photo by Per-Ola Norman (via Creative Commons)
If you’re on a diving tour in the Philippines, you may come face-to-face with your very own freak show while gliding through the reefs in search of Dori. Here, we prepare you for your adventure with our list of the top four weird and strange marine creatures of the Philippines.
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photo by Per-Ola Norman (via Creative Commons)
Ocean sunfish Ocean sunfish
First on our list is the sunfish. This fish makes our list as it was in the middle of a social media craze in February 2017. After an earthquake In Misamis Oriental, strange, large game washed up on shore. Around the same time, local fishermen also found unusual catches during their routine fishing trips. And as you may have already guessed, the sunfish made its social media debut with locals taking pictures of the fish and posting their reactions on the web.
These fish can grow to be the size of a pick-up truck and weigh up to 5,000 pounds. So it’s no surprise that they are often mistaken for sharks as they enjoy catching the sun near the surface of the water. A fun fact about the ocean sunfish is that they are terrible swimmers in spite of their size; this is because their back fin never fully grows.
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photo by Silke Baron (via Creative Commons)
Mimic octopus Mimic octopus
Monkey see, monkey do; at least that's the case with the mimic octopus. So named because it mimics the behaviours of other fish to ward off predators, this small octopus, like others, has the ability to change colours and blend into its surroundings.
These smart critters are found in South-East Asian waters including the Phillipines and have great memories. When they notice certain predators in their area, they make calculated decisions on which animals to mimic to ensure its own survival. So when it comes to beauty and brains, this cephalopod wins the Tiffany blue ribbon.
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photo by Aquaimages (via Creative Commons)
Frogfish Frogfish
Another camouflaging champion that makes our list is the frogfish. This interesting creature comes in a variety of colours with different spines or bumps that aid in their transformations. These anglerfish, which can be seen throughout the Philippines including Anilao, are also known as the ocean's couch potatoes as they wait for their prey to swim by before gulping them up.
A couple of fun facts about the frogfish is that unlike other camouflaging animals, this angler fish blends into its surrounds in order to attract prey not hide from predators. And the frogfish can expand its mouth 12 times its resting size.
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photo by Elias Levy (via Creative Commons)
Ghost pipefish Ghost pipefish
If you spot a ghost pipefish during one of your dives, you will officially be the group’s favourite for the day. These tiny critters, which can be found throughout the Philippines including the Tubbataha Reef, are tough to spot due to their size and ability to bend into their surroundings. Often mistaken for seagrass or coral, these guys are often hiding in plain sight.
A fun fact about these seahorse relatives is that they prefer to take a meal while hanging upside down. They're also true roaming nomads visiting reefs only during mating season before traveling to other destinations.
So if you encounter one of these creatures on a dive, deem yourself lucky as not every diver gets the opportunity to savour in such wonder. For help in planning your next diving tour, reach out to Uncharted Philippines and they'll be happy to get you sorted.