Mimic Octopus

Mimic octopus are the only known animals that consciously imitate multiple other species, they've been documented mimicking lionfish (flared arms), banded sea snakes (two arms extended from a hole), flatfish (flat body undulating), and possibly crabs and jellyfish. Each mimicry seems matched to the specific threat encountered.

Discovered only in 1998, restricted to muck-diving habitats in Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia. They live on open sand far from coral, Lembeh Strait's muck slopes are the iconic encounter setting.

Each dive at Lembeh or Anilao with a guide who knows mimic territories has a 30–50% encounter rate. Approach extremely slow, watch the substrate for the giveaway brown-and-white stripes, and stay back when they emerge from sand burrows, too-close approach triggers retreat.