photo by Tin-Yam Chan, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung
Scuba diving and snorkeling with Uncharted Philippines means you are sure to experience an under-the-sea adventure worthy of epic tales and amazing photographs. Some of the most colorful and fascinating marine life makes its home in the reefs and coastal waters of the Philippines. Here are four wonderfully weird Philippine sea creatures.
photo by Nhobgood Nick Hobgood (vi Wikidepdia Commons
The Sea “Pen”
Granted the pen nickname from the appearance of quill-like plumage, this could aptly apply to any of the 300 species of the Pennatulacea order. Sea pens are made up of colonies of polyps (like coral or tiny anemones), and they feed primarily on plankton. The colony roots itself in the sea floor or deeper waters (usually deeper than 10 meters), but they can move locations if needed. Some of the sea pens are bioluminescent and able to give off a soft green glow. Truly a spectacular sight!
photo by Terry Gosliner, California Academy of Sciences
The Sea “Pancake”
Not a pancake at all, this nickname is sometimes given to a few members of the nudibranch family that are unusually flat and pancake-like. Nudibranchs are mollusks and come in a rainbow variety of colors and sizes. Nudibranchs can be found at nearly every sea depth, but some exceptional members of the species have been seen as deep as 2500 m (8200 ft). Nudibranchs are carnivorous, and one of their favorite meals is the sea pen. Some can also deploy quite a few chemical deterrents to make themselves less appetizing to their predators, such as the sea spider.
photo by Tin-Yam Chan, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung
The “Terrible Claw” Lobster
This lobster is a newcomer to scientists, having only been discovered in 2007 in the Philippines. Dinochelus ausubeli is actually a tiny, deep-sea lobster with one claw that appears terrible indeed. However, as the entire body of this lobster is only around an inch long, its chain-saw-looking claw is not that menacing after all. Scientists are still trying to discover the reason for the disparity in the size of the claws, but some leading theories have to do with regulating body temperature, or for finding its way around; the terrible claw lobster, like many other deep sea creatures, is blind!
photo by Juuyoh TANAKA (via Wikidepedia Commons)
The “Crown” Jellyfish
This true member of the jellyfish family (Cephea cephea) is beautiful, large, and definitely weird. The “crown” nickname comes from the projections on the blueish-purple body (or bell), which are surrounded by a moat. Beneath the body are brown arms that resemble cauliflower, earning this jellyfish another common name as the “Cauliflower jellyfish.” The crown jellyfish is a tasty treat for local sea turtles, and often fisherman, as it’s seen as a delicacy in many regions. Thankfully, it reproduces quickly and is not considered an endangered species.
You can explore the untamed depths on a dive in the Visayas, swim along the captivating reefs of Tubbataha, or see vibrant marine life in Anilao just 3 hours from Manila on a tour with Uncharted Philippines. See hundreds of beautiful and weird sea creatures of your own and make memories to last a lifetime. Discover the magic of the Philippines for yourself.