Underwater Lens

The Master of Disguise: *Phyllognathia ceratophthalma* 🦐✨

Found tucked away in the tropical Indo-Pacific, the Tiger Shrimp (also known as the Spiny Tiger Shrimp) is a marvel of evolutionary camouflage. While it looks like a delicate piece of underwater art, its biology is even more fascinating.

Distinctive Morphology: Unlike most shrimp, *P. ceratophthalma* is characterized by its flattened, leaf-like body and prominent, stalked eyes. Its body is covered in intricate, spine-like projections that break up its silhouette against the reef.

Specialized Habitat: These shrimp are primarily found in rubble zones or on coral reefs, often hiding among sponges, bryozoans, or algae-covered rocks where their mottled pattern provides near-perfect crypsis.

The „Ceratophthalma“ Name: Its specific epithet comes from the Greek words *keras* (horn) and *ophthalmos* (eye), referring to the characteristic „horns“ or points located on its eye stalks.

Size & Scale: They are true miniatures of the ocean, typically reaching a maximum length of only 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters.

🎥 iPhone 11 Pro Max
📍 Tulamben, Bali

🐢 Lunchtime on the wreck.

Watching a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) forage across the Liberty Wreck never gets old. While green turtles are primarily herbivores as adults, opportunistic feeding behaviour has been well documented in the Indo-Pacific — a reminder that marine biology rarely fits neatly into categories.

The Liberty has been colonised by over 400 species, functioning today as a fully self-sustaining artificial reef ecosystem. It’s no wonder the turtles have claimed it as their own.

Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, green turtles face mounting pressure from habitat loss, bycatch, and climate-driven seagrass decline. 🌊

📍 Liberty Wreck, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
🎥 iPhone 11 Pro Max | DiveFolk

These graceful creatures don’t have fins or elaborate paddles. Instead, they move through the water with an undulating, wave-like motion of their entire body. Imagine a delicate, ruffled ribbon dancing in the current – that’s essentially how they propel themselves!

This unique form of locomotion allows them to move swiftly to find food or escape predators. Their flat, broad bodies are perfectly adapted for this elegant, rippling movement, making them look like underwater dancers!

🎥 iPhone 16 Pro
📍 Lembeh Strait