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A mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllaris. These animals are fierce predators, using their modified front claws to seize or bludgeon prey in the manner of their namesake, the praying mantis. Odontodactylus is the most colorful and one of the larger mantis shrimps — it is said to be able to smash a four-inch crab with one strike. Some divers call these animals "thumb-splitters" and with good reason. Do not try to touch one! Tulamben, Bali.

There are several species, but the most common on Indonesian reefs is the pearly nautilus (Nautilus pompilius).

A dispute developed between these two prawn gobies, Mahidolia mystacina, when the yellow goby and its shrimp wandered into the grey goby's territory. When the grey fish came out of its burrow, the sand started to fly. Both of these gobies are females. Tulamben, Bali.

Crustaceans

The jointed-foot animals— Arthropoda—is the single most successful phylum of animals. On land, the insects and spiders dominate; in the water, the sub-phylum Crustacea is king, with almost 40,000 species. Crustaceans—crabs, shrimp and lobsters—are very abundant on Indonesian coral reefs, but many keep themselves well-hidden, particularly during the day. They are most likely to be seen by night divers.