Malapascua Diving

Flamboyant cuttlefish in full colour © Tim Rock

Pfeffer’s flamboyant cuttlefish, Metasepia pfefferi, are a  favorite of underwater photographers here in Malapascua. They  display stunning changing colours and patterns and actually “walk” along the bottom of the sea, the only cuttlefish species known to do so.  These tiny cuttlefish only grow up to 8cm in length, and like all cuttlefish have a ‘cuttlebone’ that they use for buoyancy.  The flamboyant’s cuttlebone is extra-small and so they have a hard time with buoyancy, finding it hard to swim and hover midwater like other cuttlefish. They can’t swim for very long without sinking to the bottom; instead, they crawl on the seafloor like an octopus.

Habitat & Distribution

They are found in tropical shallow Indo-Pacific waters off northern Australia, southern New Guinea, as well as numerous islands of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. They like shallow waters and muddy or sandy substrates and sometimes reef associated around the rubble zone, so are often found on Malapascua’s dive sites such as Bantique, Pasil Bay and Ka Osting.  They are active during the day and have been observed hunting small fish and crustaceans.

Defence

These beautiful cuttlefish get their name from the flamboyant pink, yellow and black ripples they make with their bodies when alarmed. They are the only species of cuttlefish known to have any poisons and they carry a unique toxin in their muscles. Research has shown the toxin to be as lethal as that of fellow cephalopod the Blue-ringed octopus.  Like other cuttlefish, the flamboyant uses this their ink to deceive predators. It will eject the ink from its funnel into the water to form an ink cloud while it swims to safety. Cuttlefish ink was the original sepia which was once used by artists – nowadays replaced mostly with synthetic sepia.

 

Flamboyant cuttlefish by Rosel Uwe

Reproduction

Like other cephalopods, the flamboyant cuttlefish breeds once and then dies. Copulation takes place face to face.  The male inserts a packet of sperm into a pouch on the underside of the females mantle and the female then fertilises her eggs with the sperm. The eggs are laid singly and placed in crevices or on ledges in coral, rock or wood or even the odd coconut shell!

We have some weird critters here in the waters around Malapascua Island, making it a photographers dream. But one of the weirdest of all are the sea moths which can often be found walking (yes walking!) around in pairs.

Sea Moth by Stewart Robinson

The sea moths, or Pegasidae, are a family of fish found in shallow coastal tropical waters usually down to depths of about 6m. However we often spot them while waiting for the Mantas at 24m! They prefer bays with sea grass or seaweed with sandy or silty bottoms, and they can be found regularly on Malapascua dive sites such as Ka Osting and Bantigue.

They are sometimes also called sea robins, Pegasus or dragonfishes.

The family contains two genera and five species.

Family Pegasidae

• Genus Eurypegasus
  • Short dragonfish, Eurypegasus draconis
  • Hawaiian seamoth, Eurypegasus papilio
• Genus Pegasus
  • Sculptured Seamoth, Pegasus lancifer
  • Brick seamoth, Pegasus laternarius
• Longtail seamoth, Pegasus volitans

Growing 4-15 cm in length, sea moths are distinguished by flattened bodies, the presence of large, wing-like, pectoral fins, and a body encased in thick, bony plates. Their pelvic fins are also modified, allowing them to “walk” across the sea bottom where they live. If disturbed they can move at greater speeds by beating the caudal fin.

Sea Moth by Andrea Agarwal

Feeding

Sea moths’ jaws are highly specialised, and can form a tube-like mouth used to suck worms and other small animals from their burrows. The mouth is situated on the underside of its long, stiff, pointed snout that is made up of modified nose bones. The mouth is protrusible, i.e., it can stick out of the body. The small size of its mouth means it can only feed on very small invertebrates that live on the substrate such as amphipods, copepods, isopods, live brine and mysis shrimp, polychaetes, nematodes, and trematodes.

Reproduction

Sea moths are believed to have social behaviour and form monogamous pair bonds, which is why we often see them in pairs.  They spawn in open water near the surface, and the juveniles may float on open waters for some time before settling down in a sheltered place near the shore.

Cleaning

Sea moths can shed their skin in one piece with a rapid jump, to get rid of unwanted parasites or encrusting algae on their skin!

Sea Moth by Ken Hoppen

Defence and Camouflage

The sea moth body is encased in a carapace that also provides some protection from predators. Some species will also partially bury under the substrate surface. But the most amazing thing about them is they have the ability to change colors based on its surroundings much like the chameleon. They sports reef-tones colors, which they can change to better match the sea floor, which means they are often hard to spot unless they are moving.

That’s why we have such eagle-eyed Divemasters at TSD