The muck diving in Lembeh revealed a variety of Melibe this week! While we were seeing Melibe viridis (Green Melibe Nudibranches) earlier in the year, this week we are seeing smaller, yet no less impressive varieties: The Melibe megaceras, Melibe engeli and the rare Melibe colemani.
The Melibe nudibranch has fascinated experienced muck divers for years due to its unique style of hunting: it’s oral hood is highly extendable, which is broadens to an immense size as it seeks out unsuspecting crustaceans. Once a shrimp is located, the Melibe simply contracts its oral hood in a fashion that is similar to pulling the drawstring of a sack. And while their movements are interesting, the most impressive thing about the Melibe megaceras and the Melibe engeli is that they are hardly distinguishable from a 4cm clump of algae. As with many muck diving critters, Melibe are incredibly well camouflaged. When your Lembeh dive guide points one out to you in a field of similar looking algae, it takes a moment to realize they are not joking about it being an animal! It leaves you wondering if your guide’s vision is closer to that of a mantis shrimp than a human…
But let’s not forget about the Melibe colemani sighting! Due to its highly unique appearance and rarity, the colemani was a dream-come-true-sighting for muck aficionados at Two Fish Lembeh this week. This Holy Grail of nudibranches has numerous transparent bits throughout its body that leave it resembling a pile of strings. The picture reviewing frenzy that occurred topside revealed that the rinophores appear to float above the colemani, only making it that much more of a fascinating animal!
