Stunning footage of a 'mimic octopus' apparently imitating a venemous lionfish off the coast of Indonesia.

Divers witnessed the creature spreading its tentacles and changing colour to take on the notorious brown and white stripes of the fish.

"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.

The footage was filmed last month near Lombok, an island east of Bali.