Maldives Dec 2014, Thudufushi - Photos 5

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Reef Life 1

An enormous middle-aged Giant Grouper (Epinephilus lanceolatus), over a metre long, swims past us at Kuda Miaru Thila.  As they grow older, the yellow colouration fades and the patterns darken.
An enormous middle-aged Giant Grouper (Epinephilus lanceolatus), over a metre long, swims past us at Kuda Miaru Thila. As they grow 
						older, the yellow colouration fades and the patterns darken.
A Scribbled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) at Himandu Kandu.
A Scribbled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) at Himandu Kandu.
Sand eels or Garden eels, probably Spotted garden eel (Heteroconger hassi) at Panettone Kandu.  They protrude from their burrows to feed on plankton, but are very wary - as soon as you get close to them, they disappear back down their burrows.
Sand eels or Garden eels, probably Spotted garden eel (heteroconger hassi) at Panettone Kandu. They protrude from their burrows to feed 
						on plankton, but are very wary - as soon as you get close to them, they disappear back down their burrows.
Now for some weird stuff.  First, some slightly out-of-focus photos of five different nudibranchs, starting with a Zeylan Phyllidiella (Phyllidiella zeylanica) at Kuda Miaru Thila.
Now for some weird stuff. First, some slightly out-of-focus photos of five different nudibranchs, starting with a Zeylan 
						Phyllidiella (Phyllidiella zeylanica) at Kuda Miaru Thila.
And a superficially similar one, but a different species, Rose Phyllidiella (Phyllidiella rosans), at Panettone Manta Point.
And a superficially similar one, but a different species, Rose Phyllidiella (Phyllidiella rosans), at Panettone Manta Point.
Next, a Tritos Chromodoris (Chromodoris Tritos) also at Kuda Miaru Thila.  This has recently been renamed Goniobranchus tritos, just to confuse things.
Next, a Tritos Chromodoris (Chromodoris Tritos) also at Kuda Miaru Thila. This has recently been renamed Goniobranchus tritos, 
						just to confuse things.
An Elegant Phyllidia (Phyllidia elegans) at Kuda Miaru Thila.
An Elegant Phyllidia (Phyllidia elegans ) at Kuda Miaru Thila.
A Varicose Phyllidia (Phyllidia varicosa), again at Kuda Miaru Thila, poses alongside an old scallop shell.
A Varicose Phyllidia (Phyllidia varicosa), again at Kuda Miaru Thila, poses alongside an old scallop shell.
A Maldives speciality, a Hiby's Lamellarid (Coriocella Hibyae) at good old Kuda Miaru Thila.  I like this dive site - there's always something interesting happening there.
A Maldives speciality, a Hiby's Lamellarid (Coriocella Hibyae) at good old Kuda Miaru Thila. I like this dive site - there's 
						always something interesting happening there.
A Graeffe's sea cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei) exudes its soft, sticky feeding tentacles at Kuda Miaru Thila.  Yuk.
A Graeffe's sea cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei) exudes its soft, sticky feeding tentacles at Kuda Miaru Thila. Yuk.

Back to Thudufushi Dec 2014.