Getting to Know...

Manta Rays
Manta Ray
Manta birostris

Width: up to 6.7 m, possibly

up to 9 m
Depth: to 40 m

The Manta Ray is the largest ray

in the ocean; individuals with a
wingspan (disc width) of 4 m are
relatively common.

Mantas were once believed to be dangerous, but are in fact completely

harmless plankton feeders. They feed by swimming with their enormous
mouths wide open, using the fleshy extensions on either side—called
cephalic fins—to channel the plankton-rich water towards their mouths.
The water is sieved through the gill rakers, trapping the tiny plankton.

The Manta Ray has one dorsal fin and a relatively short, whip-like tail
that lacks a sting. It’s back is grey-blue, often with pale grey markings
across the shoulder region. The underside is white with grey spots. Like
Whale Sharks, Manta Rays have unique spot patterns that can be used
to identify individual rays.

Although Mantas are usually seen swimming slowly and gracefully over
the reef, they can move extremely fast, even launching themselves out
of the water and landing on the surface with a loud slap. This is believed
to help remove parasites.

Where to See: South Ari’s

Manta Point is one of the
most famous dive sites in the
Maldives. During the North-
East Monsoon, Mantas circle
over cleaning stations on the
reef top to have parasites and
dead skin cells picked off their
bodies by cleaner wrasses.
 Getting to Know...
Smallscale Scorpionfish
Smallscale Scorpionfish
(Flathead Scorpionfish,
Tasseled Scorpionfish)
Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

Length: up to 35 cm
Depth: 1-35 m

The Smallscale Scorpionfish is

actually the largest scorpion-
fish in the Maldives. The common name refers not to its overall size but
to the small scales covering its body. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific, it
inhabits reef slopes and channels with mixed rock and coral bottoms.

The Smallscale Scorpionfish is a master of disguise, its mottled skin

making it nearly indistinguishable from the reef as it lies motionless
waiting for its prey of small fishes to pass by. It makes rapid colour
changes, adapting itself to the colours of the surrounding corals. Adults
are “bearded” with fleshy tassels helping them blend into the reef.

Like all members of the scorpionfish family, the Smallscale Scorpionfish

has venomous dorsal fin spines. It is not overtly aggressive; it erects its
dorsal spines when threatened but will usually flee a short distance then
freeze, merging into the the background.

Poison is produced by skin cells that cover the grooves running the
length of each dorsal spine. The protein-based venom is unstable at
high temperatures and is broken
down by soaking the affected area
in hot water.

Where to See: Smallscale

Scorpionfish are common
throughout South Ari Atoll, but
especially so at Bama Thila,
Kahambu Thila, Mirihi Medu Thila,
Madivaru Thila and Mas Thila.
 Getting to Know...
Dogtooth Tuna
Dogtooth Tuna
Gymnosarda unicolor

Length: to 1.6 m
Depth: 3-100 m

The Dogtooth Tuna

is a large, fast fish
common along deep
outer reef walls. It is
widespread through-
out the Indo-Pacific.

Along with the Giant

Trevally, Napoleon Wrasse and large groupers, the Dogtooth Tuna is
one of the apex non-pelagic predators of its range. It can be curious
about divers, sometimes making close passes.

The Dogtooth Tuna is a near-shore fish, with smaller individuals hunting

in shallow reef areas and larger ones patrolling deep reef drop-offs. It
feeds on small pelagic fish and any reef fish that venture too far off the
reef, and will readily attack any fish that fits in its mouth.

Not a true tuna, the Dogtooth is closely related to the bonitos, with the
large teeth and straight-edged first dorsal fin characteristic of bonitos.
It has two separate dorsal fins, followed by seven finlets. It has a large
mouth with conical teeth, and the rear half of the lateral line is wavy.

With its brilliant blue or black back and silvery belly, the Dogtooth Tuna
uses counter-shading to help it blend in with the water whether it is
seen from above or below. This helps it to hide from both prey and
predators.

Where to See: You’ll find Dogtooth Tuna patrolling the current-facing

side of most reefs. Angaga Thila, Kahambu Thila and Haluvaa Thila are
especially good for spotting Dogtooths, as is Madivaru with an incoming
current (reef on the right shoulder).
 Getting to Know...
Honeycomb Morays
Honeycomb Moray (Giraffe
Moray, Blackspotted Moray)
Gymnothorax favagineus

Length: up to 2 m
Depth: 1-50 m

The Honeycomb Moray is one

of the most photogenic animals
on the reef, it’s yellowish skin
covered with black blotches
forming a distinctive honey-
comb pattern. Individuals found on clear coral reefs usually have
proportionately less black than those found in turbid waters.

The Honeycomb Moray is one of the largest morays in our area. Like
most morays, it hunts mainly at night, preying on smaller reef fishes.

Honeycomb Morays are quite timid and safe to approach as long as

they are not provoked. As with all morays, feeding or stroking them
could result in serious injury and should be avoided.

There are an estimated 170 species of moray worldwide. Of these,

40 have been recorded from the Maldives, though most are secretive
and rarely seen. Their bodies are nearly all muscle and they are
extremely strong. With their powerful jaws they can attack larger
creatures, ripping flesh by twisting their bodies.

Where to See: There are at least

three Honeycomb Morays living
on the south side of Kudarah Thila,
though they rarely all make an
appearance at the same time.
There are two Honeycombs on the
reef wall at Rangali Outside, north
of the main coral block. They can
also sometimes be found on the
reef-top at Madivaru.
 Getting to Know...
Nudibranchs of M/V Kudhimaa
There are several species of nudibranchs on the wreck of the
M/V Kudhimaa, but they are likely all of the genus Tambja, of which
there are around 30 different species worldwide. Differences between
nudibranch genuses are based mainly on internal anatomy, particularly
the mouth structures and reproductive systems. One key external
characteristic for this genus is the flattened oral tentacles.

Tambja olivaria

Probably found throughout the Indo-

West Pacific, this nudibranch is the most
common on the Kudhimaa and is found
feeding on byrozoans. It has a dull
olive-green background with black and
orange markings. The rhinophore clubs
(horns) are black. The gills are yellow on
the outer face and black on the inside.
This animal grows to at least 90 mm in
length. If touched, it oozes green
pigment that burns like acid.

The close-up at left very clearly shows

the flattened oral tentacles at the base of
the head, characteristic of all Tambjas.
The photo also shows a dark patch
below the right rhinophore. This nerve-
rich pit is thought to be a chemosensory
organ used in finding the byrozoans
(small, coral-like colonial animals) that
all Tambjas feed on.

The small yellow nudis found in great numbers

on the wreck are likely juveniles of T. olivaria,
though it is possible that they are a separate
species altogether. There are usually several
mid-ship on the port-side face of the box
housing the crane engine.
 Getting to Know...
Nudibranchs of M/V Kudhimaa
Tambja affinis

Known from the western

Indian Ocean and Thailand,
this species grows to at
least 70 mm in length.The
background color is light
blue or green to dark black,
with wide yellow to blue-
green longitudinal bands.
The edge of the foot has a yellow band. The outside of the gills is yellow
and the pinnae (feathery branches at the ends of the gills) are a dark
purplish black.

This species is very similar to several other

Tambjas. One key to identification is the milky
blue-green patch between the rhinopores,
along with several similarly coloured patches
at the base of the gills.

The individual in this photo can be seen feed-

ing on the arborescent (plant-like) byrozoans
that are the food of all Tambjas.

Tambja morosa

Though uncommon in South

Ari Atoll, this species is found
throughout the tropical West-
Pacific. It is a large Tambja,
growing to about 70 mm long.
Elsewhere in its range it is
typically reported as black with
blue markings; this lighter blue
animal is simply another
colour form.
 Getting to Know...
Common Reef Octopus
Common Reef Octopus
(Big Red Octopus, Day Octopus)
Octopus cyanea

Length: up to 80 cm
Depth: up to 30 m

The Common Reef Octopus is one of the

most common octopuses throughout the
Indo-Pacific. It is usually purplish-brown
but can rapidly change color and texture.
Unlike other octopuses, it feeds during
the day, preying mainly on bivalves and crustaceans.

The Reef Octopus is a master of camouflage. It has millions of pigment

cells, called chromatophores, in its skin; each one is surrounded by
muscles that contract or relax to change how the pigment is displayed.
A newly hatched octopus may have only a hundred or so chromato-
phores, but adults can have over a million. This allows the octopus to
change colours instantly as it moves over the reef, matching the colors
and textures of its surroundings.

The Common Reef Octopus is shy and usually retreats into its reef
hideaway—marked by empty shells left-over from meals—when
approached. Juveniles live less secretively in shallower waters.

Octopus are often seen mating on the

reef. The male extends one of its
tentacles, the specialised hectocotylus,
to transfer sperm to the female. Males
live only a few months after mating;
females do not eat while tending their
eggs and die shortly after they hatch.

Where to See: Octopuses can be found

just about anywhere. Once spotted,
approach slowly and stay a few metres
back to avoid frightening it into the reef.
 Getting to Know...
Bruun’s Cleaner Shrimp
Bruun’s Cleaner Shrimp
Urocaridella antonbruunii

Length: up to 3 cm
Depth: to 30 m

The nearly transparent

Bruun’s Cleaner Shrimp
has red and white bands
on the carapace (head
section) and legs, and
a long rostrum (horn
between the eyes). It is
an important invertebrate cleaner of a variety of reef fishes, including
moray eels and groupers, and can be found in holes and under ledges
along reefs throughout the Indo-West Pacific. Bruun’s Cleaner Shrimp
generally live in groups, waiting inside their cleaning stations for clients
to pass by.

“Cleaner shrimp” is a generic term for any swimming decapod (ten-

footed) crustacean that cleans other organisms of parasites. In this
widely-used example of symbiosis, the fish benefit by having parasites
and dead skin or scales removed, and the shrimp get an easy meal.

Bruun’s Cleaner Shrimp are easily approached and divers with the
patience to keep still while extending a hand into a cleaning station will
be rewarded with a shrimp-
manicure. For the more
daring, they also do teeth-
cleaning.

Where to See: Bruun’s

Cleaner Shrimp are
common inside overhangs
and under ledges on nearly
every dive site in the atoll.
Take a torch with you to
make them easier to spot.
 Getting to Know...
Spotted Porcelain Crabs
Spotted Porcelain Crab
(Anemone Porcelain Crab)
Neopetrolisthes maculatus

Length: up to 3.5 cm
Depth: to 25 m

Living with sea anemones, the

Spotted Porcelain Crab is creamy
white with red to brown dots. It is
found throughout the Indo-Pacific.

The Spotted Porcelain Crab lives

mainly on short-tentacled Stychodac-
tyla anemones. Immune to its host’s
stinging cells, or nematocysts, it can be found among the tentacles or
hiding from predators underneath the anemone’s mantle.

On a rising tide, the crab comes out of hiding to fish for the plankton it
feeds on. It catches its meal by swinging its two maxillipeds (modified
appendages) back and forth in the water in a rhythmic motion. The fan-
like maxillipeds are edged with fine filaments that make a sieve, so the
crab can scoop plankton out of the water.

Spotted Porcelain Crabs occasionally moult their shells. Males must

find a freshly-moulted female to mate with while the new shell is still
soft. Females then carry the fertilized eggs on their bodies, beneath
the abdominal flap, until the eggs hatch and the larvae join the water
column as plankton.

Where to See: Spotted

Porcelain Crabs are common
in short-tentacled anemones
throughout the atoll, but are not
always visible. Look carefully
in any anemones you come
across and you’re likely to en-
counter one or two.
 Getting to Know...
Flatworms
Flatworms
Phylum: Platyheminthes
Class: Turbellaria

Approximately 20 000 different

species of flatworms have been
identified worldwide. They are sim-
ple life forms, without respiratory or
circulatory systems. The only body
cavity is the opening to the gut,
which lets food in and waste out.
Flatworms have no gills, so oxygen
absorption happens through the Yellow Papillae flatworm
body wall. Thysanozoan migropapillosum

Flatworms belong to the class that includes

tapeworms, liver-flukes and other internal
parasites. Though they are often mistaken
for sea slugs (such as nudibranchs), which
some mimic as a form of defence, they are
not at all related.
Suzanne’s flatworm
Pseudoceros suzzanae

Although very thin and delicate, flatworms are active carnivores and
scavengers, feeding mainly on colonial animals like soft corals and
bryozoans. Like sea slugs, some flatworms store the toxins they absorb
from their food, making them distasteful or toxic to predators.

By waving the fine, hairlike cilia covering

their bodies, flatworms glide along the
sea floor. When disturbed, they can swim
by throwing the sides of their bodies into
undulating waves.

Flatworms are hermaphroditic. When

they mate, they exchange sperm so both
worms become fertilized. Glorious flatworm
Pseudobiceros gloriosus