Strange Little Critter

[puytioco]

I need help figuring out exactly what this critter is. It's just quite strange. It doesn't quite look like a fish nor does it look like a crustacean. Here is a little description.

• 
  It is square/rectangular in shape.
  The two (2) eyes face directly forward.
  It has a mouth with teeth.
  It does not have fins.
  It moves by walking on 4 or 6 legs (I still need to examine my not-so-good video very carefully to check that one out).
  Sighted the creature during a night dive.

Cheers.

 

[gangrel441]

Wow...I didnt think Jim Henson was still with us...

No idea, but he's a cute one...whatever he is...

 

[The Kraken]

It's a marine Tribble . . .

the K

 

[puytioco]

yeah...i've been told the muppet theory here. never thought star trek could be involved.

 

[gangrel441]

Not sure how much help it'll be, but where did you find him? And how deep?

 

[maractwin]

Other than the "mouth with teeth" it looks like a decorator crab whose decorations are growing out of control. Walking on six legs certainly supports this.

-Mark

 

[puytioco]

found this baby here in the philippines at a depth of about 12msw or 40fsw on a night dive.
what also makes this not a crab is the fact the eyes aren't on stalks. flipping it over to see its underside shows no crab either.

hey maractwin...dive log for mac??? oh wait... i wonder if i can get it to talk with a diverite...nice avatar, my friend is trying to id that one as well.

 

[maractwin]

hey maractwin...dive log for mac??? oh wait... i wonder if i can get it to talk with a diverite...nice avatar, my friend is trying to id that one as well.

I've never tried a Diverite computer. A higher priority is adding support for some of the more popular brands, but I wouldn't rule them out, especially if the manufacturer were willing to help.

My avatar is a midas blenny, Ecsenius midas, shot in Fiji.

-Mark

 

[archman]

After showing my professor (the crab expert), my theory about it being a frogfish was blown apart. She thinks it's a decorator crab, and ran off to consult her authorities.

The "fish mouth" is the top of the palate, and if it's a crab, all the feeding mouthparts are obscured further down under the fuzzy stuff.

The eyestalks are very short in brachyuran crabs, and sometimes barely noticeable.

 

[Rick Murchison]

After showing my professor (the crab expert), my theory about it being a frogfish was blown apart. She thinks it's a decorator crab, and ran off to consult her authorities.

The "fish mouth" is the top of the palate, and if it's a crab, all the feeding mouthparts are obscured further down under the fuzzy stuff.

The eyestalks are very short in brachyuran crabs, and sometimes barely noticeable.

Decorator crab was the only thing that popped to mind for me too. But I sure wouldn't put any money on it
Rick