luanroberts's Favourites

This observation is part of a long-term project examining plankton biodiversity in the nearshore waters around the Hakai Institute's Quadra Island ecological observatory. A COI DNA sequence from the organism has been deposited in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). Photo license and credit belong to the Hakai Institute.

I found this 10 mm long aeolid in the low intertidal on the south side of Chetco Point, Oregon in July 1996. After photographing and taking notes on the living specimen I preserved and sent it to Terry Gosliner, who made SEMs of its jaws and radula and identified it in late 2010 as a Eubranchus. CASIZ 114833.

This is the only specimen I have ever found of this species, which appears to be unique among NE Pacific aeolids for its color pattern (smooth rhinophores translucent distally and burgundy red proximally; cerata with encrusting white tips and a narrow subapical band of encrusting red, and cerata cores varying from orange distally to red proximally. The brown mandibles were visible through the head, and I had also noted that the viscera, including a pale pink-cream ovotestis, were visible through the body wall which lacked pigment, but in this image, scanned from a print from 35 mm film, appears a little more opaque than it actually was).

Undescribed species, or an introduced one? Brookings Harbor, with some commercial fishing boats, is close by and might have provided a vector, and Chetco Pt. and Brookings are nestled in a coastal bight that likely has an upwelling shadow fostering local retention of planktonic larvae.

I would be very interested in hearing if anyone recognizes this species!

There are only four pairs of dorsolateral processes and the digestive gland is only visible in the first two pairs which is a feature of Dendronotus albus but the tubercles and body coloration are more often associated with Dendronotus venustus

Only a few mm long; found on Codium fragile. Unlike Placida dendritica, this undescribed species has simple (not rolled) rhinophores. It appears to be the same species as specimens I found earlier in the same year on Codium fragile at Punta Rosarito, Baja California (http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/stilsp1). Scanned from prints from 35 mm film.

Found by @nudibitch! Second record of this species recorded, first is here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90419664

More photos of the second individual here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194213584
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194171352

La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
Three of these, found together under a rock with sparse hydroids. Each only about 2-3 mm - quite small. At first, I thought they might be odd Tenellia albocrusta. (B.C.S. is the southern range limit of C. albocrusta according to Gary’s iNat guide: https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/933633#ref2)

But the thing that gave me pause was how extensive the opaque white speckles are - extensively down the oral tentacles (not seen in any other photo of C. albocrusta on iNat) and the entire length of the rhinophores. All three had the same markings.

In Camacho-Garcia, Gosliner and Valdes, “Guia del Campo de las Babosas Marinas del Pacifico Este Tropical,” 2005, p. 105, a tiny Cuthona Sp 6 looks like a possibility - the photo isn’t reproduced well, but there seems to be white on the oral tentacles (not mentioned in the text, so I may be seeing something incorrectly) and white spots on the rhinophores are mentioned. I haven’t seen more recent information on this Cuthona.

From TGosliner: "This looks like something entirely new to me! It certainly is not Tenellia albocrusta. The head shape and ceratal color are entirely different. Very cool!"

undescribed sp first seen by @imlichentoday

found on kelp (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194171357)
but rearing when found, detached quickly

no wind, light to no surge, night, water temp 61 F, -0.8ft tide

found by @nudibitch
2nd record of this species! Found at a -.8ft low tide, at night, no wind, no waves

more pictures of this individual: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194171352

More pictures of 1st recorded individual: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90419664

HELLO AGAIN.
This is now the second time I've photographed this undescribed nudibranch - the first one was found by Luan Roberts when we were dock fouling in August 2021: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91369989

Unfortunately I did not have collecting materials with me, and I couldn't detour via CAS, so it got to go about its nudibranch business after these photos were taken.

This mystery slug does not appear in Behrens et al, Eastern Pacific Nudibranchs, 2021, nor have I found any references to it elsewhere.

Found by @luanroberts. About 7 mm. Orange bands on white-tipped oral tentacles, orange bands on the white-tipped rhinophores, and white specks on the surface of the body.

Obelia and Tubularia (Pink-mouth hydroid) present elsewhere in the marina in small quantities, but didn't see it feeding.

Looks vaguely like the pale one in the left-side photo on Page 124 of Behrens & Hermosillo's Eastern Pacific Nudibranchs, 2005. Same individual as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91332884

Update: this hydroid https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/92299348 was the only hydroid on the boat bumper where it was found.