A cool video has emerged of a 'mimic octopus' which appears to imitate a lionfish off the coast of Lombok in Indonesia.

The footage, shot late last month by divers, shows the octopus spreading its tentacles and changing colour to take the appearance of a poisonous lionfish.

"This small octopus, that was only discovered in 1998, imitates other marine creatures to camouflage and protect itself - in the end you can see it mimic a lionfish with its widespread poisonous spines," the filmer wrote online.

Amazing encounter with the rare and super intelligent Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) on the prowl on the coast of Lombok, Indonesia, while diving with Manta Dive Gili Trawangan. This small octopus, that was only discovered in 1998, imitates other marine creatures to camouflage and protect itself - in the end you can see it mimic a lionfish with its widespread poisonous spines.