Hairy Frogfish
 |
| (Image Source: http://bit.ly/2A5BB6F) |
One moment you see a coral, the next thing you know, it’s a hairy marine critter snapping on smaller fishes. If you’re not familiar with hairy frogfish, you’d likely to miss it because this blob-like fish is a master of disguise. And the sneaky ability is all thanks to its hair-like spines that cover its entire body, camouflaging itself against seaweed and corals.
Hairy frogfish prefers to stay in warm waters around the world. Aside from its hairy appearance, what makes this fish unique is its ability to walk on their wide fins. So don’t be too surprised if you see a fish strolling on the seafloor looking for food to eat.
Pygmy Seahorse
 |
| (Image Source: http://on.natgeo.com/2inzAZ6) |
From one master of disguise to another, it’s a game of hide-and-seek once again if you want to take a snap of one of the smallest seahorse in the world: the pygmy seahorse. This specie typically measures less than 2 centimeters in height.
Like other seahorses you see when you dive, this specie has short snout and prehensile tails that it uses to anchor to sea grasses and corals. Another distinct feature of pygmy seahorses is their bulbous tubercles which resemble the polyps of the gorgonian coral it inhabits. This equine sea creature loves to stay in coral reefs found in tropical areas like PNG, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.
Nudibranch
 |
| (Image Source: http://bit.ly/2mx0r9s) |
This tiny blob may be deemed disgusting for some landlubbers because of its slimy appearance. However, underwater, this boneless slug takes its pride for being considered one of the most beautiful animals in the world. Looking past the slime it oozes are vivid, eye-catching colors that make nudibranch sparkle at the bottom of the sea.
There are over 3,000 species of nudibranch around the world, most of them like to spend time dragging their bodies to look for food on shallow tropical waters. The food they eat is responsible for this aquatic creature’s splash of colors.
Leatherback Turtle
 |
| (Image Source: http://on.natgeo.com/2zJqkID) |
Instead of hard, bony shells like other turtles have, leatherback turtles have leathery, almost rubbery carapace on its back, thus the name. This specie compose the biggest turtles on Earth, growing up to seven meters long and weighing over 2,000 pounds.
If you are a huge fan of dinosaurs, the more reason you should dive and discover these reptiles for they lived 100 million years ago—during the age of the now extinct race. As of now, leatherback turtles are critically endangered due to habitat loss, bycatch, and harvesting by humans, especially the ones living in the Pacific region.
Each of these creatures are a sight to behold, but it cannot summarize the all the grandeur and wonders the dark, cold seafloor has to offer. There are a lot more creatures that are waiting to be discovered not only in PNG but across the entire waters of the world. Don’t miss out on nature’s gifts and start an adventurous dive today.
Comments
Post a Comment