418 Dive Log Australasia JUNE 2026.pdf

We tried again on another night. I waited as a larger fish swam toward the Bobbit Worm, which opened its deadly jaws wider and struck with the same lightning speed. This time, the worm had to strike several times to catch its dinner. I had time for a few shots. It was a gruesome display of predatory power. The ability to kill efficiently is a matter of survival in the dangerous sea. The Bobbit worm is one of the most efficient killers that I have ever seen. In terms of an exciting spectacle, I believe it rates with feeding sharks. It certainly got my adrenalin working. It was a real ‘wow’ moment. Watching this ferocious predator in action is a brilliant example of Natural selection. The environmental pressure that predators place on prey species to survive make you wonder about how they actually do survive. The double clamp jaw of the worm is an adaptation suited to its killer lifestyle. It enables the Bobbit worm to capture large prey enabling it to survive. Natural selection in Shrimps… overcoming the odds. Crustaceans are a great case in point to illustrate what I am talking about. It seems that every food chain in the sea has crustaceans right in the centre. They are a major food source for most carnivores. Everything eats them!

Once in a blue moon, you will encounter Bicolour Angelfish that allow you to photograph them.

Predators, small and large, gorge themselves on crustaceans all day every day. Just how do shrimp and Prawns survive against these incredible odds? The answer of course, is in finding ways to overcome these phalanxes of predators by mass production of eggs or camouflage. “Stay hidden and Make more babies” is the catch cry of the crustaceans. During my sixteen-day stay in Lembeh Hills resort in the ‘Low season’, January, it seemed that everything was breeding. Every crab and shrimp had loads of eggs. Lembeh was an underwater maternity hospital. Eggs everywhere!

Spearer Mantis Shrimp

Shrimp living commensally with a Mexichromis sea slug.

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Dive Log Australasia #418 June ’26

www.divelog.net.au