April
20th
Unusual
Marine Life Around Koh Tao
On
a recent dive I came across some quite unusual marine life around Koh
Tao. I have seen similar species around the Similan Islands, but never
here. Look out for these!
The first was on a night dive at white rock on the 10th April. It was a Decorator crab (family Majidae) around 12cm in diameter. Decorator crabs are "camouflage artists" and are very hard to spot unless they are moving.
They attach bits of algae, sponge and hydroids to fine hairs which they have all over their body.
Without all of the camouflage they appear to look like a bright yellow spider and when they move, resemble a tarantula.
Usually found between 10m - 15m range.
A decorator crab was seen again the following night at white rock, and Amber Williams was lucky to see it and get some great photos!
The second unusual sighting was on a morning dive at Shark Island on the 19th April.
A Stick Pipefish (Trachyrhamphus Bicoarctatus) around 25cm - 30cm in length. These fish can be either yellow, red, brown or black in colour and can grow up to 40cm in length.
From the same family as sea horses, their body looks like a stick with the head of a seahorse on it. I was lucky to have my camera with me on this dive and got some wonderful photographs.
Also,
a new addition to Chumphon Pinnacle to keep your eyes open for; a juvenile
Yellow Box Fish about 1cm in length at the very northern end of the dive
site at around 30m - 32m.
Happy hunting!
Article Written By: Angie Kerridge (MSDT 485155)
Box Fish, Pipefish Photos: Angie
Kerridge
Decorator Crab Photos: Amber Williams (Videographer - Deep Down
Productions)