The great mimic - Michael AW - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2006

2006: Underwater Worlds - Winner

Michael AW Enlarge image The great mimic

Michael AW (Australia)

The great mimic

Diving off Banka Island, in Indonesia, Michael spotted a strange eel moving along a sandy slope. For the next hour he swam with it as it hunted over the sand, watching it assume the movement and shape of various marine creatures, including a sole, a ray and even a sea snake. What he'd met was the master of disguises, the Indo-Malayan mimic octopus - here sporting its 'normal' brown-and-white striped coat. This animal takes intelligence to a new level. It can discern which dangerous sea creature to imitate to present the greatest threat to any predator it's confronted with. Only discovered in 1998, the mimic's repertoire of hunting or hiding disguises includes hermit crabs, sand anemones, crinoids, jellyfish, sea cucumbers, blennies, jawfish and lionfish. Already a fan of octopuses, Michael has 'long since given up eating them'.

Nikon D2X with 12-24mm lens; 1/100 sec at f14; 160 ISO; Seacam housing, single S200 Ikelite strobe.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.