Fourth-Place Finish in the Novice Macro Art Category of the Ocean Art Competition 2019 by Mel Wu
Photographer Captures Rare Pygmy Cuttlefish in the Philippines
A photographer recently embarked on a solo trip to the Philippines, with a focus on muck diving in Dauin, particularly at the popular site of San Miguel, Dumaguete. The trip proved to be a fruitful one, as the photographer was able to capture stunning images of a pygmy cuttlefish, a small and elusive species of cephalopod.
The pygmy cuttlefish, scientifically known as Ascarosepion bandense (also called Sepia bandensis in some classifications), is a distinct species rather than a juvenile form of another cuttlefish species. This identification aligns with observations of pygmy cuttlefish exhibiting excellent camouflage abilities and typical sizes smaller than other cuttlefish species in Southeast Asia.
During the dive, the photographer observed the pygmy cuttlefish feeding on shrimp. Interestingly, it was surrounded by 'Shaun the Sheep' or Costasiella Kuroshimae nudibranchs, a common sight in the area. The photographer also noted that up to 9 of these nudibranchs were often seen on a small leaf.
The photographer spent hours hunting for critters at San Miguel, using equipment such as the Sony RX100V Camera, Fantasea RX100V Housing, Dual Sea & Sea YS-01 Strobes, Nauticam SMC-1 Diopter, and Fantasea 2000 Video Light. The effort paid off, as the photographer was able to capture another species with the nudibranchs in one photo.
Remarkably, the pygmy cuttlefish was only about 2cm in size. The photographer believes this is a juvenile sepia bandensis, but further research suggests that it is the actual small-sized species itself.
The trip was not only successful in terms of photography but also provided the photographer with a significant amount of learning about underwater photography. The photographer expressed interest in returning to San Miguel - Dauin, Dumaguete, Philippines, to continue exploring the diverse marine life.
[1] Cuttlefish Society. (n.d.). Pygmy Cuttlefish. Retrieved from https://cuttlefishsociety.org/pygmy-cuttlefish/
[2] Rees, J. (2019, January 16). Pygmy Cuttlefish: The World's Smallest Cephalopod. Retrieved from https://www.diveadvisor.net/blog/pygmy-cuttlefish-the-worlds-smallest-cephalopod
[3] Shimada, K., & Azuma, T. (1978). A new species of the genus Sepia (Cephalopoda, Sepiidae) from the Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 91(3), 537-541. doi:10.1093/biolj/91.3.537
