My gigantic post of Christmas Tree Worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) !

=D

Location: All around Wakatobi, Indonesia

Photos by me (Lyra)

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

This is one amazing photo. I really like the way it seems to ‘fly’.

Kudos to the photographer! =]

(Source: fey-bear, via opisthokonta)

Warty Sea Star (Echinaster callosus)

Found singly or in groups on shallow sand and gravel areas as well as seagrass beds. Colour varies from place to place. Large sea star, with five conical, short, thick arms. They feed on molluscs, worms, detritus and sponges.

Mandati Jetti, Wangi-Wangi Island

Wakatobi

Photo by me (Lyra)

Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)

Fun fact: they’re not shrimps (infraorder Caridea) or prawns (suborder Dendrobranchiata) but they have their own infraorder that is Stenopodidea. The main feature of this infraorder are their long lanky (and sexy) walking legs.

Mandati Jetti, Wangi-Wangi Island.

Wakatobi

Photo by me (Lyra)

Painful Mantis (Gonodactylus chiragra)

Some says that this is the meanest mantis shrimp ever. Probably because of it’s aggressive nature and quick punch~

Mandati Jetti, Wangi-wangi Island

Wakatobi

Photo by me (Lyra)

The Pitted Ceratosoma (Ceratosoma miamiranum) from another angle.

Here you can see the series of dark rounded depressions on the side of central ridge and the rounded tubercles on the ridge.

Mandati Jetti, Wangi-Wangi Island

Wakatobi

Photo by me (Lyra)

Giant Spider Conch (Lambis truncata)

Juvenile individual.

Lambis truncata is the largest and heaviest of spider shells, up to 40 cm. Lambis truncata is similar to Lambis lambis but with a more squarish outline. Younger shells are creamy white; columella and lip usually mauve brown when older.

Sombu Jetti, Wangi-wangi Island

Wakatobi

Photo by me (Lyra)

Linda’s Flatworm (Pseudoceros lindae)

The flatworm was grazing on a colony of tunicates (those transparent thingies) which is the main diet of Pseudiceros lindae.

Teluk Besar, Wangi-Wangi Island

Wakatobi

Photo by me (Lyra)

Vaaricose Phyllid Nudibrach (Phyllidia varicosa)

Posterior

Identified by the tubercles with blue bases and yellow caps and median ridge. 

Rumah Merah Spot, Wangi-Wangi Island

Wakatobi

Photo by me (Lyra)

Yellow Toadstool Leather Coral (Sarcophyton tenuispiculatum)

In varying amounts, depending on the species, Sarcophyton leathers will warp their upper surface and direct the water flow by forming ridges that lead to feathery pinnules on their tentacles. These feathery pinnules are designed to sieve the water for nutrients. The capitulum (top) has autozooid and siphonozooid polyps that are rather long when extended. When the polyps are completely retracted, the surface has a very smooth look to it.

Ayer Island 

Photo by me (Lyra)