus intermedius"},{"body":["The black-tip sole (Soleichthys heterorhinos) is an elongated sole with dark bands and fins edged in blue and black. When it swims, its undulating fins make it look like a flatworm or [nudibranch](/marine-life/nudibranchs).","It grows to about 15-20 cm and hides under sand by day, emerging at night to feed on small invertebrates.","In the Philippines it is found on sand and rubble, usually seen on night dives.","Photo: [Tom Heijnen](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/214934095), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"black-tip-sole","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-2e1eb5.webp","title":"Black-tip Sole","status":"published","excerpt":"The black-tip sole (Soleichthys heterorhinos) is an elongated sole with dark bands and fins edged in blue and black.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Pleuronectiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Soleidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Soleichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Soleichthys heterorhinos"}],"scientificName":"Soleichthys heterorhinos"},{"body":["The hook-nosed sole (Heteromycteris hartzfeldii) is a small, mottled sole with a hooked snout. Its sandy colours and fine spots make it blend perfectly with the bottom.","It grows to about 10 cm and feeds on small worms and crustaceans in the sediment. It often lies partly buried.","In the Philippines it is found on shallow sandy and silty bottoms, a typical muck-diving find.","Photo: [Dan Schofield](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68578297), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"hook-nosed-sole","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-ab6e46.webp","title":"Hook-nosed Sole","status":"published","excerpt":"The hook-nosed sole (Heteromycteris hartzfeldii) is a small, mottled sole with a hooked snout.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Pleuronectiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Soleidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Heteromycteris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Heteromycteris hartzfeldii"}],"scientificName":"Heteromycteris hartzfeldii"},{"body":["The whiteblotched sole (Soleichthys maculosus) is a slender sole whose juveniles mimic toxic flatworms. Tiny juveniles swim with rippling, colourful fin margins that look just like a crawling flatworm.","Adults grow to about 15 cm and are brown with white blotches. They bury in sand by day and hunt small invertebrates at night.","In the Philippines it is found on sand and rubble slopes, with the flatworm-mimic juveniles a special night-dive sighting."],"slug":"whiteblotched-sole","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b33f83.webp","title":"Whiteblotched Sole","status":"published","excerpt":"The whiteblotched sole (Soleichthys maculosus) is a slender sole whose juveniles mimic toxic flatworms.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Pleuronectiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Soleidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Soleichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Soleichthys maculosus"}],"scientificName":"Soleichthys maculosus"},{"body":["The blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus) is a red-barred grouper with black tips on the spines of its dorsal fin. Its body is pale to reddish with darker vertical bars.","It grows to about 40 cm and hunts small fish and crustaceans, mostly at dawn and dusk. It often rests on the bottom watching for prey.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs and rubble slopes.","Photo: [Roger Rittmaster](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/379873647), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"blacktip-grouper","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-cf2fb8.webp","title":"Blacktip Grouper","status":"published","excerpt":"The blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus) is a red-barred grouper with black tips on the spines of its dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Epinephelidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Epinephelus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Epinephelus fasciatus"}],"scientificName":"Epinephelus fasciatus"},{"body":["The coral grouper (Cephalopholis miniata), also called the coral hind, is a vivid red-orange grouper covered in small blue spots. It is one of the most colourful groupers on the reef.","It grows to about 40 cm and hunts small fish, especially anthias. Males guard a territory containing several females.","In the Philippines it is found on clear-water reef slopes and walls, often near coral heads.","Photo: [Jean-Paul Boerekamps](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191969262), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"coral-grouper","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-5a342d.webp","title":"Coral Grouper","status":"published","excerpt":"The coral grouper (Cephalopholis miniata) is a vivid red-orange grouper covered in small blue spots.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Epinephelidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cephalopholis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cephalopholis miniata"}],"scientificName":"Cephalopholis miniata"},{"body":["The slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) is a long, narrow grouper with orange spots and pale lines. Its compressed shape lets it slip between corals.","It grows to about 50-60 cm and hunts small fish. Juveniles are striped and are thought to mimic harmless wrasses to approach prey.","In the Philippines it is found on coral-rich reefs."],"slug":"slender-grouper","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c868d2.webp","title":"Slender Grouper","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c868d2.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-6481f2.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) is a long, narrow grouper with orange spots and pale lines.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Epinephelidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Anyperodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Anyperodon leucogrammicus"}],"scientificName":"Anyperodon leucogrammicus"},{"body":["The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) is a graceful ray with a dark back covered in white spots and a long whip-like tail. This Indo-Pacific species was once lumped with the Atlantic Aetobatus narinari.","It can reach a wingspan of over 2.5 m. It uses its duck-bill snout to dig for clams, snails and crustaceans in the sand.","In the Philippines it is seen cruising along reef edges and over sandy flats, sometimes in small groups.","Photo: [freefri_](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/411926024), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"spotted-eagle-ray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-a7b028.webp","title":"Spotted Eagle Ray","status":"published","excerpt":"The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) is a graceful ray with a dark back covered in white spots and a long whip-like tail.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Myliobatiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Aetobatidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Aetobatus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Aetobatus ocellatus"}],"scientificName":"Aetobatus ocellatus"},{"body":["The Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus) is a black, white and yellow reef fish with a long, trailing dorsal fin. It is the only member of its family.","It grows to about 20 cm and feeds mainly on sponges, using its long snout to reach into crevices. It is often seen in pairs or small groups.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs at all depths.","Photo: [Natalie Lemanski](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/216615524), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"moorish-idol","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-66dc35.webp","title":"Moorish Idol","status":"published","excerpt":"The Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus) is a black, white and yellow reef fish with a long, trailing dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Acanthuriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Zanclidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Zanclus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Zanclus cornutus"}],"scientificName":"Zanclus cornutus"},{"body":["The titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) is the largest reef triggerfish, famous for fiercely guarding its nest. Its body is olive-green with a dark scaled pattern and a pale moustache-like band.","It grows to about 75 cm and crushes sea urchins, crabs and molluscs with powerful teeth. During nesting season, it defends a cone-shaped territory and may charge and bite divers who enter it; swim away horizontally rather than upward.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and sandy patches, where it can often be seen digging for food.","Photo: [R Vasconcellos](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/260625313), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"titan-triggerfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/reef-fish/original-22ab47.webp","title":"Titan Triggerfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) is the largest reef triggerfish, famous for fiercely guarding its nest.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Balistidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Balistoides"},{"label":"Species","value":"Balistoides viridescens"}],"scientificName":"Balistoides viridescens"},{"body":["The banded or ringed pipefish (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus) is a red-and-white ringed pipefish with a flag-like tail. Its red tail fin has a white edge and centre spot.","It grows to about 19 cm and often cleans parasites from larger fish. As in all pipefish, the male carries the eggs on his belly.","In the Philippines it is found in caves, crevices and under overhangs on reefs, often near cleaner shrimps."],"slug":"banded-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-da7f32.webp","title":"Banded Pipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-da7f32.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The banded or ringed pipefish (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus) is a red-and-white ringed pipefish with a flag-like tail.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Dunckerocampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus"}],"scientificName":"Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus"},{"body":["The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is the manta most often seen by divers in the Philippines, gliding over reefs and cleaning stations. It has a black back with pale shoulder patches and a white belly marked with unique dark spots that identify individuals.","It reaches wingspans of 3-5 m and filters plankton with its open mouth, guided by the cephalic fins on either side of its head. Its larger relative, the oceanic manta (Mobula birostris), can exceed 7 m and is seen less often, usually in deeper offshore water.","In the Philippines reef mantas visit cleaning stations and feeding areas at well-known sites, and are best watched by staying low and still and letting them approach.","Photo: [R Vasconcellos](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/330259038), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"reef-manta-ray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-431ae9.webp","title":"Reef Manta Ray","status":"published","excerpt":"The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is the manta most often seen by divers in the Philippines, gliding over reefs and cleaning stations.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Myliobatiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Mobulidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Mobula"},{"label":"Species","value":"Mobula alfredi"}],"scientificName":"Mobula alfredi"},{"body":["The blue-spotted maskray (Neotrygon orientalis) is a small stingray with a brownish disc covered in bright blue spots and a dark mask over the eyes. It was long known as Neotrygon kuhlii, but that name is now restricted to a different population, and the Philippine form is N. orientalis.","Its disc grows to about 30-40 cm across. It often lies half-buried in sand and feeds on worms, crabs and shrimps. Like all stingrays, it carries a venomous tail spine, so give it space.","In the Philippines it is common on sandy slopes and rubble. It is often confused with the bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma), which has an oval disc, blue tail stripes and usually hides under coral ledges.","Photo: [Jean-Paul Boerekamps](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142060310), [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"blue-spotted-maskray","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-e9e942.webp","title":"Blue-spotted Maskray","status":"published","excerpt":"The blue-spotted maskray (Neotrygon orientalis) is a small stingray with a brownish disc covered in bright blue spots and a dark mask over the eyes.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Myliobatiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Dasyatidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Neotrygon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Neotrygon orientalis"}],"scientificName":"Neotrygon orientalis"},{"body":["The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world, a gentle filter-feeder with a checkerboard of white spots. Each shark's spot pattern is unique and used to identify individuals.","It can grow beyond 12 m and feeds on plankton, fish eggs and small fish by gulping or sucking water through its huge mouth. It is classed as Endangered.","The Philippines is one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks, known locally as butanding. Keep at least 4 m away, never touch them, and choose operators that follow responsible interaction guidelines."],"slug":"whale-shark","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-e44ca9.webp","title":"Whale Shark","status":"published","excerpt":"The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world, a gentle filter-feeder with a checkerboard of white spots.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Orectolobiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Rhincodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Rhincodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Rhincodon typus"}],"scientificName":"Rhincodon typus"},{"body":["The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large, blunt-snouted shark named for the dark stripes on its sides. The stripes are strongest in young sharks and fade with age.","It can exceed 4-5 m and has one of the broadest diets of any shark, eating fish, turtles, sea snakes, birds and carrion. Its serrated teeth can cut through turtle shells.","In the Philippines it is rarely seen by divers, with most records from offshore waters, reefs near deep drop-offs and fisheries data.","Photo: [cello caruso-turiello](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/384058820), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"tiger-shark","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-54f6ec.webp","title":"Tiger Shark","status":"published","excerpt":"The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large, blunt-snouted shark named for the dark stripes on its sides.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Carcharhiniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Galeocerdonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Galeocerdo"},{"label":"Species","value":"Galeocerdo cuvier"}],"scientificName":"Galeocerdo cuvier"},{"body":["The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is a small reef shark with bold black tips on its fins, often seen in very shallow water. The black tip on its first dorsal fin is edged with white.","It grows to about 1.5 m and hunts small fish, squid and crustaceans. Juveniles patrol shallow lagoons and reef flats, sometimes in water barely deep enough to cover them.","In the Philippines it is found on reef flats, lagoons and shallow reef edges, and is generally timid around divers and snorkellers.","Photo: [desertnaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/26218736), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"blacktip-reef-shark","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-568ba4.webp","title":"Blacktip Reef Shark","status":"published","excerpt":"The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is a small reef shark with bold black tips on its fins, often seen in very shallow water.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Carcharhiniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Carcharhinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Carcharhinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Carcharhinus melanopterus"}],"scientificName":"Carcharhinus melanopterus"},{"body":["The whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) is a slender grey shark with white-tipped fins that often rests on the bottom by day. Unlike most sharks, it can pump water over its gills while lying still.","It grows to about 1.6 m and hunts at night, wriggling into crevices after fish, octopus and crustaceans. Groups often rest together in caves or under ledges.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and walls, especially at offshore sites, and is one of the sharks divers see most often.","Photo: [Wiljam Eklund](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/271163980), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"whitetip-reef-shark","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-8b6c1a.webp","title":"Whitetip Reef Shark","status":"published","excerpt":"The whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) is a slender grey shark with white-tipped fins that often rests on the bottom by day.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Carcharhiniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Carcharhinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Triaenodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Triaenodon obesus"}],"scientificName":"Triaenodon obesus"},{"body":["The leopard shark or zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is a spotted, ridged shark with a very long tail that rests on sand. Juveniles are dark with pale stripes, which gives the zebra name, while adults are pale with dark leopard spots.","It grows to about 2.5 m and feeds on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish, sucking prey out of crevices. It is docile and often lies still on the bottom. It is classed as Endangered.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy areas near reefs, though sightings have become uncommon.","Photo: [陳德範（Chen, De-Fan）](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/300434374), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"leopard-shark","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-8e2ce1.webp","title":"Leopard Shark","status":"published","excerpt":"The leopard shark or zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is a spotted, ridged shark with a very long tail that rests on sand.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Orectolobiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Stegostomatidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Stegostoma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Stegostoma tigrinum"}],"scientificName":"Stegostoma tigrinum"},{"body":["The bottlenose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae), often called a guitar shark or shark ray, is a ray with a shark-like body and a pointed, wedge-shaped head. It has white spots on its back and a dark spot at the base of each pectoral fin.","It can grow to about 3 m and feeds on crabs, shrimps, squid and bottom fish. It is classed as Critically Endangered, largely because its fins are highly valued.","In the Philippines it is occasionally seen resting on sandy bottoms, and any sighting is special.","Photo: [Hugo Innes](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203552926), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"bottlenose-wedgefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-dfd6c9.webp","title":"Bottlenose Wedgefish","status":"published","excerpt":"The bottlenose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae), often called a guitar shark or shark ray, is a ray with a shark-like body and a pointed, wedge-shaped head.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Rhinopristiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Rhinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Rhynchobatus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Rhynchobatus australiae"}],"scientificName":"Rhynchobatus australiae"},{"body":["The tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) is a sluggish, yellowish-brown shark that rests in caves and under ledges by day. It has small eyes, barbels on its snout and sickle-shaped fins.","It grows to about 3 m and hunts at night, sucking octopus, crustaceans and small fish out of crevices. It is generally docile but should not be disturbed.","In the Philippines it is occasionally found resting in caves and under overhangs on reef slopes.","Photo: [Ben Costamagna](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/328889782), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"tawny-nurse-shark","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-877bf8.webp","title":"Tawny Nurse Shark","status":"published","excerpt":"The tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) is a sluggish, yellowish-brown shark that rests in caves and under ledges by day.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Orectolobiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ginglymostomatidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Nebrius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Nebrius ferrugineus"}],"scientificName":"Nebrius ferrugineus"},{"body":["The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a hammerhead shark with a scalloped front edge to its head that often schools in large groups. The wide head spreads out its eyes and electrical sensors to help it find prey.","It grows to about 3-4 m and feeds on fish and squid. It is classed as Critically Endangered due to overfishing.","In the Philippines it is rarely seen, mainly at remote offshore reefs and seamounts with strong currents.","Photo: [Michael Bommerer](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/204010331), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"scalloped-hammerhead","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-b787ad.webp","title":"Scalloped Hammerhead","status":"published","excerpt":"The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a hammerhead shark with a scalloped front edge to its head that often schools in large groups.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Carcharhiniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Sphyrnidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sphyrna"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sphyrna lewini"}],"scientificName":"Sphyrna lewini"},{"body":["The grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a sleek grey shark with a broad black edge along its tail fin. Its first dorsal fin is plain or has a thin white tip, which helps separate it from blacktip and [whitetip reef sharks](/critter/whitetip-reef-shark).","It grows to about 1.8 m and hunts reef fish, squid and crustaceans, often more actively at night. When it feels threatened it performs a hunched, exaggerated swimming display, a clear signal for divers to back off. It is classed as Endangered.","In the Philippines it is found along steep outer reef walls and channels with current, especially at remote offshore reefs.","Photo: [cello caruso-turiello](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195326761), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), via iNaturalist"],"slug":"grey-reef-shark","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine/species/sharks-and-rays/original-4085dd.webp","title":"Grey Reef Shark","status":"published","excerpt":"The grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a sleek grey shark with a broad black edge along its tail fin.","category":"sharks-and-rays","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Elasmobranchii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Carcharhiniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Carcharhinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Carcharhinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos"}],"scientificName":"Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos"},{"body":["The red lionfish (Pterois volitans), also called the common lionfish, is a striking red-and-white striped fish with long, fan-like pectoral fins and tall, separated dorsal spines. Fleshy tentacles above its eyes and a slow, hovering swim make it one of the most recognisable fish on the reef.","It grows to about 35-38 cm and hunts small fish and shrimps, often at dusk, using its spread fins to herd prey into a corner before swallowing it in a quick strike. Its dorsal, pelvic and anal spines carry venom that causes very painful stings, so it should never be touched. Outside its native Indo-Pacific range it has become a damaging invasive species in the Atlantic and Caribbean.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs, wrecks and muck sites, often hovering under ledges or near coral heads, and is frequently seen alongside smaller relatives such as the [twinspot lionfish](/critter/twinspot-lionfish)."],"slug":"red-lionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-1a7ca6.webp","title":"Red Lionfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The red lionfish (Pterois volitans), also called the common lionfish, is a striking red-and-white striped fish with long, fan-like fins and venomous spines.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pterois"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pterois volitans"}],"scientificName":"Pterois volitans"},{"body":["The shortfin lionfish or dwarf lionfish (Neochirus brachyptera) is a small, stocky lionfish with broad, fan-shaped pectoral fins banded in red, brown and white. It was known for many years as Dendrochirus brachypterus, the name still used in most dive guides, but WoRMS now places it in the genus Neochirus.","It grows to only about 15-17 cm. Unlike the long, separated fin rays of the [red lionfish](/critter/red-lionfish), its pectoral fins are joined by membrane and held out like a wide fan, which it spreads to corner small shrimps and fish. Its dorsal spines are venomous, so it should never be touched.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and rubble slopes, seagrass and muck sites, often sitting still beside sponges, debris or coral heads, and is most active at dusk and at night."],"slug":"shortfin-lionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-a2bb94.webp","title":"Shortfin Lionfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The shortfin lionfish or dwarf lionfish (Neochirus brachyptera, long known as Dendrochirus brachypterus) is a small, stocky lionfish with broad, banded pectoral fins.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Neochirus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Neochirus brachyptera"}],"scientificName":"Neochirus brachyptera"},{"body":["The blue dragon nudibranch (Pteraeolidia semperi) is a long, slender aeolid covered in bunches of blue-tipped to brown cerata. It was long known as Pteraeolidia ianthina, a name now treated as a separate species.","It grows to around 10 cm and feeds on hydroids. It farms symbiotic zooxanthellae in its cerata, which give it its brownish to bluish colour and help it survive on sugars from photosynthesis.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs and rubble slopes, often seen in the open during the day, and juveniles can be very small and translucent."],"slug":"pteraeolidia-semperi","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-452495.webp","title":"Blue Dragon Nudibranch","status":"published","excerpt":"The blue dragon nudibranch (Pteraeolidia semperi) is a long, slender aeolid covered in bunches of blue-tipped to brown cerata.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Facelinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pteraeolidia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pteraeolidia semperi"}],"scientificName":"Pteraeolidia semperi"},{"body":["Calcinus lineapropodus is a small left-handed hermit crab with fine dark lines along its walking legs, from which its name comes. Like other Calcinus it has one claw noticeably larger than the other.","It lives in empty gastropod shells and scavenges algae and detritus. When disturbed it retreats deep into its shell and blocks the opening with its larger claw.","In the Philippines it is found on shallow reef flats and rocky areas, usually tucked among coral rubble and crevices."],"slug":"calcinus-lineapropodus","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-61cebb.webp","title":"Calcinus lineapropodus","status":"published","excerpt":"Calcinus lineapropodus is a small left-handed hermit crab with fine dark lines along its walking legs, from which its name comes.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Diogenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Calcinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Calcinus lineapropodus"}],"scientificName":"Calcinus lineapropodus"},{"body":["The turtle-headed sea snake (Emydocephalus annulatus) is a stout sea snake with a short, blunt head that gives it its name. Its colour varies from black to banded cream and dark brown.","It feeds almost entirely on fish eggs, which it scrapes from the reef with enlarged scales on its lips. Its fangs and venom are greatly reduced, and it is not considered a threat to divers.","In the Philippines it is seen on shallow reefs, slowly nosing through crevices in search of fish nests."],"slug":"turtle-headed-sea-snake","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d605e1.webp","title":"Turtle-headed Sea Snake","status":"published","excerpt":"The turtle-headed sea snake (Emydocephalus annulatus) is a stout sea snake with a short, blunt head that gives it its name.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Reptilia"},{"label":"Order","value":"Squamata"},{"label":"Family","value":"Elapidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Emydocephalus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Emydocephalus annulatus"}],"scientificName":"Emydocephalus annulatus"},{"body":["The thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix) is a long-snouted seahorse covered in sharp, often dark-tipped spines. Its colour ranges from yellow and orange to brown or pink.","It grows to about 15 cm and anchors itself with its tail while sucking up small crustaceans. As in all seahorses, the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch until they hatch.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and rubble slopes, often in deeper water, and is listed as Vulnerable due to collection and bycatch."],"slug":"thorny-seahorse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-ed60aa.webp","title":"Thorny Seahorse","status":"published","excerpt":"The thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix) is a long-snouted seahorse covered in sharp, often dark-tipped spines.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Hippocampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Hippocampus histrix"}],"scientificName":"Hippocampus histrix"},{"body":["The harlequin swimming crab (Lissocarcinus orbicularis) is a small, smooth crab with a bold pattern of brown or maroon patches on a white shell. Its back legs are flattened into paddles for swimming.","It lives as a symbiont on sea cucumbers, riding on the outside of the host or sheltering near its mouth and gills. It feeds on small particles and organisms around its host.","In the Philippines it is found by checking large sea cucumbers on sand and rubble, where it often hides on the underside."],"slug":"harlequin-swimming-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-65b580.webp","title":"Harlequin Swimming Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The harlequin swimming crab (Lissocarcinus orbicularis) is a small, smooth crab with a bold pattern of brown or maroon patches on a white shell.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Portunidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lissocarcinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lissocarcinus orbicularis"}],"scientificName":"Lissocarcinus orbicularis"},{"body":["The coral hermit crab (Paguritta morgani) is a tiny hermit crab that lives in holes in living stony coral instead of a shell. Only its feathery antennae and front legs stick out.","It filter-feeds by sweeping its hairy antennae through the water to catch plankton, then pulling them back to its mouth. It rarely, if ever, leaves its hole.","In the Philippines it is found on reef walls and coral heads, and spotting the waving antennae takes a slow, close look."],"slug":"coral-hermit-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d1206d.webp","title":"Coral Hermit Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The coral hermit crab (Paguritta morgani) is a tiny hermit crab that lives in holes in living stony coral instead of a shell.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Paguridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Paguritta"},{"label":"Species","value":"Paguritta morgani"}],"scientificName":"Paguritta morgani"},{"body":["The flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) is a very flat, long-legged crab with a dark olive shell and banded legs. Its thin body lets it slip into the narrowest gaps.","It grazes mostly on algae and moves sideways extremely fast when disturbed. It is one of the most common crabs on rocky and coral shorelines.","In the Philippines it lives in the shallows, often under boulders and in crevices around sea urchins."],"slug":"flat-rock-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4299f4.webp","title":"Flat Rock Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) is a very flat, long-legged crab with a dark olive shell and banded legs.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Percnidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Percnon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Percnon planissimum"}],"scientificName":"Percnon planissimum"},{"body":["The striped hermit crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) is a colourful hermit crab with bold red-orange and yellow-white bands across its legs. Its body is flattened, so it uses shells with narrow, slit-like openings such as cone shells.","It is mainly a nocturnal scavenger, feeding on detritus and algae. During the day it usually hides in crevices with only the striped legs showing.","In the Philippines it is found on shallow reefs and is most often seen on night dives."],"slug":"striped-hermit-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-814930.webp","title":"Striped Hermit Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The striped hermit crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) is a colourful hermit crab with bold red-orange and yellow-white bands across its legs.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Diogenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ciliopagurus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ciliopagurus strigatus"}],"scientificName":"Ciliopagurus strigatus"},{"body":["The Sarasvati anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes sarasvati) is a small, transparent shrimp with white and purple-blue spots on its body. It was formerly placed in the genus Periclimenes.","It lives in association with sea anemones and corallimorphs, sheltering among their tentacles. Like many relatives, it may clean small fish that visit its host.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and sandy slopes, usually in small groups on its host anemone."],"slug":"sarasvati-anemone-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-cbccc3.webp","title":"Sarasvati Anemone Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The Sarasvati anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes sarasvati) is a small, transparent shrimp with white and purple-blue spots on its body.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ancylomenes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ancylomenes sarasvati"}],"scientificName":"Ancylomenes sarasvati"},{"body":["The Durban hinge-beak shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) is a red shrimp with fine white lines and spots and large, bright eyes. Its rostrum is hinged and can be raised and lowered.","It is mainly active at night and feeds on detritus and small invertebrates. It often gathers in groups and is sometimes called a dancing shrimp or camel shrimp.","In the Philippines it hides in reef crevices by day and is common in torchlight on night dives."],"slug":"durban-hinge-beak-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-598877.webp","title":"Durban Hinge-beak Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The Durban hinge-beak shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) is a red shrimp with fine white lines and spots and large, bright eyes.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Rhynchocinetidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Rhynchocinetes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Rhynchocinetes durbanensis"}],"scientificName":"Rhynchocinetes durbanensis"},{"body":["Anker's whip coral shrimp (Pontonides ankeri) is a tiny shrimp that lives on whip corals and closely matches its host's colour. Its body is often marked with bands that copy the coral's polyps.","It spends its whole life on a single whip coral, usually as a pair, and feeds on mucus and small particles from its host.","In the Philippines it is found on wire and whip corals on slopes and walls, and needs a careful look along the coral to spot."],"slug":"ankers-whip-coral-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b23940.webp","title":"Anker's Whip Coral Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"Anker's whip coral shrimp (Pontonides ankeri) is a tiny shrimp that lives on whip corals and closely matches its host's colour.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Palaemonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pontonides"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pontonides ankeri"}],"scientificName":"Pontonides ankeri"},{"body":["The sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis) is a small brown-orange shrimp with white, blue-edged patches. It gets its name from the way it constantly raises and waves its abdomen.","It grows to only about 2 cm and lives in small groups on sea anemones, corals and mushroom corals. It feeds on mucus, plankton and scraps around its host.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs and sandy slopes and is a favourite subject for macro photographers."],"slug":"sexy-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-2c780a.webp","title":"Sexy Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis) is a small brown-orange shrimp with white, blue-edged patches.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Thoridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Thor"},{"label":"Species","value":"Thor amboinensis"}],"scientificName":"Thor amboinensis"},{"body":["The orangutan crab (Achaeus japonicus) is a small spider crab covered in long, red-brown hairs, giving it the look of a tiny orangutan. Its hairs trap fine silt and algae that add to its camouflage.","It grows to only about 2 cm and lives on bubble coral and other corals, feeding on plankton and debris caught in its hairs.","In the Philippines it is found on coral reefs, usually in the folds of bubble coral."],"slug":"orangutan-crab","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-69c355.webp","title":"Orangutan Crab","status":"published","excerpt":"The orangutan crab (Achaeus japonicus) is a small spider crab covered in long, red-brown hairs, giving it the look of a tiny orangutan.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Decapoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Inachidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Achaeus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Achaeus japonicus"}],"scientificName":"Achaeus japonicus"},{"body":["The peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) is a large, brilliantly coloured mantis shrimp with a green body, orange legs and leopard-spotted front. Its eyes are among the most complex in the animal kingdom.","It is a smasher, striking snails, crabs and clams with club-like raptorial claws that move faster than almost any other animal strike. It lives in a U-shaped burrow it digs in sand or rubble.","In the Philippines it is common on sand and rubble slopes, where it can be seen moving between burrows or peering from the entrance."],"slug":"peacock-mantis-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-0a68b8.webp","title":"Peacock Mantis Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) is a large, brilliantly coloured mantis shrimp with a green body, orange legs and leopard-spotted front.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Stomatopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Odontodactylidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Odontodactylus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Odontodactylus scyllarus"}],"scientificName":"Odontodactylus scyllarus"},{"body":["The pink-eared mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus latirostris) is a smasher mantis shrimp named for the pink to red fans on its tail and antennae. Its body is usually pale green to tan.","It hunts small invertebrates and lives in burrows in sand and rubble, often near the edge of reefs. It is generally smaller and shyer than the [peacock mantis shrimp](/critter/peacock-mantis-shrimp).","In the Philippines it is found on muck and rubble slopes, usually seen peering out of its burrow."],"slug":"pink-eared-mantis-shrimp","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-169d22.webp","title":"Pink-eared Mantis Shrimp","status":"published","excerpt":"The pink-eared mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus latirostris) is a smasher mantis shrimp named for the pink to red fans on its tail and antennae.","category":"crustaceans","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Arthropoda"},{"label":"Class","value":"Malacostraca"},{"label":"Order","value":"Stomatopoda"},{"label":"Family","value":"Odontodactylidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Odontodactylus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Odontodactylus latirostris"}],"scientificName":"Odontodactylus latirostris"},{"body":["Goniobranchus kuniei is a chromodorid nudibranch with a white to lavender body, purple spots ringed in white and a deep purple mantle edge. It was formerly placed in Chromodoris.","It grows to about 5 cm and feeds on sponges. Its bright colours warn predators that it carries distasteful chemicals taken from its prey.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and walls in the open during the day."],"slug":"goniobranchus-kuniei","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-acbae5.webp","title":"Goniobranchus kuniei","status":"published","excerpt":"Goniobranchus kuniei is a chromodorid nudibranch with a white to lavender body, purple spots ringed in white and a deep purple mantle edge.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chromodorididae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Goniobranchus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Goniobranchus kuniei"}],"scientificName":"Goniobranchus kuniei"},{"body":["Marioniopsis arborescens is a tritoniid nudibranch with a row of tree-like branching gills along each side of its back. It was formerly known as Marionia arborescens.","It feeds on soft corals and is often well camouflaged against its prey, with a mottled brown, green or white body.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and rubble slopes near soft corals, often only noticed when the branching gills stand out."],"slug":"marioniopsis-arborescens","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-07a2a3.webp","title":"Marioniopsis arborescens","status":"published","excerpt":"Marioniopsis arborescens is a tritoniid nudibranch with a row of tree-like branching gills along each side of its back.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tritoniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Marioniopsis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Marioniopsis arborescens"}],"scientificName":"Marioniopsis arborescens"},{"body":["Miamira sinuata is a chromodorid nudibranch with a lumpy, ridged green body marked with red-orange and blue. Its irregular shape makes it look quite unlike most smooth chromodorids.","It grows to about 6 cm and feeds on sponges. Its warning colours advertise the defensive chemicals it carries.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and rubble slopes, usually crawling in the open."],"slug":"miamira-sinuata","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4b0039.webp","title":"Miamira sinuata","status":"published","excerpt":"Miamira sinuata is a chromodorid nudibranch with a lumpy, ridged green body marked with red-orange and blue.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chromodorididae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Miamira"},{"label":"Species","value":"Miamira sinuata"}],"scientificName":"Miamira sinuata"},{"body":["Nembrotha kubaryana is a large polycerid nudibranch with a dark green to black body and raised bright green ridges. Its gills and rhinophores are tipped with orange-red.","It grows to about 12 cm and feeds on colonial ascidians (sea squirts). It is often seen in pairs or small groups on its prey.","In the Philippines it is one of the most common Nembrotha species and is found on reefs and walls during the day."],"slug":"nembrotha-kubaryana","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-19361f.webp","title":"Nembrotha kubaryana","status":"published","excerpt":"Nembrotha kubaryana is a large polycerid nudibranch with a dark green to black body and raised bright green ridges.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Polyceridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Nembrotha"},{"label":"Species","value":"Nembrotha kubaryana"}],"scientificName":"Nembrotha kubaryana"},{"body":["Reticulidia halgerda is a phyllidiid nudibranch with a pale body covered in a network of raised white ridges and orange-tipped bumps. Its rhinophores are orange.","It feeds on sponges and, like other phyllidiids, defends itself with toxic chemicals rather than speed.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and walls, often crawling openly on rock and sponges."],"slug":"reticulidia-halgerda","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f92cde.webp","title":"Reticulidia halgerda","status":"published","excerpt":"Reticulidia halgerda is a phyllidiid nudibranch with a pale body covered in a network of raised white ridges and orange-tipped bumps.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Phyllidiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Reticulidia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Reticulidia halgerda"}],"scientificName":"Reticulidia halgerda"},{"body":["Trapania euryeia is a small goniodorid nudibranch with a white to translucent body patterned with orange-yellow markings. It has pointed projections beside its rhinophores and gills.","It grows to about 1-2 cm and feeds on entoprocts that live on sponges and other surfaces.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and rubble slopes and is easiest to spot with a macro eye on sponges."],"slug":"trapania-euryeia","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-6b5895.webp","title":"Trapania euryeia","status":"published","excerpt":"Trapania euryeia is a small goniodorid nudibranch with a white to translucent body patterned with orange-yellow markings.","category":"nudibranchs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Nudibranchia"},{"label":"Family","value":"Goniodorididae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trapania"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trapania euryeia"}],"scientificName":"Trapania euryeia"},{"body":["Siphopteron nakakatuwa is a tiny headshield slug described from the Philippines in 2017. Its name comes from a Tagalog word meaning funny or amusing.","Like other Siphopteron, it is only a few millimetres long, with wing-like flaps and a short siphon at the rear. It lives on algae and sand where it hunts tiny prey.","In the Philippines it is found on shallow sandy and rubble areas and needs a very close look to spot."],"slug":"siphopteron-nakakatuwa","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-6684e6.webp","title":"Siphopteron nakakatuwa","status":"published","excerpt":"Siphopteron nakakatuwa is a tiny headshield slug described from the Philippines in 2017.","category":"headshield-slugs","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Cephalaspidea"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gastropteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Siphopteron"},{"label":"Species","value":"Siphopteron nakakatuwa"}],"scientificName":"Siphopteron nakakatuwa"},{"body":["The humped conch (Euprotomus bulla) is a strombid snail with a heavy, knobby shell and a flared lip. Like other conchs, it has stalked eyes that peek out from notches in the shell.","It grazes on algae and detritus on sand and moves by pushing off with a sickle-shaped operculum, making short hops.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy and seagrass areas near reefs, often half buried in the sand."],"slug":"humped-conch","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d635ba.webp","title":"Humped Conch","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d635ba.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-9a3aad.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The humped conch (Euprotomus bulla) is a strombid snail with a heavy, knobby shell and a flared lip.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Strombidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Euprotomus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Euprotomus bulla"}],"scientificName":"Euprotomus bulla"},{"body":["The crystalline sea star snail (Thyca crystallina) is a small parasitic snail with a cap-shaped shell, found clinging to sea stars. Its colour often matches its host.","It attaches permanently to the arm of a blue sea star and feeds by inserting its proboscis into the host's tissues.","In the Philippines it is found by checking blue Linckia sea stars on shallow reefs."],"slug":"crystalline-sea-star-snail","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f3c332.webp","title":"Crystalline Sea Star Snail","status":"published","excerpt":"The crystalline sea star snail (Thyca crystallina) is a small parasitic snail with a cap-shaped shell, found clinging to sea stars.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Eulimidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Thyca"},{"label":"Species","value":"Thyca crystallina"}],"scientificName":"Thyca crystallina"},{"body":["The spotted shrimpgoby (Amblyeleotris guttata) is a pale goby covered in small orange-brown spots. It lives with alpheid snapping shrimps that share its burrow.","The shrimp digs and maintains the burrow while the goby keeps watch, warning its partner of danger with a flick of its tail.","In the Philippines it is found on sand and rubble patches near reefs, usually perched at its burrow entrance."],"slug":"spotted-shrimpgoby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-bcc4f3.webp","title":"Spotted Shrimpgoby","status":"published","excerpt":"The spotted shrimpgoby (Amblyeleotris guttata) is a pale goby covered in small orange-brown spots.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblyeleotris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblyeleotris guttata"}],"scientificName":"Amblyeleotris guttata"},{"body":["The sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) is a sand-dwelling goby with dark bars, blue spots and a spot on the base of its dorsal fin.","It sifts mouthfuls of sand for small invertebrates and algae and lives in pairs in a burrow it digs itself.","In the Philippines it is found in sheltered sandy and silty areas, including lagoons and seagrass beds."],"slug":"sphinx-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-58459e.webp","title":"Sphinx Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) is a sand-dwelling goby with dark bars, blue spots and a spot on the base of its dorsal fin.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblygobius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblygobius sphynx"}],"scientificName":"Amblygobius sphynx"},{"body":["The whip coral goby (Bryaninops yongei) is a tiny, translucent goby that lives on wire corals. Its body is marked with faint brown bands.","It usually lives in pairs on a single coral, where it removes a patch of polyps and lays its eggs on the bare stem.","In the Philippines it is common on reef slopes and walls with wire corals."],"slug":"whip-coral-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b867aa.webp","title":"Whip Coral Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The whip coral goby (Bryaninops yongei) is a tiny, translucent goby that lives on wire corals.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Bryaninops"},{"label":"Species","value":"Bryaninops yongei"}],"scientificName":"Bryaninops yongei"},{"body":["Hasselt's goby (Callogobius hasseltii) is a small goby with a brown body crossed by dark bands and rows of sensory papillae on its head.","It is shy and secretive, staying close to the bottom in crevices and under rocks, where it feeds on small invertebrates.","In the Philippines it is found on shallow reefs and rubble slopes, often only seen at night."],"slug":"hasselts-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-0ebb92.webp","title":"Hasselt's Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"Hasselt's goby (Callogobius hasseltii) is a small goby with a brown body crossed by dark bands and rows of sensory papillae on its head.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Callogobius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Callogobius hasseltii"}],"scientificName":"Callogobius hasseltii"},{"body":["The nocturnal goby (Priolepis nocturna) is a small goby with an orange-brown body and thin pale bars. As its name suggests, it is mainly active at night.","It lives in crevices and caves and feeds on small crustaceans and other invertebrates.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs, usually upside down on cave ceilings or under ledges."],"slug":"nocturnal-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-1ca9ea.webp","title":"Nocturnal Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The nocturnal goby (Priolepis nocturna) is a small goby with an orange-brown body and thin pale bars.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Priolepis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Priolepis nocturna"}],"scientificName":"Priolepis nocturna"},{"body":["The orange-dashed goby (Valenciennea puellaris) is a sleeper goby with rows of orange dashes and spots along a pale body.","It sifts sand through its gills to pick out tiny invertebrates and lives in pairs in a burrow it digs under rocks.","In the Philippines it is found on sandy patches and slopes around reefs."],"slug":"orange-dashed-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-a9779c.webp","title":"Orange-dashed Goby","status":"published","excerpt":"The orange-dashed goby (Valenciennea puellaris) is a sleeper goby with rows of orange dashes and spots along a pale body.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Valenciennea"},{"label":"Species","value":"Valenciennea puellaris"}],"scientificName":"Valenciennea puellaris"},{"body":["The bluestriped fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos) is a slender blenny with two blue stripes, occurring in black-and-blue or orange colour forms.","It darts out to bite scales, mucus and skin from larger fish. Its black-and-blue form resembles juvenile cleaner wrasse, which helps it get close to its victims.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs, often hiding in tubeworm holes between attacks."],"slug":"bluestriped-fangblenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-079938.webp","title":"Bluestriped Fangblenny","status":"published","excerpt":"The bluestriped fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos) is a slender blenny with two blue stripes, occurring in black-and-blue or orange colour forms.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Plagiotremus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos"}],"scientificName":"Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos"},{"body":["The golden damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) is a deep-bodied, bright yellow damselfish with tall, pointed fins.","It feeds on plankton above the reef and lays its eggs on gorgonians or whip corals, which the male guards.","In the Philippines it is found along steep reef slopes and walls, usually near sea fans."],"slug":"golden-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-8bf2ab.webp","title":"Golden Damselfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The golden damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) is a deep-bodied, bright yellow damselfish with tall, pointed fins.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblyglyphidodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblyglyphidodon aureus"}],"scientificName":"Amblyglyphidodon aureus"},{"body":["The staghorn damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon curacao) is a greenish to silver damselfish with broad dark bars and a yellowish belly.","It feeds on plankton and algae and gathers in groups above branching corals, where it shelters when threatened.","In the Philippines it is common in lagoons and on sheltered reefs with staghorn coral."],"slug":"staghorn-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-d81c56.webp","title":"Staghorn Damselfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The staghorn damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon curacao) is a greenish to silver damselfish with broad dark bars and a yellowish belly.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Amblyglyphidodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Amblyglyphidodon curacao"}],"scientificName":"Amblyglyphidodon curacao"},{"body":["The sapphire damsel (Chrysiptera cyanea) is a small, electric-blue damselfish. Males often have an orange tail, while females have a dark spot at the back of the dorsal fin.","It feeds on algae and plankton and is territorial around its patch of reef.","In the Philippines it is common in shallow lagoons and reef flats among rubble and coral."],"slug":"sapphire-damsel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b7fbd8.webp","title":"Sapphire Damsel","status":"published","excerpt":"The sapphire damsel (Chrysiptera cyanea) is a small, electric-blue damselfish.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chrysiptera"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chrysiptera cyanea"}],"scientificName":"Chrysiptera cyanea"},{"body":["Rolland's demoiselle (Chrysiptera rollandi) is a small damselfish with a dark blue-grey front half and a pale rear.","It feeds on plankton and algae and stays close to the bottom among rubble and coral.","In the Philippines it is found on sheltered reefs and slopes."],"slug":"rollands-demoiselle","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-7e0f6e.webp","title":"Rolland's Demoiselle","status":"published","excerpt":"Rolland's demoiselle (Chrysiptera rollandi) is a small damselfish with a dark blue-grey front half and a pale rear.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chrysiptera"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chrysiptera rollandi"}],"scientificName":"Chrysiptera rollandi"},{"body":["Talbot's demoiselle (Chrysiptera talboti) is a small damselfish with a yellow head, lilac body and a dark spot on the dorsal fin.","It feeds on plankton and algae close to the reef and is less aggressive than many damselfishes.","In the Philippines it is found on coral-rich slopes, usually a little deeper than most damsels."],"slug":"talbots-demoiselle","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c3c39d.webp","title":"Talbot's Demoiselle","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-c3c39d.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a7626a.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"Talbot's demoiselle (Chrysiptera talboti) is a small damselfish with a yellow head, lilac body and a dark spot on the dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chrysiptera"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chrysiptera talboti"}],"scientificName":"Chrysiptera talboti"},{"body":["The Ambon damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) is a yellowish damselfish with fine blue markings and a dark eyespot on juveniles.","It feeds on algae and plankton and defends small territories near coral or rubble.","In the Philippines it is common on sheltered reefs and sandy edges."],"slug":"ambon-damselfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-592ff1.webp","title":"Ambon Damselfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The Ambon damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) is a yellowish damselfish with fine blue markings and a dark eyespot on juveniles.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pomacentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pomacentrus amboinensis"}],"scientificName":"Pomacentrus amboinensis"},{"body":["The razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus), also called the shrimpfish, is a flat, blade-like fish with a black stripe that swims head-down in tight groups.","It feeds on tiny crustaceans and shelters among sea urchin spines or branching corals when threatened.","In the Philippines it is found in sheltered shallow waters, often near long-spined urchins or seagrass."],"slug":"razorfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-491cd0.webp","title":"Razorfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus), also called the shrimpfish, is a flat, blade-like fish with a black stripe that swims head-down in tight groups.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Centriscidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Aeoliscus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Aeoliscus strigatus"}],"scientificName":"Aeoliscus strigatus"},{"body":["The blackspotted puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) is a round puffer with scattered black spots on a grey, brown or yellow body.","It feeds on coral tips, sponges and invertebrates and can inflate itself with water when threatened. Its organs contain dangerous toxins.","In the Philippines it is common on coral reefs, often seen slowly cruising near the bottom."],"slug":"blackspotted-puffer","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-43db2f.webp","title":"Blackspotted Puffer","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-43db2f.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-2d2890.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-826231.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The blackspotted puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) is a round puffer with scattered black spots on a grey, brown or yellow body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tetraodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Arothron"},{"label":"Species","value":"Arothron nigropunctatus"}],"scientificName":"Arothron nigropunctatus"},{"body":["The orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) is a dark green triggerfish with curving orange lines across its body and an orange tail.","It feeds on urchins, crabs, molluscs and algae and is known for its aggressive, territorial nature.","In the Philippines it is common on coral reefs from shallow to moderate depths."],"slug":"orange-lined-triggerfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-06bd1f.webp","title":"Orange-lined Triggerfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) is a dark green triggerfish with curving orange lines across its body and an orange tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Balistidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Balistapus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Balistapus undulatus"}],"scientificName":"Balistapus undulatus"},{"body":["The blacksaddled toby (Canthigaster valentini) is a small pufferfish with four dark saddles across a white body dotted with orange-brown spots.","It feeds on algae and small invertebrates and is toxic. It is mimicked by the harmless mimic filefish.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs and rubble slopes."],"slug":"blacksaddled-toby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-092081.webp","title":"Blacksaddled Toby","status":"published","excerpt":"The blacksaddled toby (Canthigaster valentini) is a small pufferfish with four dark saddles across a white body dotted with orange-brown spots.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tetraodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Canthigaster"},{"label":"Species","value":"Canthigaster valentini"}],"scientificName":"Canthigaster valentini"},{"body":["The bicolour parrotfish (Cetoscarus ocellatus) is a large parrotfish; juveniles are white with an orange-edged dark head band, while adults are green and pink.","It scrapes algae from rock and dead coral with its beak-like teeth, producing sand in the process.","In the Philippines it is found on clear reefs and slopes, with juveniles often near the bottom."],"slug":"bicolour-parrotfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-6399e4.webp","title":"Bicolour Parrotfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The bicolour parrotfish (Cetoscarus ocellatus) is a large parrotfish; juveniles are white with an orange-edged dark head band, while adults are green and pink.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cetoscarus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cetoscarus ocellatus"}],"scientificName":"Cetoscarus ocellatus"},{"body":["The saddle butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) is a large butterflyfish with a black, white-edged saddle on its back and orange-red marks on its throat.","It feeds on coral polyps, algae and small invertebrates, usually in pairs.","In the Philippines it is found on coral-rich reefs and lagoons."],"slug":"saddle-butterflyfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-1089a3.webp","title":"Saddle Butterflyfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The saddle butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) is a large butterflyfish with a black, white-edged saddle on its back and orange-red marks on its throat.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Acanthuriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chaetodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chaetodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chaetodon ephippium"}],"scientificName":"Chaetodon ephippium"},{"body":["The spot-banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) is a yellowish butterflyfish with dark bars on its back that break into spots.","It feeds on coral polyps, algae and small invertebrates and is usually seen in pairs.","In the Philippines it is common on coral-rich reefs."],"slug":"spot-banded-butterflyfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-244bf7.webp","title":"Spot-banded Butterflyfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The spot-banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) is a yellowish butterflyfish with dark bars on its back that break into spots.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Acanthuriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chaetodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chaetodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chaetodon punctatofasciatus"}],"scientificName":"Chaetodon punctatofasciatus"},{"body":["The five-lined cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus) is a silvery cardinalfish with five dark stripes and a yellow tail base with a black spot.","It shelters by day among coral or urchin spines and hunts small fish and crustaceans at night. The male broods the eggs in its mouth.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs and around coral heads."],"slug":"five-lined-cardinalfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-655ae6.webp","title":"Five-lined Cardinalfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-655ae6.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-23edeb.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The five-lined cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus) is a silvery cardinalfish with five dark stripes and a yellow tail base with a black spot.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Apogoniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Apogonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cheilodipterus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus"}],"scientificName":"Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus"},{"body":["The violet soldierfish (Myripristis violacea) is a large-eyed soldierfish with silvery scales edged in dark red-violet.","It shelters in caves by day and feeds on plankton at night.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs, often in groups under ledges."],"slug":"violet-soldierfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-07874f.webp","title":"Violet Soldierfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The violet soldierfish (Myripristis violacea) is a large-eyed soldierfish with silvery scales edged in dark red-violet.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Holocentriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Holocentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Myripristis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Myripristis violacea"}],"scientificName":"Myripristis violacea"},{"body":["The broadstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus angustatus) is a pale cardinalfish with five dark stripes and a black spot on its tail base.","It shelters in crevices by day and feeds on small invertebrates at night. The male broods the eggs in its mouth.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and rocky areas."],"slug":"broadstriped-cardinalfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b83653.webp","title":"Broadstriped Cardinalfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The broadstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus angustatus) is a pale cardinalfish with five dark stripes and a black spot on its tail base.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Apogoniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Apogonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ostorhinchus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ostorhinchus angustatus"}],"scientificName":"Ostorhinchus angustatus"},{"body":["The yellowstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma) is a small silvery-blue cardinalfish with orange-yellow stripes.","It gathers in small groups among coral and urchins by day and feeds on plankton at night.","In the Philippines it is common on sheltered reefs."],"slug":"yellowstriped-cardinalfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-0cef06.webp","title":"Yellowstriped Cardinalfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The yellowstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma) is a small silvery-blue cardinalfish with orange-yellow stripes.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Apogoniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Apogonidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ostorhinchus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ostorhinchus cyanosoma"}],"scientificName":"Ostorhinchus cyanosoma"},{"body":["The yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicum) has a cube-shaped body; juveniles are bright yellow with black spots, and adults turn duller.","It feeds on algae and small invertebrates and can release a toxin from its skin when stressed.","In the Philippines juveniles are often found hiding in crevices on reefs."],"slug":"yellow-boxfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-76d13b.webp","title":"Yellow Boxfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicum) has a cube-shaped body; juveniles are bright yellow with black spots, and adults turn duller.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ostraciidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ostracion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ostracion cubicum"}],"scientificName":"Ostracion cubicum"},{"body":["The spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) is a small boxfish with white spots on a dark body; males have blue sides.","It feeds on algae, sponges and small invertebrates and is protected by its hard body and skin toxins.","In the Philippines it is found on clear reefs."],"slug":"spotted-boxfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-7d9b25.webp","title":"Spotted Boxfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-7d9b25.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-f98c98.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) is a small boxfish with white spots on a dark body; males have blue sides.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ostraciidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ostracion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ostracion meleagris"}],"scientificName":"Ostracion meleagris"},{"body":["The oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) is a small wrasse with a mottled body and a dark stripe through the eye.","It hunts small fish and crustaceans along the reef.","In the Philippines it is found on reef slopes and rubble."],"slug":"oriental-maori-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-859b9b.webp","title":"Oriental Maori Wrasse","status":"published","excerpt":"The oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) is a small wrasse with a mottled body and a dark stripe through the eye.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Oxycheilinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Oxycheilinus orientalis"}],"scientificName":"Oxycheilinus orientalis"},{"body":["The cylindrical sandperch (Parapercis cylindrica) is a slender fish with dark bars and a white body.","It rests on the bottom propped on its pelvic fins and ambushes small crustaceans and fish.","In the Philippines it is common on sand and rubble near reefs."],"slug":"cylindrical-sandperch","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-28c468.webp","title":"Cylindrical Sandperch","status":"published","excerpt":"The cylindrical sandperch (Parapercis cylindrica) is a slender fish with dark bars and a white body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pinguipedidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Parapercis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Parapercis cylindrica"}],"scientificName":"Parapercis cylindrica"},{"body":["The manybar goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) is a goatfish with dark bars along a pale body and two barbels on its chin.","It probes the sand with its barbels to find small invertebrates, often followed by other fish.","In the Philippines it is common on sand and rubble around reefs."],"slug":"manybar-goatfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-f41544.webp","title":"Manybar Goatfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The manybar goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) is a goatfish with dark bars along a pale body and two barbels on its chin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Mulliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Mullidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Parupeneus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Parupeneus multifasciatus"}],"scientificName":"Parupeneus multifasciatus"},{"body":["The longfin batfish (Platax teira) is a tall, disc-shaped fish with dark bars and a dark patch near the belly.","It feeds on plankton, algae and jellyfish and is often curious around divers.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs and wrecks, often in small groups."],"slug":"longfin-batfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-29e2fc.webp","title":"Longfin Batfish","status":"published","excerpt":"The longfin batfish (Platax teira) is a tall, disc-shaped fish with dark bars and a dark patch near the belly.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Acanthuriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ephippidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Platax"},{"label":"Species","value":"Platax teira"}],"scientificName":"Platax teira"},{"body":["The harlequin sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides) has thick lips; juveniles are brown with white blotches and swim in a wriggling motion, while adults are spotted.","It feeds at night on crustaceans and small fish and rests under ledges by day.","In the Philippines it is found on reefs, with juveniles often near coral heads."],"slug":"harlequin-sweetlips","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-b1df44.webp","title":"Harlequin Sweetlips","status":"published","excerpt":"The harlequin sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides) has thick lips; juveniles are brown with white blotches and swim in a wriggling motion, while adults are spotted.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Eupercaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Haemulidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Plectorhinchus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides"}],"scientificName":"Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides"},{"body":["The red-cheeked anthias (Pseudanthias huchtii) is a green-yellow anthias with a red stripe below the eye.","It feeds on plankton in groups above the reef.","In the Philippines it is common on reef edges in current."],"slug":"red-cheeked-anthias","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4dcd7f.webp","title":"Red-cheeked Anthias","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-4dcd7f.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-310a21.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a86407.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The red-cheeked anthias (Pseudanthias huchtii) is a green-yellow anthias with a red stripe below the eye.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Anthiadidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pseudanthias"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pseudanthias huchtii"}],"scientificName":"Pseudanthias huchtii"},{"body":["The two-lined monocle bream (Scolopsis bilineata) has a yellow-edged white stripe on its body.","It feeds on small invertebrates on sand near reefs.","In the Philippines it is common on sheltered reefs."],"slug":"two-lined-monocle-bream","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-8f7a3d.webp","title":"Two-lined Monocle Bream","status":"published","excerpt":"The two-lined monocle bream (Scolopsis bilineata) has a yellow-edged white stripe on its body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Eupercaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Nemipteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Scolopsis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Scolopsis bilineata"}],"scientificName":"Scolopsis bilineata"},{"body":["The variegated lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) is a slim, mottled lizardfish with a reptile-like head.","It lies still on the reef and lunges at passing fish.","In the Philippines it is common on reefs and rubble."],"slug":"variegated-lizardfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-fae502.webp","title":"Variegated Lizardfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/blog/2026/10/uc-fae502.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-25c55a.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The variegated lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) is a slim, mottled lizardfish with a reptile-like head.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Aulopiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Synodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Synodus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Synodus variegatus"}],"scientificName":"Synodus variegatus"},{"body":["The barchin scorpionfish (Sebastapistes strongia) is a small, mottled scorpionfish with a dark bar across its chin and a scatter of pale and reddish blotches that break up its outline. Fleshy flaps on its head help it vanish against rubble and coral.","It grows to only about 6-7 cm and spends the day tucked into branching corals, crevices and rubble, ambushing tiny fish and shrimps that wander too close. Like its larger relatives it carries venomous fin spines, so it should never be handled.","The barchin scorpionfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where sharp-eyed macro divers spot it hiding among coral branches on shallow reefs, especially at night. It is a smaller cousin of the [Ambon scorpionfish](/critter/ambon-scorpionfish)."],"slug":"barchin-scorpionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-365e1b.webp","title":"Barchin Scorpionfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-365e1b.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-8ddc7a.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The barchin scorpionfish (Sebastapistes strongia) is a small, mottled scorpionfish with a dark bar across its chin and a scatter of pale and reddish blotches that break up its outline.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sebastapistes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sebastapistes strongia"}],"scientificName":"Sebastapistes strongia"},{"body":["The bicolor goatfish (Parupeneus barberinoides) is a goatfish with a dark front half and a pale or yellowish rear half, often with a white stripe and a dark spot near the tail. Two long barbels hang from its chin.","It grows to about 25-30 cm and forages over sand, rubble and seagrass, sweeping its barbels through the sediment to find worms, crustaceans and small molluscs. Wrasses and other fish often follow it to snatch prey it disturbs.","The bicolor goatfish lives in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on sandy patches near reefs, often alongside the [manybar goatfish](/critter/manybar-goatfish)."],"slug":"bicolor-goatfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b236fa.webp","title":"Bicolor Goatfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b236fa.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The bicolor goatfish (Parupeneus barberinoides) is a goatfish with a dark front half and a pale or yellowish rear half, often with a white stripe and a dark spot near the tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Mulliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Mullidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Parupeneus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Parupeneus barberinoides"}],"scientificName":"Parupeneus barberinoides"},{"body":["The black-bar chromis (Pycnochromis retrofasciatus) is a small, pale grey to brownish damselfish with a single dark bar across the rear of its body, just in front of the white tail. It was long known as Chromis retrofasciata.","It reaches only about 5 cm and lives in small groups around branching corals on reef slopes, hovering just above the coral to pick plankton from the water and diving into the branches when threatened.","The black-bar chromis is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on coral-rich slopes from shallow water down to around 60 m."],"slug":"black-bar-chromis","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-98d3a4.webp","title":"Black-bar Chromis","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-98d3a4.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The black-bar chromis (Pycnochromis retrofasciatus) is a small, pale grey to brownish damselfish with a single dark bar across the rear of its body, just in front of the white tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pycnochromis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pycnochromis retrofasciatus"}],"scientificName":"Pycnochromis retrofasciatus"},{"body":["The cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) is a very long, slender wrasse with a pointed snout, shaped more like a cigar than a typical reef fish. Its colour varies from green to brown or yellow, sometimes with a dark mid-body stripe.","It grows to about 50 cm and hunts small crustaceans, molluscs and fish in seagrass beds, algae and rubble, where its shape and colour let it hide among the blades. Larger males can show orange or pink patches behind the pectoral fin.","The cigar wrasse ranges across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is most often seen cruising over seagrass and sandy reef flats."],"slug":"cigar-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1c12c9.webp","title":"Cigar Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1c12c9.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) is a very long, slender wrasse with a pointed snout, shaped more like a cigar than a typical reef fish.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cheilio"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cheilio inermis"}],"scientificName":"Cheilio inermis"},{"body":["The floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) is a stocky wrasse covered in tiny white and orange-red spots, with mottled bands that help it blend into rubble and algae. Its fins are often edged or spotted with pale dots.","It reaches about 35-45 cm and feeds on molluscs, crustaceans and other invertebrates, which it crunches with strong jaws. It is a cautious fish that tends to stay close to cover in lagoons and on reef flats.","The floral wrasse is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives over rubble, sand and coral in shallow water. It is a relative of the [redbreasted wrasse](/critter/redbreasted-wrasse)."],"slug":"floral-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-7210ad.webp","title":"Floral Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-7210ad.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) is a stocky wrasse covered in tiny white and orange-red spots, with mottled bands that help it blend into rubble and algae.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cheilinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cheilinus chlorourus"}],"scientificName":"Cheilinus chlorourus"},{"body":["The goldenstriped soapfish (Grammistes sexlineatus) is a dark brown to black fish with bold yellow or white stripes running along its body. Juveniles have fewer stripes, and the stripes break up into dashes in large adults.","It grows to about 25-30 cm and hides in caves and crevices by day, hunting small fish and crustaceans at dusk and night. When stressed it releases a bitter, soapy mucus containing the toxin grammistin, which deters predators.","The goldenstriped soapfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers usually spot it peering out from holes and ledges on reefs."],"slug":"goldenstriped-soapfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b0e353.webp","title":"Goldenstriped Soapfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b0e353.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The goldenstriped soapfish (Grammistes sexlineatus) is a dark brown to black fish with bold yellow or white stripes running along its body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Grammistidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Grammistes"},{"label":"Species","value":"Grammistes sexlineatus"}],"scientificName":"Grammistes sexlineatus"},{"body":["The halfmoon triggerfish (Sufflamen chrysopterum) is a brown triggerfish with a pale crescent at the edge of its tail and, in many individuals, a white or yellowish bar behind the eye. Its belly is often bluish.","It grows to about 30 cm and feeds on small invertebrates, including crustaceans, worms and urchins, that it uncovers by blowing jets of water into the sand. It is usually solitary and wary, retreating to a crevice when approached.","The halfmoon triggerfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on reef flats, lagoons and rubble slopes."],"slug":"halfmoon-triggerfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b5425e.webp","title":"Halfmoon Triggerfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b5425e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The halfmoon triggerfish (Sufflamen chrysopterum) is a brown triggerfish with a pale crescent at the edge of its tail and, in many individuals, a white or yellowish bar behind the eye.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Balistidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sufflamen"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sufflamen chrysopterum"}],"scientificName":"Sufflamen chrysopterum"},{"body":["The humphead bannerfish (Heniochus varius) is a dark-bodied butterflyfish relative with a bump on its forehead, short horn-like projections above the eyes and a white band curving across its body.","It grows to about 19 cm and is usually seen alone or in pairs, sheltering in caves and under ledges by day and feeding on coral polyps and small invertebrates. Unlike some bannerfish, its dorsal fin lacks a long trailing banner.","The humphead bannerfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral-rich reefs and drop-offs."],"slug":"humphead-bannerfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-745d79.webp","title":"Humphead Bannerfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-745d79.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The humphead bannerfish (Heniochus varius) is a dark-bodied butterflyfish relative with a bump on its forehead, short horn-like projections above the eyes and a white band curving across its body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Chaetodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chaetodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Heniochus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Heniochus varius"}],"scientificName":"Heniochus varius"},{"body":["The red coris wrasse (Coris gaimard) is famous for its striking juvenile, an orange-red fish with several white, black-edged saddles that looks nothing like the adult. Adults are blue-green with a yellow tail and many blue spots.","It can reach around 40 cm. Juveniles move with a jerky, wobbling swim that may mimic a drifting leaf, while adults roam over rubble and sand, flipping over stones to find crabs, molluscs and other invertebrates. At night it buries itself in the sand.","The red coris wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where the eye-catching juveniles are a favourite of photographers on rubble and sandy reef slopes."],"slug":"red-coris-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-499b50.webp","title":"Red Coris Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-499b50.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The red coris wrasse (Coris gaimard) is famous for its striking juvenile, an orange-red fish with several white, black-edged saddles that looks nothing like the adult.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Coris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Coris gaimard"}],"scientificName":"Coris gaimard"},{"body":["The longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) is a yellow to olive boxfish with two long horns projecting forward from its head and two more at the rear of its body. Its rigid body is covered in fused bony plates.","It can grow to about 45 cm, though most seen by divers are smaller. It hovers over sand, rubble and seagrass, blowing water into the sediment to uncover small invertebrates. Like other boxfish it can release toxins from its skin when stressed.","The longhorn cowfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where juveniles are a much-loved find on sandy and muck sites."],"slug":"longhorn-cowfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-609acc.webp","title":"Longhorn Cowfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-609acc.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) is a yellow to olive boxfish with two long horns projecting forward from its head and two more at the rear of its body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ostraciidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lactoria"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lactoria cornuta"}],"scientificName":"Lactoria cornuta"},{"body":["The panther flounder (Bothus pantherinus) is a flat, left-eyed flounder with a pale body covered in dark rings and spots, which it can shift to match the sand. Its eyes sit on stalks on the left side of the head.","It grows to about 30-40 cm and lies partly buried on sand and rubble, ambushing small fish and crustaceans. Males have long pectoral fins that they raise as a flag during courtship and territorial displays.","The panther flounder ranges across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on sandy slopes and muck sites, often only noticed when it moves."],"slug":"panther-flounder","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-69ecd8.webp","title":"Panther Flounder","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-69ecd8.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The panther flounder (Bothus pantherinus) is a flat, left-eyed flounder with a pale body covered in dark rings and spots, which it can shift to match the sand.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Pleuronectiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Bothidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Bothus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Bothus pantherinus"}],"scientificName":"Bothus pantherinus"},{"body":["The regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) is one of the most colourful angelfish, with bold orange-yellow and white, black-edged bars across its body and a blue and yellow dorsal fin.","It reaches about 25 cm and is usually seen alone or in pairs near caves and overhangs, where it feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates. It is shy and tends to slip into cover when divers approach.","The regal angelfish is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on coral-rich reefs and walls."],"slug":"regal-angelfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-f5921e.webp","title":"Regal Angelfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-f5921e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-21c85f.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) is one of the most colourful angelfish, with bold orange-yellow and white, black-edged bars across its body and a blue and yellow dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Chaetodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacanthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pygoplites"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pygoplites diacanthus"}],"scientificName":"Pygoplites diacanthus"},{"body":["The reticulate boxfish (Ostracion solorense) is a small boxfish whose patterns differ between the sexes. Males are blue with a fine network of lines, while females and juveniles are dark with pale lines or spots.","It grows to about 11 cm and swims slowly over the reef with small fin strokes, feeding on algae, sponges and small invertebrates. Its rigid box of bony plates and toxic skin protect it from most predators.","The reticulate boxfish occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and lagoons. It is a close relative of the [spotted boxfish](/critter/spotted-boxfish)."],"slug":"reticulate-boxfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-41aa48.webp","title":"Reticulate Boxfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-41aa48.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b0d12f.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The reticulate boxfish (Ostracion solorense) is a small boxfish whose patterns differ between the sexes.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ostraciidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ostracion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ostracion solorense"}],"scientificName":"Ostracion solorense"},{"body":["The saw-jawed monocle bream (Scolopsis ciliata) is a pale, elongate bream with a dark back, a thin white stripe running from the eye towards the tail and a yellowish tail. A small spine below the eye gives the group its name.","It grows to about 20 cm and hovers near the bottom over sand and rubble, darting down to pick up small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. It is usually seen alone or in loose groups.","The saw-jawed monocle bream is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sandy areas near reefs and in sheltered bays, much like the [two-lined monocle bream](/critter/two-lined-monocle-bream)."],"slug":"saw-jawed-monocle-bream","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-576b5f.webp","title":"Saw-jawed Monocle Bream","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-576b5f.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-51fe2c.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The saw-jawed monocle bream (Scolopsis ciliata) is a pale, elongate bream with a dark back, a thin white stripe running from the eye towards the tail and a yellowish tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Spariformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Nemipteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Scolopsis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Scolopsis ciliata"}],"scientificName":"Scolopsis ciliata"},{"body":["The spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) is a large, yellowish to bronze emperor fish with a pale blue spot on most scales and blue lines on its cheeks, giving it a spangled look.","It can reach around 80 cm and feeds on crabs, molluscs, sea urchins and small fish, which it hunts over sand, seagrass and rubble near reefs. It is often seen alone or in small groups and is an important food fish.","The spangled emperor is found across the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers meet it cruising over sand and seagrass close to the reef."],"slug":"spangled-emperor","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-9085b0.webp","title":"Spangled Emperor","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-9085b0.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) is a large, yellowish to bronze emperor fish with a pale blue spot on most scales and blue lines on its cheeks, giving it a spangled look.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Spariformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Lethrinidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lethrinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lethrinus nebulosus"}],"scientificName":"Lethrinus nebulosus"},{"body":["The striped dwarfgoby (Eviota sebreei) is a tiny, translucent goby with a dark stripe running along its lower side, broken into spots towards the tail, and a dark spot at the base of the tail fin.","It reaches only about 2.5 cm and perches on the surface of hard corals, moving in short hops. It feeds on tiny crustaceans and plankton and is easily overlooked unless you look closely at live coral.","The striped dwarfgoby is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral-rich reefs. It is a relative of the [redbelly dwarfgoby](/critter/redbelly-dwarfgoby)."],"slug":"striped-dwarfgoby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-3596fb.webp","title":"Striped Dwarfgoby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-3596fb.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The striped dwarfgoby (Eviota sebreei) is a tiny, translucent goby with a dark stripe running along its lower side, broken into spots towards the tail, and a dark spot at the base of the tail fin.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Eviota"},{"label":"Species","value":"Eviota sebreei"}],"scientificName":"Eviota sebreei"},{"body":["The tripletail wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) is a large, green-brown wrasse with red-orange dashes on its head and pale bands on its body. Adults have a three-lobed tail fin, which gives the species its name.","It grows to about 45 cm and feeds on molluscs, crabs and other hard-shelled prey that it crushes with strong teeth. It is a cautious fish that stays close to cover on reef flats and lagoons.","The tripletail wrasse is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on shallow reefs with mixed coral and rubble."],"slug":"tripletail-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-45eada.webp","title":"Tripletail Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-45eada.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The tripletail wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) is a large, green-brown wrasse with red-orange dashes on its head and pale bands on its body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Cheilinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Cheilinus trilobatus"}],"scientificName":"Cheilinus trilobatus"},{"body":["The tropical striped triplefin (Helcogramma striata) is a tiny, blenny-like fish with orange, white and dark stripes running along its body and three separate dorsal fins, typical of triplefins.","It grows to about 4-5 cm and perches on corals, sponges and rocks, often in small groups. It feeds on tiny crustaceans and plankton and darts between perches in quick hops.","The tropical striped triplefin is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on coral heads and sponges on shallow reefs."],"slug":"tropical-striped-triplefin","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c82329.webp","title":"Tropical Striped Triplefin","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c82329.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The tropical striped triplefin (Helcogramma striata) is a tiny, blenny-like fish with orange, white and dark stripes running along its body and three separate dorsal fins, typical of triplefins.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tripterygiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Helcogramma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Helcogramma striata"}],"scientificName":"Helcogramma striata"},{"body":["The two-spot bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) is a brown surgeonfish with fine blue lines on its body and a dark spot at the rear base of the dorsal and anal fins. Juveniles may have a yellow tail.","It grows to about 20 cm and feeds by brushing films of algae and detritus off hard surfaces with its comb-like teeth. Like other surgeonfish it has a sharp blade at the base of its tail.","The two-spot bristletooth is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and rubble slopes."],"slug":"two-spot-bristletooth","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-0d7e2d.webp","title":"Two-spot Bristletooth","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-0d7e2d.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The two-spot bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) is a brown surgeonfish with fine blue lines on its body and a dark spot at the rear base of the dorsal and anal fins.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Acanthuriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Acanthuridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ctenochaetus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ctenochaetus binotatus"}],"scientificName":"Ctenochaetus binotatus"},{"body":["The yellowtail barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata) is a small, silvery barracuda with a yellowish tail and a faint yellow stripe along its side. Like all barracudas, it has a long body and a large mouth full of sharp teeth.","It grows to about 55 cm and usually swims in schools over seagrass beds, sand and reef edges, hunting small fish. Schools often hang almost motionless in the water before scattering.","The yellowtail barracuda is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where schools are seen in bays, around reefs and in sheltered waters."],"slug":"yellowtail-barracuda","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e4d5ee.webp","title":"Yellowtail Barracuda","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e4d5ee.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The yellowtail barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata) is a small, silvery barracuda with a yellowish tail and a faint yellow stripe along its side.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Sphyraeniformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Sphyraenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Sphyraena"},{"label":"Species","value":"Sphyraena obtusata"}],"scientificName":"Sphyraena obtusata"},{"body":["The zigzag wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis) is a slender wrasse with a dark zigzag stripe running from its eye along its body. Males are greener with pink markings on the head, while females and juveniles are paler.","It grows to about 20 cm and forages over sand and rubble, picking up small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. It buries itself in the sand at night and when frightened.","The zigzag wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sandy lagoons and reef flats. It is a relative of the [canary wrasse](/critter/canary-wrasse)."],"slug":"zigzag-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-8aae54.webp","title":"Zigzag Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-8aae54.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The zigzag wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis) is a slender wrasse with a dark zigzag stripe running from its eye along its body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Halichoeres"},{"label":"Species","value":"Halichoeres scapularis"}],"scientificName":"Halichoeres scapularis"},{"body":["The barred sand conger (Ariosoma fasciatum) is a pale conger eel with faint dark bars along its body and large eyes. It is usually seen with only its head poking out of the sand.","It grows to about 40-50 cm and spends the day buried, emerging at night to hunt small fish and crustaceans over sand. When disturbed it slips backwards into the sediment.","The barred sand conger is found in the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where night divers find it on sandy and muddy bottoms. It shares this habitat with the [spotted garden eel](/critter/spotted-garden-eel)."],"slug":"barred-sand-conger","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-50de8d.webp","title":"Barred Sand Conger","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-50de8d.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The barred sand conger (Ariosoma fasciatum) is a pale conger eel with faint dark bars along its body and large eyes.","category":"snakes-and-eels","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Anguilliformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Congridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Ariosoma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Ariosoma fasciatum"}],"scientificName":"Ariosoma fasciatum"},{"body":["The Batu coris (Coris batuensis) is a small wrasse with a pale body, faint dark bars along its back and two small dark spots on the dorsal fin. Males develop greener tones and pink markings.","It grows to about 17 cm and forages over sand, rubble and reef edges, feeding on small invertebrates. It buries itself in the sand at night.","The Batu coris is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on shallow sandy and rubble areas near reefs."],"slug":"batu-coris","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b01215.webp","title":"Batu Coris","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b01215.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The Batu coris (Coris batuensis) is a small wrasse with a pale body, faint dark bars along its back and two small dark spots on the dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Coris"},{"label":"Species","value":"Coris batuensis"}],"scientificName":"Coris batuensis"},{"body":["The bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) is a large, grey-olive surgeonfish with a short horn on its forehead and two bright blue spines at the base of its tail.","It can grow to about 70 cm and grazes on leafy brown algae, often in groups along reef edges and over reef flats. The blue spines are sharp and are used in defence.","The bluespine unicornfish ranges across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on reef slopes and in channels."],"slug":"bluespine-unicornfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-62e8ef.webp","title":"Bluespine Unicornfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-62e8ef.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) is a large, grey-olive surgeonfish with a short horn on its forehead and two bright blue spines at the base of its tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Acanthuriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Acanthuridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Naso"},{"label":"Species","value":"Naso unicornis"}],"scientificName":"Naso unicornis"},{"body":["The charcoal damsel (Pomacentrus brachialis) is a dark grey to blackish damselfish with a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Its colour can look almost charcoal underwater.","It grows to about 10 cm and lives on reef slopes and walls, often in loose groups, feeding on plankton in the water column above the reef.","The charcoal damsel is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on outer reef slopes. It shares the reef with relatives such as the [princess damselfish](/critter/princess-damselfish)."],"slug":"charcoal-damsel","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-cc8dc9.webp","title":"Charcoal Damsel","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-cc8dc9.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The charcoal damsel (Pomacentrus brachialis) is a dark grey to blackish damselfish with a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacentridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pomacentrus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pomacentrus brachialis"}],"scientificName":"Pomacentrus brachialis"},{"body":["The decorated goby (Istigobius decoratus) is a pale sand goby with rows of dark and orange-brown spots along its body and fine dots on its head.","It grows to about 12 cm and rests on sand and rubble near reefs, moving in short dashes. It feeds on small invertebrates sifted from the sediment.","The decorated goby is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on sandy patches between coral."],"slug":"decorated-goby","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-43ef64.webp","title":"Decorated Goby","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-43ef64.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The decorated goby (Istigobius decoratus) is a pale sand goby with rows of dark and orange-brown spots along its body and fine dots on its head.","category":"gobies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Gobiiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Gobiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Istigobius"},{"label":"Species","value":"Istigobius decoratus"}],"scientificName":"Istigobius decoratus"},{"body":["Janss' pipefish (Doryrhamphus janssi) is a slender pipefish with an orange head and tail, a dark blue-black midbody and a white-edged, rounded tail fin.","It grows to about 14 cm and lives in caves, crevices and under ledges, where it often acts as a cleaner, picking parasites from larger fish. As in all pipefish, the male carries the eggs.","Janss' pipefish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers find it in shaded holes on reefs, often near the [banded pipefish](/critter/banded-pipefish)."],"slug":"janss-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-6de3d3.webp","title":"Janss' Pipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-6de3d3.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"Janss' pipefish (Doryrhamphus janssi) is a slender pipefish with an orange head and tail, a dark blue-black midbody and a white-edged, rounded tail fin.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Doryrhamphus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Doryrhamphus janssi"}],"scientificName":"Doryrhamphus janssi"},{"body":["The eastern triangle butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa) is a triangular butterflyfish with chevron-like lines on its body and dark bands through its eye.","It grows to about 15 cm and feeds almost entirely on the polyps of table and branching Acropora corals. Pairs defend a feeding territory among the corals.","The eastern triangle butterflyfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral-rich reefs. It is a relative of the [saddle butterflyfish](/critter/saddle-butterflyfish)."],"slug":"eastern-triangle-butterflyfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-21941c.webp","title":"Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-21941c.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The eastern triangle butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa) is a triangular butterflyfish with chevron-like lines on its body and dark bands through its eye.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Chaetodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chaetodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chaetodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chaetodon baronessa"}],"scientificName":"Chaetodon baronessa"},{"body":["The eightband butterflyfish (Chaetodon octofasciatus) is a pale yellow to white butterflyfish crossed by eight thin, dark bars, including one through the eye.","It grows to about 12 cm and feeds on coral polyps, so it depends on healthy live coral. It is usually seen in pairs moving between coral heads on sheltered reefs.","The eightband butterflyfish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on inshore reefs and sheltered bays, sometimes in murky water."],"slug":"eightband-butterflyfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c6ffec.webp","title":"Eightband Butterflyfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c6ffec.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The eightband butterflyfish (Chaetodon octofasciatus) is a pale yellow to white butterflyfish crossed by eight thin, dark bars, including one through the eye.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Chaetodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chaetodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chaetodon"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chaetodon octofasciatus"}],"scientificName":"Chaetodon octofasciatus"},{"body":["The forktail blenny (Meiacanthus atrodorsalis) is a small fangblenny with a blue-grey front half, a yellow rear and a forked tail. A dark line runs from its eye along the front of its dorsal fin.","It grows to about 11 cm and swims in open water above the reef, feeding on plankton. Its venomous fangs make it unpalatable, and several other fish mimic its colours.","The forktail blenny is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it hovers over coral reefs. It is a relative of the [bluestriped fangblenny](/critter/bluestriped-fangblenny)."],"slug":"forktail-blenny","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-70a1b2.webp","title":"Forktail Blenny","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-70a1b2.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The forktail blenny (Meiacanthus atrodorsalis) is a small fangblenny with a blue-grey front half, a yellow rear and a forked tail.","category":"blennies","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Blenniiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Blenniidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Meiacanthus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Meiacanthus atrodorsalis"}],"scientificName":"Meiacanthus atrodorsalis"},{"body":["The ornate pipefish (Halicampus macrorhynchus) is a well-camouflaged pipefish with a long snout and a body covered in skin flaps and filaments.","It grows to about 16 cm and lives on sand, rubble and algae, where it blends in with debris. It feeds on tiny crustaceans, and the male carries the eggs.","The ornate pipefish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a muck-diving find on sandy and rubble slopes."],"slug":"ornate-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-130170.webp","title":"Ornate Pipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-130170.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The ornate pipefish (Halicampus macrorhynchus) is a well-camouflaged pipefish with a long snout and a body covered in skin flaps and filaments.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Halicampus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Halicampus macrorhynchus"}],"scientificName":"Halicampus macrorhynchus"},{"body":["The harlequin jawfish (Stalix histrio) is a small jawfish with a large head and mouth, marked with dark bands and pale patches.","It grows to about 9 cm and lives in a burrow in sand or rubble, which it builds and maintains by carrying stones in its mouth. Males brood the eggs in their mouths.","The harlequin jawfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers find it peering out of burrows on sandy and rubble slopes."],"slug":"harlequin-jawfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-60b671.webp","title":"Harlequin Jawfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-60b671.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The harlequin jawfish (Stalix histrio) is a small jawfish with a large head and mouth, marked with dark bands and pale patches.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Opistognathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Stalix"},{"label":"Species","value":"Stalix histrio"}],"scientificName":"Stalix histrio"},{"body":["The jaguar dottyback (Pseudochromis moorei) is a small dottyback with a pale body covered in dark spots, like a jaguar's coat, and a pointed head.","It grows to about 10 cm and lives on sand and rubble, hiding among debris and in holes. It hunts small crustaceans and fish.","The jaguar dottyback is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a rare find on sandy and muck sites."],"slug":"jaguar-dottyback","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-075df5.webp","title":"Jaguar Dottyback","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-075df5.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The jaguar dottyback (Pseudochromis moorei) is a small dottyback with a pale body covered in dark spots, like a jaguar's coat, and a pointed head.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Ovalentaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pseudochromidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pseudochromis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pseudochromis moorei"}],"scientificName":"Pseudochromis moorei"},{"body":["The emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) has a striking juvenile with blue, white and black concentric rings, while adults are blue with yellow stripes and a dark mask over the eyes.","It grows to about 40 cm and feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates. Juveniles often hide in caves and under ledges, where they can act as cleaners for other fish.","The emperor angelfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and walls, with juveniles hiding in holes and under overhangs."],"slug":"emperor-angelfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-16a013.webp","title":"Emperor Angelfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-16a013.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) has a striking juvenile with blue, white and black concentric rings, while adults are blue with yellow stripes and a dark mask over the eyes.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Chaetodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Pomacanthidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pomacanthus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pomacanthus imperator"}],"scientificName":"Pomacanthus imperator"},{"body":["The map pufferfish (Arothron mappa) is a large puffer with a pale body covered in a maze of dark lines radiating from the eyes, like a map.","It grows to about 65 cm and feeds on sponges, algae, molluscs and other invertebrates. Like other puffers it can inflate itself, and its organs are highly toxic.","The map pufferfish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and lagoons. It is a relative of the [blackspotted puffer](/critter/blackspotted-puffer)."],"slug":"map-pufferfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a96e67.webp","title":"Map Pufferfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a96e67.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The map pufferfish (Arothron mappa) is a large puffer with a pale body covered in a maze of dark lines radiating from the eyes, like a map.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tetraodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Arothron"},{"label":"Species","value":"Arothron mappa"}],"scientificName":"Arothron mappa"},{"body":["The orange-spotted spinefoot (Siganus guttatus) is a rabbitfish with a silvery-blue body covered in golden-orange spots and a yellow spot at the rear of the dorsal fin.","It grows to about 40 cm and grazes on algae and seagrass, often in pairs or small groups. Its fin spines carry venom.","The orange-spotted spinefoot is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives in seagrass beds, mangroves and sheltered reefs."],"slug":"orange-spotted-spinefoot","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-bbdc27.webp","title":"Orange-spotted Spinefoot","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-bbdc27.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The orange-spotted spinefoot (Siganus guttatus) is a rabbitfish with a silvery-blue body covered in golden-orange spots and a yellow spot at the rear of the dorsal fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Eupercaria incertae sedis"},{"label":"Family","value":"Siganidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Siganus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Siganus guttatus"}],"scientificName":"Siganus guttatus"},{"body":["The Papuan scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis papuensis) is a mottled scorpionfish with skin flaps and a humped back, coloured red, brown or grey to match the reef.","It grows to about 20 cm and lies motionless on the reef, ambushing small fish and crustaceans. Its fin spines are venomous.","The Papuan scorpionfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on reefs and rubble. It is often mistaken for the [Ambon scorpionfish](/critter/ambon-scorpionfish)."],"slug":"papuan-scorpionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-83aca0.webp","title":"Papuan Scorpionfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-83aca0.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The Papuan scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis papuensis) is a mottled scorpionfish with skin flaps and a humped back, coloured red, brown or grey to match the reef.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Scorpaenopsis"},{"label":"Species","value":"Scorpaenopsis papuensis"}],"scientificName":"Scorpaenopsis papuensis"},{"body":["The sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), or scalefin anthias, is an orange anthias; females are golden-orange, while males are pinkish-purple with a long third dorsal spine and a red patch on the pectoral fin.","It grows to about 15 cm and lives in large shoals above the reef, feeding on plankton carried by the current. Each shoal contains many females and a few males, and if a male disappears, a dominant female can change sex to replace him.","The sea goldie is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where its shoals bring colour to reef slopes and drop-offs. It often shares the reef with the [red-cheeked anthias](/critter/red-cheeked-anthias)."],"slug":"sea-goldie","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-db8c91.webp","title":"Sea Goldie","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-db8c91.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), or scalefin anthias, is an orange anthias; females are golden-orange, while males are pinkish-purple with a long third dorsal spine and a red patch on the pectoral fin.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Anthiadidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pseudanthias"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pseudanthias squamipinnis"}],"scientificName":"Pseudanthias squamipinnis"},{"body":["The purple queen anthias (Mirolabrichthys tuka), long known as Pseudanthias tuka, is a vivid purple anthias; females have a yellow stripe along the back, and males have a purple patch on the dorsal fin and a longer snout.","It grows to about 12 cm and lives in shoals above the reef, often on slopes and walls swept by current, where it feeds on plankton. Like other anthias, groups are made up of many females and a few males.","The purple queen anthias is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where its purple shoals are a highlight of current-swept reefs."],"slug":"purple-queen-anthias","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b46b76.webp","title":"Purple Queen Anthias","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b46b76.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The purple queen anthias (Mirolabrichthys tuka), long known as Pseudanthias tuka, is a vivid purple anthias; females have a yellow stripe along the back, and males have a purple patch on the dorsal fin and a longer snout.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Anthiadidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Mirolabrichthys"},{"label":"Species","value":"Mirolabrichthys tuka"}],"scientificName":"Mirolabrichthys tuka"},{"body":["The rough-snout ghostpipefish (Solenostomus paegnius) is a ghostpipefish with a rough, filament-covered snout and body, coloured brown, green or red to match the algae and debris around it.","It grows to about 15 cm and hovers head-down near algae, seagrass and sand, feeding on tiny crustaceans. The female carries the eggs in a pouch formed by her pelvic fins.","The rough-snout ghostpipefish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a muck-diving find on sandy slopes. It is similar to the [robust ghostpipefish](/critter/robust-ghostpipefish) but has a hairier snout."],"slug":"rough-snout-ghostpipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-5567a4.webp","title":"Rough-snout Ghostpipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-5567a4.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-861d91.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The rough-snout ghostpipefish (Solenostomus paegnius) is a ghostpipefish with a rough, filament-covered snout and body, coloured brown, green or red to match the algae and debris around it.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Solenostomidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Solenostomus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Solenostomus paegnius"}],"scientificName":"Solenostomus paegnius"},{"body":["The Halimeda ghostpipefish (Solenostomus halimeda) is a small ghostpipefish that mimics Halimeda algae, with a green to brownish body covered in pale, plate-like spots that look like the algae's segments.","It grows to about 6 cm and hides among Halimeda algae, hovering in place and swaying with the surge. It feeds on tiny crustaceans, and the female carries the eggs in a pouch formed by her pelvic fins.","The Halimeda ghostpipefish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a rare and prized find. It is a smaller relative of the [robust ghostpipefish](/critter/robust-ghostpipefish)."],"slug":"halimeda-ghostpipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-0bc722.webp","title":"Halimeda Ghostpipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-0bc722.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The Halimeda ghostpipefish (Solenostomus halimeda) is a small ghostpipefish that mimics Halimeda algae, with a green to brownish body covered in pale, plate-like spots that look like the algae's segments.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Solenostomidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Solenostomus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Solenostomus halimeda"}],"scientificName":"Solenostomus halimeda"},{"body":["The spiny devilfish (Inimicus didactylus) is a bizarre, venomous scorpionfish with a lumpy, mottled body, upturned eyes and brightly banded pectoral fins that it flashes when disturbed.","It grows to about 25 cm and buries itself in sand, ambushing small fish. It uses finger-like pectoral rays to walk slowly along the bottom. Its spines are highly venomous.","The spiny devilfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a classic muck-diving find on sandy slopes."],"slug":"spiny-devilfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-cdc0a8.webp","title":"Spiny Devilfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-cdc0a8.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The spiny devilfish (Inimicus didactylus) is a bizarre, venomous scorpionfish with a lumpy, mottled body, upturned eyes and brightly banded pectoral fins that it flashes when disturbed.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Synanceiidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Inimicus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Inimicus didactylus"}],"scientificName":"Inimicus didactylus"},{"body":["The spotfin lionfish (Pteropterus antennatus), long known as Pterois antennata, is a lionfish with dark-spotted membranes on its feathery pectoral fins and long, banded tentacles above its eyes.","It grows to about 20 cm and hides in caves and under ledges by day, coming out at dusk and night to hunt small fish and shrimps. Its spines are venomous and can cause very painful stings.","The spotfin lionfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and rocky areas. It is a relative of the [red lionfish](/critter/red-lionfish)."],"slug":"spotfin-lionfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1a7b0e.webp","title":"Spotfin Lionfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1a7b0e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The spotfin lionfish (Pteropterus antennatus), long known as Pterois antennata, is a lionfish with dark-spotted membranes on its feathery pectoral fins and long, banded tentacles above its eyes.","category":"lionfish-and-scorpionfish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Perciformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Scorpaenidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Pteropterus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Pteropterus antennatus"}],"scientificName":"Pteropterus antennatus"},{"body":["The spotted sharpnose puffer (Canthigaster solandri) is a small puffer with an orange-brown body covered in blue spots, blue lines around the eye and a pointed snout.","It grows to about 11 cm and feeds on algae, sponges and small invertebrates. Like other puffers it can inflate itself, and its skin and organs are toxic.","The spotted sharpnose puffer is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and lagoons. It is a relative of the [blacksaddled toby](/critter/blacksaddled-toby)."],"slug":"spotted-sharpnose-puffer","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b5817b.webp","title":"Spotted Sharpnose Puffer","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-b5817b.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The spotted sharpnose puffer (Canthigaster solandri) is a small puffer with an orange-brown body covered in blue spots, blue lines around the eye and a pointed snout.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Tetraodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Canthigaster"},{"label":"Species","value":"Canthigaster solandri"}],"scientificName":"Canthigaster solandri"},{"body":["The tail-spot wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) is a small, colourful wrasse whose males are banded in orange and blue-green with a dark spot at the base of the tail. Females and juveniles are striped in dark and pale lines, often with extra eyespots on the fins.","It grows to about 12 cm and forages busily over coral, rubble and sand, picking off tiny crustaceans, worms and molluscs. Like many wrasses it starts life as a female and can change sex to become a dominant male, and it buries itself in the sand to sleep at night.","The tail-spot wrasse is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on shallow, sheltered reefs and lagoons."],"slug":"tail-spot-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-8e9169.webp","title":"Tail-spot Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-8e9169.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The tail-spot wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) is a small, colourful wrasse whose males are banded in orange and blue-green with a dark spot at the base of the tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Halichoeres"},{"label":"Species","value":"Halichoeres melanurus"}],"scientificName":"Halichoeres melanurus"},{"body":["The sunset wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens) is a lively wrasse whose females are bright yellow-green, while terminal males turn green with a blue-purple head marked by pinkish lines and a deep, crescent-shaped tail.","It grows to about 30 cm and is always on the move, swimming with its pectoral fins over reef flats and slopes. It feeds on small crustaceans, molluscs, worms and fish eggs, and follows divers or other fish that stir up food.","The sunset wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a familiar sight on shallow coral reefs and rocky areas."],"slug":"sunset-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-20ae9d.webp","title":"Sunset Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-20ae9d.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The sunset wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens) is a lively wrasse whose females are bright yellow-green, while terminal males turn green with a blue-purple head marked by pinkish lines and a deep, crescent-shaped tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Thalassoma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Thalassoma lutescens"}],"scientificName":"Thalassoma lutescens"},{"body":["The thornback cowfish (Lactoria fornasini) is a small boxfish with two short horns above the eyes, a sharp spine in the middle of its back and a pale body marked with blue lines and spots.","It grows to about 15 cm and hovers over sand, rubble and seagrass, blowing jets of water into the sediment to uncover worms and small crustaceans. Its rigid box of bony plates and toxic skin keep most predators away.","The thornback cowfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a rewarding find on sandy and muck sites. It is a smaller relative of the [longhorn cowfish](/critter/longhorn-cowfish)."],"slug":"thornback-cowfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1e92cd.webp","title":"Thornback Cowfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1e92cd.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""},{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-6174d0.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The thornback cowfish (Lactoria fornasini) is a small boxfish with two short horns above the eyes, a sharp spine in the middle of its back and a pale body marked with blue lines and spots.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Tetraodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ostraciidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Lactoria"},{"label":"Species","value":"Lactoria fornasini"}],"scientificName":"Lactoria fornasini"},{"body":["The double-ended pipefish (Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus) is a very long, slender pipefish that often rests with its head and front of the body raised at an angle, so that it looks like a twig or piece of debris. Its colour ranges from pale yellow to brown or dark grey.","It grows to about 40 cm, making it one of the longest pipefish on the reef. It lives on sand, mud and rubble, feeding on tiny crustaceans sucked up through its tube-like snout. As in all pipefish, the male carries the eggs on his belly.","The double-ended pipefish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a regular but easily overlooked muck-diving find on sandy slopes."],"slug":"double-ended-pipefish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1cc020.webp","title":"Double-ended Pipefish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1cc020.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The double-ended pipefish (Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus) is a very long, slender pipefish that often rests with its head and front of the body raised at an angle, so that it looks like a twig or piece of debris.","category":"seahorses-and-pipefishes","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Syngnathiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Syngnathidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Trachyrhamphus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus"}],"scientificName":"Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus"},{"body":["The two-spot wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) is a small, mottled wrasse with a dark spot behind the eye and another on the side of the body. Males have a long, pointed tail fin and can show bright red, green and pink tones.","It grows to about 15 cm and lives among algae, seagrass and rubble, where its blotchy colours give it good camouflage. It hunts small crustaceans and fish, often hovering motionless before darting forward.","The two-spot wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on shallow reefs and rubble slopes. It is a relative of the [cheeklined wrasse](/critter/cheeklined-wrasse)."],"slug":"two-spot-wrasse","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e9d31e.webp","title":"Two-spot Wrasse","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e9d31e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The two-spot wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) is a small, mottled wrasse with a dark spot behind the eye and another on the side of the body.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Labriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Labridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Oxycheilinus"},{"label":"Species","value":"Oxycheilinus bimaculatus"}],"scientificName":"Oxycheilinus bimaculatus"},{"body":["The twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) is a butterflyfish with broad brown bands across a pale body and two dark, white-ringed eyespots on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins.","It grows to about 15 cm and is usually seen in pairs, picking at sponges, small invertebrates and the surface of the reef. The eyespots may confuse predators about which end is the head.","The twospot coralfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and slopes, often at moderate depths."],"slug":"twospot-coralfish","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c8193e.webp","title":"Twospot Coralfish","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-c8193e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) is a butterflyfish with broad brown bands across a pale body and two dark, white-ringed eyespots on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Chaetodontiformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Chaetodontidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Coradion"},{"label":"Species","value":"Coradion melanopus"}],"scientificName":"Coradion melanopus"},{"body":["The yellow cowry (Palmadusta lutea) is a small cowry with a glossy, egg-shaped shell banded in yellow-brown and marked with fine dark spots along its sides.","It grows to only about 2 cm and hides under rocks and coral rubble during the day, coming out at night to graze on algae and sponges. When active, its soft mantle can spread over the shell and keep it polished.","The yellow cowry is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where night divers find it by checking rubble and the undersides of rocks."],"slug":"yellow-cowry","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1ef8f9.webp","title":"Yellow Cowry","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1ef8f9.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The yellow cowry (Palmadusta lutea) is a small cowry with a glossy, egg-shaped shell banded in yellow-brown and marked with fine dark spots along its sides.","category":"snails-and-clams","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Mollusca"},{"label":"Class","value":"Gastropoda"},{"label":"Order","value":"Littorinimorpha"},{"label":"Family","value":"Cypraeidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Palmadusta"},{"label":"Species","value":"Palmadusta lutea"}],"scientificName":"Palmadusta lutea"},{"body":["The brushtail tang (Zebrasoma scopas) is a brown surgeonfish with a tall dorsal and anal fin, a pointed snout and a patch of brush-like bristles in front of the sharp blade near its tail.","It grows to about 20 cm and grazes on filamentous algae, often in pairs or small groups that move together over the reef. Juveniles are more yellowish and shelter among corals.","The brushtail tang is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on coral reefs and lagoons."],"slug":"brushtail-tang","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a2c31e.webp","title":"Brushtail Tang","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-a2c31e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The brushtail tang (Zebrasoma scopas) is a brown surgeonfish with a tall dorsal and anal fin, a pointed snout and a patch of brush-like bristles in front of the sharp blade near its tail.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Chordata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Actinopterygii"},{"label":"Order","value":"Acanthuriformes"},{"label":"Family","value":"Acanthuridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Zebrasoma"},{"label":"Species","value":"Zebrasoma scopas"}],"scientificName":"Zebrasoma scopas"},{"body":["The blue linckia (Linckia laevigata) is a large, bright blue sea star with five long, smooth, finger-like arms. Some individuals are pale blue, purple or even orange, but the vivid blue form is by far the most common.","It can span about 30 cm and creeps slowly over the reef on hundreds of tiny tube feet, feeding on algae and organic film that it digests by pushing its stomach out over the surface. It can regrow lost arms, and a single arm can even grow into a new sea star.","The blue linckia is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on shallow reefs and rubble in full sun. Look closely at its arms for the tiny [crystalline sea star snail](/critter/crystalline-sea-star-snail), a parasite that lives on it."],"slug":"blue-linckia","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1b3237.webp","title":"Blue Linckia","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-1b3237.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The blue linckia (Linckia laevigata) is a large, bright blue sea star with five long, smooth, finger-like arms.","category":"echinoderms","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Echinodermata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Asteroidea"},{"label":"Order","value":"Valvatida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Ophidiasteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Linckia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Linckia laevigata"}],"scientificName":"Linckia laevigata"},{"body":["The leopard sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus) is a large, sausage-shaped sea cucumber with a pale body covered in dark, ringed eyespots, like a leopard's coat.","It grows to about 50 cm and crawls slowly over sand and rubble, sweeping up sediment with its feeding tentacles and digesting the organic matter in it. When threatened it can shoot out sticky white threads from its rear end to entangle predators.","The leopard sea cucumber is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sandy patches around reefs. It often hosts small animals such as the [emperor shrimp](/critter/emperor-shrimp) on its skin."],"slug":"leopard-sea-cucumber","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-20c21f.webp","title":"Leopard Sea Cucumber","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-20c21f.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The leopard sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus) is a large, sausage-shaped sea cucumber with a pale body covered in dark, ringed eyespots, like a leopard's coat.","category":"echinoderms","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Echinodermata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Holothuroidea"},{"label":"Order","value":"Holothuriida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Holothuriidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Bohadschia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Bohadschia argus"}],"scientificName":"Bohadschia argus"},{"body":["The pink and black sea cucumber (Holothuria edulis) is a soft, smooth sea cucumber that is black on top and pink to red underneath. Its body is long and somewhat flattened.","It grows to about 30 cm and grazes over sand and rubble, swallowing sediment and digesting the organic matter in it, which helps keep the reef bottom clean. It can reproduce by splitting itself in two as well as by spawning.","The pink and black sea cucumber is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on sand, rubble and reef flats. Like other sea cucumbers it can host the [harlequin swimming crab](/critter/harlequin-swimming-crab)."],"slug":"pink-and-black-sea-cucumber","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e7373e.webp","title":"Pink and Black Sea Cucumber","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-e7373e.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The pink and black sea cucumber (Holothuria edulis) is a soft, smooth sea cucumber that is black on top and pink to red underneath.","category":"echinoderms","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Echinodermata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Holothuroidea"},{"label":"Order","value":"Holothuriida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Holothuriidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Holothuria"},{"label":"Species","value":"Holothuria edulis"}],"scientificName":"Holothuria edulis"},{"body":["The Luzon sea star (Echinaster luzonicus) is a small, red to orange-brown sea star with slender arms that are often of uneven length. It usually has five or six arms, and one or two are often shorter because they are regrowing.","It grows to about 10-15 cm across and feeds on algae, sponges and the organic film on rocks and rubble. It often reproduces by dropping an arm, which then grows into a new sea star.","The Luzon sea star is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on shallow reefs and rubble. Check its underside for the tiny [starfish shrimp](/critter/starfish-shrimp)."],"slug":"luzon-sea-star","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-71fff5.webp","title":"Luzon Sea Star","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-71fff5.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The Luzon sea star (Echinaster luzonicus) is a small, red to orange-brown sea star with slender arms that are often of uneven length.","category":"echinoderms","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Echinodermata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Asteroidea"},{"label":"Order","value":"Spinulosida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Echinasteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Echinaster"},{"label":"Species","value":"Echinaster luzonicus"}],"scientificName":"Echinaster luzonicus"},{"body":["The warty sea star (Echinaster callosus) is a striking sea star with pink, red or orange arms covered in rounded, wart-like bumps, often in a contrasting pale or white colour.","It grows to about 20 cm across and moves slowly over the reef, feeding on sponges, algae and organic film. Its bright colours may warn predators that it is distasteful.","The warty sea star is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is an uncommon and eye-catching find on reefs and rubble slopes. It is a relative of the [Luzon sea star](/critter/luzon-sea-star)."],"slug":"warty-sea-star","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-ea685b.webp","title":"Warty Sea Star","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-ea685b.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The warty sea star (Echinaster callosus) is a striking sea star with pink, red or orange arms covered in rounded, wart-like bumps, often in a contrasting pale or white colour.","category":"echinoderms","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Echinodermata"},{"label":"Class","value":"Asteroidea"},{"label":"Order","value":"Spinulosida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Echinasteridae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Echinaster"},{"label":"Species","value":"Echinaster callosus"}],"scientificName":"Echinaster callosus"},{"body":["The golden bristle worm (Chloeia flava) is a fireworm with a flattened, oval body edged in tufts of golden-white bristles and marked with a dark spot on each segment. Feathery gills run along its back.","It grows to about 10 cm and crawls over sand and mud, often out in the open at night, scavenging and feeding on small animals. Its bristles are hollow, brittle and venomous, breaking off in the skin and causing a painful, burning sting, so it should never be touched.","The golden bristle worm is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on sandy and muck dive sites. It shares this habitat with the [bobbit worm](/critter/bobbit-worm)."],"slug":"golden-bristle-worm","image":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-68e266.webp","title":"Golden Bristle Worm","images":[{"url":"https://scuba-journal-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/web/marine-life/justin/thumbnail-68e266.webp","credit":"","creditUrl":""}],"status":"published","excerpt":"The golden bristle worm (Chloeia flava) is a fireworm with a flattened, oval body edged in tufts of golden-white bristles and marked with a dark spot on each segment.","category":"reef-fish","taxonomy":[{"label":"Kingdom","value":"Animalia"},{"label":"Phylum","value":"Annelida"},{"label":"Class","value":"Polychaeta"},{"label":"Order","value":"Amphinomida"},{"label":"Family","value":"Amphinomidae"},{"label":"Genus","value":"Chloeia"},{"label":"Species","value":"Chloeia flava"}],"scientificName":"Chloeia flava"}]},"paypal":"live","paypalClientId":"BAAZdWey6i_2zZ0wS1QdOTd5CdcEV0-bNN7plEuMsebYhcycM1I7e9SBGlrpE3PMQDn1V7SjedWlpGb5D4"}