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<\/a>When it\u2019s ready to hunt, the stargazer (Uranoscopus sulphureus<\/em>) hides in the sand with only its mouth and eyes sticking above the surface. The venomous spines on its back are toxic to predators and can be dangerous to humans as well.<\/p>\n<\/a>Stargazers often use their tongue-like lure to attract prey within striking distance. Then they move quickly, darting upward at high speed to grab their victim. This bait-and-wait predation strategy is energy efficient as the fish makes no effort to stalk or pursue its prey, relying instead on camouflage and ambush.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The color and texture of the dragonet (Callionymus <\/em>sp.) match the sand precisely. To avoid drawing attention to its position, the fish largely remains motionless, only occasionally darting over the sand for short distances. Its pointed, sucker-like mouth is specialized for preying on tiny crustaceans living in the sand.<\/p>\n<\/a>If a predator comes too close to the dragonet despite its efforts at camouflage, the little fish buries itself in the sand leaving only its attentive eyes sticking out. As with many animals living in the sand, its eyes are situated on top of the head, rather than on the sides, to allow for a wider field of view over the sand\u2019s flat surface.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The lizardfish (Synodus variegatus<\/em>) is another ambush predator lurking on the surface of the sand. Motionless unless it\u2019s lashing out at prey, and not easily disturbed due to the self-confidence that comes with a mouth full of sharp teeth, lizardfish are great photo subjects that can be closely approached.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The elegant sand diver (Trichonotus elegans<\/em>) also has skin the color and texture of sand. Although they are usually buried with only their heads poking out, the pencil-length sand divers sometimes hover in small groups\u2014often one male with several females\u2014above the sand. The larger males, with their flamboyant pectoral fins and long, filamentous dorsal fins, perform displays to mark their mating territory.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>In color and shape, the long, thin bodies of these two robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus<\/em>) resemble drifting leaves, providing camouflage from predatory fish. Like their seahorse relatives, ghost pipefish brood their eggs. But while male seahorses brood the eggs in an abdominal pouch, it is the female ghost pipefish that keeps the fertilized eggs safe in a pouch formed by her pelvic fins.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>This fish masquerading as a stick is another seahorse relative, aptly called the stick pipefish (Trachyrhamphus longirostris<\/em>). It rests motionless on the sand, so is easy to miss even though it can grow longer than an adult\u2019s forearm. With its pipette-like mouth, the fish sucks up tiny crustaceans from the surface of the sand. Note the convection in the water behind the pipefish\u2014it is geothermally heated water rising through the sand off the coast of Negros Island.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The snake eel (Brachysomophis henshawi<\/em>) spends most of its life buried in the sand waiting for passing prey, with only its brilliant red head sticking out. The vibrantly colored and irregularly shaped head of the snake eel provides further camouflage, mimicking the sponges that live nearby.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Despite its conspicuous appearance in the open sandy habitat, predators still avoid this polychaete worm (Chloeia <\/em>sp.). Its venomous, detachable bristles are great deterrents, allowing the worm to crawl worry-free across the sand as it scavenges for food.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi<\/em>) are a poor snack for hungry predators. Their striking coloration points to a secret weapon\u2014toxins\u2014and warns predators to stay clear.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The goby (Amblyeleotris guttata<\/em>) doesn\u2019t bother with camouflage or venom. Instead it hides in a safe subterranean burrow, dug by a shrimp (Synalpheus <\/em>sp.) without any help from the fish.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>What does the shrimp get in exchange for all its industrious digging? An attentive guard! Look at the concentrated look in the eyes of this goby (Amblyeleotris latifasciata<\/em>). If it sees a dangerous predator approaching, it wiggles its body, a signal for the shrimp to remain underground. If the predator comes too close, the goby disappears into the burrow as well. The fish\u2019s foraging trips never take it too far from the entrance of the safe burrow. The fish and the crustacean are partners: they trade digging work against guard duty, and they survive on the hostile sandy plains only due to this partnership.<\/p>\n
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