Invertebrate
Mimic octopus
Thaumoctopus mimicus
A long-armed sand octopus able to imitate the shape and movement of other animals such as flatfish, lionfish and sea snakes. Active by day over open muck, unlike most octopus. Lembeh is one of the more reliable places in the world to find it.
- Max size
- ~60cm arm span
- Habitat
- Open black-sand flats near burrows
Best places to dive with Mimic octopus
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
One of several octopus species reported on the open sand at Ambon Bay sites, most often at Tanjung Nama. Sightings are opportunistic rather than seasonal.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Found on silty muck sites like Secret Bay; a sought-after but unpredictable sighting.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Seen through the year at sandy sites like TK, but never guaranteed on a given dive; depends on the guide locating an active individual.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Documented at Mabul's sand sites, Paradise 1 in particular, and listed by operators alongside wonderpus. Genuinely uncommon — treat a sighting as luck rather than an itinerary item.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Reported at Lonos and other mixed sand-rubble sites. No reliable month-by-month pattern is published.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Hunted for on the sand flats at Ghost Town and Little Lembeh. Reported by guides but not a dependable sighting on a short trip.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.