Tag Archives: Light&Motion Sola red light

Cryptic fish, Comets and Stars by Shawn Miller

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The Comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) is a type of marine betta found in the beautiful waters of Okinawa. They hide in caves during the day. At night they come out to feed on small crustaceans. They are a mysterious fish and can be challenging to photograph. Comets are uncommon, yet very little is know about the behavior of these cryptic animals.

  • Scientific name:  Calloplesiops altivelis
  • Common Name: Comet (Marine betta)
  • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: submarine caves
  • Diet:  crustaceans and fish
  • Average Size:  20cm 
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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

Look close, can see the resemblance between the comet and the spotted moray eel?

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Gymnothorax meleagris © Shawn Miller

When threatened the comet will stick its head into a hole and expose its tail end, which mimics the head of the a dangerous moray eel.  The caudal fin also has detailed white lines that resemble the razor sharp teeth. 

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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

Having trouble getting close to marine life during your night dives? I recommend using the Light & Motion Sola 1200 red light feature. This feature enables the user to photograph marine life during the night without disturbing them. Most marine animals do not see the color red or react less to the red light.

Underwater setup with sola 600

Underwater setup with sola 600

 

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically  to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support.  Shawn M Miller.

 

Searching for The Blue Ringed Octopus at Maeda Misaki -Okinawa

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The Blue Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) is one of the most beautiful marine animals in Okinawa. It’s only the size of a golf ball, but extremely venomous.

    • Scientific name: Hapalochlaena lunulata

 

    • Common name:  Blue-ringed octopus

 

    • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands

 

    • Habitat: Tide pools and shallow water coral reefs

 

    • Diet: Crabs, shrimps, and fish

 

    • Average size: 8-12cm

 

  • Color: Golden-yellow with blue rings
Blue Ringed Octopus

Blue Ringed Octopus © Shawn Miller

Interesting facts about octopuses in general 

  1. Yes- you got it. The plural of octopus is octopuses.
  2. They are capable of producing a dark cloud of ink to escape from predators
  3. They have a parrot-like beak used for eating prey
  4. Octopuses have eight arms and are capable of regrowing them
  5. They use jet propulsion to move quickly through the water
  6. The Blue-ringed octopus can kill a human with one bite

I first photographed the Blue-ringed octopus at Maeda point in 2011.  This intense octopus was published on National Geographic Your Shot Daily Dozen.

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Blue-ringed octopus -Nat Geo © Shawn Miller

They are hard to find due to their small size. Persistence, patience, luck and a diving with a buddy with good eyes will increase your chances.

Blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed octopus © Shawn Miller

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Blue-ringed octopus on a shell © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed octopus blending in © Shawn Miller

Blue Ringed Octopus

Blue Ringed Octopus © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed Octopus spread out © Shawn Miller

Mating season occurs in the summer months. A rare event that happens quickly.

Octopus mating

Octopus mating © Shawn Miller

People often ask me what is your most memorable experience underwater.  Definitely swimming along the reef with a Blue-ringed Octopus.

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Blue-ringed octopus swimming © Shawn Miller

The difficult part is locking on focus and photographing it when the moment happens.

Blue-ringed octopus in open water

Blue-ringed octopus in open water © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus in open water © Shawn Miller

Blue-ringed octopus in open water © Shawn Miller

Cephalopods can produce a cloud of ink to confuse and escape from predators when threatened

Cephalopod ink

Cephalopod ink blob © Shawn Miller

My dive & jive buddy spotted this Blue-ringed octopus feeding on a crustacean during a night dive recently.

Blue ringed Octopus feeding

Blue-ringed Octopus feeding © Shawn Miller

The two-part parrot-like beak cephalopods use for feeding.

Cephalopod Beak

Cephalopod Beak © Shawn Miller

The single Blue-ringed Ocellated octopus (Octopus ocellatus) is scarce in Okinawa. I have seen and documented only one live animal.

Ocellated Blue ringed Octopus

Ocellated Blue-ringed Octopus © Shawn Miller

If you would like to increase your chances of getting better photographs of Cephlapods, I recommend using the Light & Motion Sola 1200 underwater modeling light. The red light feature allows the user to get in close without disturbing the marine life.

Underwater setup with sola 600

Underwater setup with sola 600

Anyone in Okinawa that would like to try a Light&Motion Sola light, I will gladly let you test one of my personal lights on a night dive.

Learn more about the Light & Motion Sola series.   http://www.lightandmotion.com/choose-your-light/sola

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature