IDENTITY CRISIS (Part Three) Marine Life identification - Neville Coleman

FAMILY:   PLEUROBRANCHIDAE

COMMON NAME: MOON -FACED EUSELENOPS

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Euselenops luniceps

Dear Mr. Coleman, A friend, Patric Decaluw, just came back from
his diving trip in Manado and Lembeh. In attachment you will find a picture of a snail that is unknown to me. The photo was taken at  Lembeh Strait. Could you give any indication on the species name of this snail. Many thanks in advance. Best regards, Daan Delbare
Marine biologist
Institute for Agriculture & Fisheries Research
Belgium

REPLY:   Dear  Daan, thank you for your submission, I can certainly come up with an answer.
REMARKS:  Found across the Asia/Indo Pacific region this very unique mollusc spends most of it's life beneath the sand and only comes out to find food and to mate.  It grows to  80mm and may be seen from low tide level down to and beyond 40metres.  It will be featured in my new NUDIBRANCHS ENCYCLOPEDIA Asia/Indo-Pacific when it is published later in the year. All our best to Patric for such a nice image to work with.   sincerely     Neville    Coleman 
         

FAMILY:   APLYSIDIIDAE

COMMON NAME:  LITTLE SEA HARE

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:   Aplysia parvula

Dear Mr. Coleman, I would like to apologize to you by sending you directly to your  personal e-mail. Recently, I was diving in Manado, North Sulawesi and 
came across to a nudibranch. I have been trying to identify this nudibranch, but I haven't had any luck doing so. I have been consulting your books and Internet.
I also came across with a peculiar juvenile lion fish behaviour by clinging to a thorny sea horse. I am hoping you could help identify this species and shed an 
explaination on the behaviour of the juvenile lion fish.  Best Regards Fredi Tansari

REPLY:   Dear  Fredi, personal and business email is all the same, so to contact me you have only one address.   So, all is ok and I can sort out your query.

REMARKS:  This species grows to around 25 mm and comes in almost every colour variation , from white through to black and is found throughout the Asia/ Indo - Pacific and from the Red Sea to California. The specimen in your images is extended and in search of either food or a mate, this is what makes it appear different than those in most books.

(pic. No.2) The juvenile lionfish has no specific relationship with the sea horse.  To the lionfish, the sea horse is just another piece of stationary bottom growth similar to what it uses to ambush the small shrimps or fish that it feeds on. There are lots of examples like this in the ocean where bottom- dwelling animals that don't move much are crawled on, or utilized incidentally by others in this way.
Best  wishes      Neville     

FAMILY:  CHEILODACTYLIDAE

COMMON NAME:   JACKASS MORWONG

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Nemadactylus macropterus

Hi  Neville,
                  Can you please help us identify this fish. It was found
under Rye Pier, Victoria near one of the pylons. This shot was taken with a
seas &sea MM11 using a 1:2 macro lens.  As you can see it was only small and
the lower part of its body was transparent. I would appreciate any info you
can give me. Thanks       Rob Peating

REPLY: Dear Rob,  This one has taken a while to work out. I was not able to find it in any reference but Rudie Kuiter has solved your mystery.

REMARKS:   Your specimen is a juvenile of this species. The fish is found all along the south coast of Australia from NSW to S/W  Australia.  It grows to 70 cm and the adults are generally seen in deeper water, often forming big schools. Juveniles seen in bays and estuaries.

       best   wishes     Neville

FAMILY:   CHROMODORIDIDAE

COMMON NAME:  SINUATE CERATOSOMA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Ceratosoma sinuata

Hello Neville,
 
My name is James Balog and I am from north Queensland.  I was recently aboard the Undersea Explorer on a 6 day dive expedition, during the 4th day of diving on the Ribbon reefs, I came across a Nudibranch which myself as well as my dive instructor had never seen.  After looking though your book 1001 Nudibranchs, we were able to identify it, although the book suggested that this species was only ever recorded once or twice in Papua New Guinea.  Has this species been recorded in Australian waters since the publication of your book or is this a new discovery?  Attached is a picture of the Nudibranch, please credit the photograph to Clare Omodei. Thanks and I am looking forward to your reply, James Balog.   
 
REPLY:   Dear  James, many thanks for sending in you find, your image is excellent.

REMARKS:  Yes, at the time that  1001  NUDIBRANCHS was written only a few specimens had been found and it was not been determined as to what the species was. In the ensuing years more have  been found and science has decided that this is a juvenile  form of the above species.  There is a whole series of images on page 134  NUDIBRANCHS  ENCYCLOPEDIA .
The species is by no means common but is wide spread throughout the Indo  Pacific regions.  It grows to around 50mm and feeds on sponges.

      best   wishes      Neville

FAMILY:  GONIODORIDIDAE

COMMON NAME:  NAKAMOTO OKENIA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:    Okenia nakamotoensis

Dear Mr. Coleman,  My name is Nicol Lamberti and i'm writing you from Italy.First of all allow me to hand you a sincere and warm thanks for all your great books; it has been consulting them that my love and respect that I try to pay each time I go below to the underwater environment arose.

Im disturbing you since id like to ask your help to identify a nudi that i dont know, please find the image of it attached to the present email (photo was taken on august 2007 in Philippines at Panglao Island).

Due to the fusiform shape of the front pair of cerata ( Im referring to the one placed on the left side, bow of the nudi, quite horizontally in the picture, since i think that the rhinophores are the ones that just follows the aforementioned cerata and that are completely vertical in the picture) i thought that this could belong to the flabellinidae family, but also the shape of the cerata of the tergipediae family is fusiform. So i sincerely have any clue of what nudi i took a photo of, and I would therefore really appreciate your kind help to solve this issue.

 Awaiting for your kind answer please allow me to thank you in advance for any attention you will give to the present email.      Sincerely    Nicol Lamberti

REPLY:  Dear  Nicolo, many thanks for your sharing your beautiful image and your kind words.

REMARKS:  This is such a beautiful critter, I have only had the fortune to see once before in Malaysia. It is fairly rare and to my knowledge and only grows to around 30 mm. It feeds on the bryozoan Tropidozoum cellariforme.
The species is recorded from Japan to Indonesia.  There are two images in my new book NUDIBRANCHS ENCYCLOPEDIA on page 297/7,8.  Keep up the good work and if you have any more unusual finds send them along.  best  wishes    Neville

FAMILY:  AGLAJIDAE

COMMON NAME:  VARIABLE CHELIDONURA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Chelidonura varians

Dear Neville   Coleman , could you please help on these.

REPLY:   Dear Jacques  these are excellent shots of Brunos and some really interesting critters.

REMARKS:  Common across the Asia/Indo - Pacific this species grows to around 45mm and feeds on acoel flatworms. They mate in a head to tail position and lay clear egg balloons with white eggs.

PIC. 3

FAMILY:  SCYLLAEIDAE

COMMON NAME:  PELAGIC SCYLLAEA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Scyllaea pelagica

REMARKS:  This appears to be an upside down specimen of this species which has fallen off the piece of algae. These are generally found on floating Sargassum weed and also on algae with hydroids on sandy bottom and also reefs. The species grows to 35 mm and is common if one knows where to look.

         best   wishes     Neville

FAMILY:   PHYLLIIDAE

COMMON NAME:   VARICOSE PHYLLIDIA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Phyllidia varicosa

Dear Neville, this is strange, the right rhinophore seems missing.
Best regards, Jacques

REPLY:  Dear Jacques, yes, sometimes nudibranchs are born with only one rhinophore, others have them damaged or bitten off by fish.

REMARKS:  Occurs from the Red Sea across the Indo  Pacific, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and into the South Pacific. It grows to 60 mm and feeds on sponges.  It can be variable in pattern and is fairly common.  best   wishes    Neville

FAMILY:   HEXABRANCHIDAE

COMMON NAME:  SPANISH DANCER

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Hexabranchus sanguineus

Dear Neville,
 
hope youve had a good start into 2008.
Thanks for your mail.  Im sure there is plenty to do and to identify in and around the ocean. As you can see Im coming around a bit (one of the nomades !) and when ever there is a reef Ive plenty to do to explore.

The most unusual nudibranch (at least for me) Ive seen so far was at the 6th of Jan. in Coral Bay. Two Dorididae at about a length of 230 mm and two half the size were washed ashore near Point Maud with the sea weed. I was snorkeling a bit in that area afterwards but couldnt find them on the reef so far (just came across a grey nurse). The next day I spotted two at about 100 mm of lenght washed ashore with the sea weed near the shark nursery.
Another thing I came across while diving at Lighthouse Bay in Exmouth just before Xmas was the Leathery star - Leiaster coriaceus. The size and the colour  was amazing. Overall it was at least 300 mm and cause it was in about 12m depth it even shined a bit golden and a bit reddish brown spotted. Shame on me I didnt took a camera !!! Too we came across the Nembrotha kubaryana and a really nice cushion sea star.

Any way now Im on my way back to Port Hedland for a couple of months (till after the wet) where Im exploring the reef at Cemetery Beach. When I stopped there in November I found the attached Facelinidae and the sea apple. In one of the latest issues of the Sport Diving there was an article from Ken Hoppen where he is saying that "the wild sea apples tend to be found in areas of high current flow" but I found mine in a rock pool at low tide. ( Dear Doris, I'm sure you will agree that when the tide turns rushes in over your tide pools, faster than I can walk....the differences between tide and current...blend?)
So I reckon its always good to keep the eyes open you never know whats coming your way.
 Hope you can add this data to your other informations to get to know more about the life in the ocean. Dont rush with your response Im living in the Northwest where we still have time.        Cheers             Doris

REPLY:   Dear Doris,  its a pleasure to see some more of your stuff from over in the west.  Your images are very good making identification easier . It really does show how reef walkers can really assist in recording our marine life creatures.

REMARKS:  These shots are exquisite examples of  the Indian Ocean colour form of this species.  This is one of the largest of all nudibranchs and is known to grow to 600 mm and is found from the Red Sea throughout the entire Indo  Pacific area.  It feeds on sponges is able to swim.

FAMILY: FACELINIDAE

COMMON NAME: SERPENT PTERAEOLIDIA  ( BLUE DRAGON)

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Pteraeolidia ianthina

REMARKS:  Very widespread common species that comes in a range of colour forms depending on the amount of zooxanthellae living in its tissues.  It feeds on hydroids and is known to protect its eggs.  

FAMILY:  CUCUMARIIDAE

COMMON NAME: TEN TENTACLE SEA CUCUMBER

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Cercodemas anceps

REMARKS:  It is a bit difficult to see the shape of your critters but they do appear to be this species. It occurs from Hong Kong to Western Australia and Northern territory and comes in a range of colours. The most colourful are found in deeper water. The species grows to around 120 mm and feeds by way of feeding tentacles which catch plankton.  Yes they do live in areas prone to current, but also live at low tide where the incoming tidal flow is strong, bringing in an ever replenishing supply of plankton.

           best   wishes      Neville

FAMILY : LIMAPONTIDAE

COMMON NAME: ORNATE STILIGER

SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Stiliger ornatus

Subject: Nudie identification, Bula again, from Lalati Resort in Fiji.  I have found a couple of nudies on Jaynes Lane in front of the resort that I havent yet found in the book.  I havent gotten a copy of the latest book, but was hoping you could help.  Both of these were found at around 40 feet on my fantastic muck dive in front of the resort.  They are point and shoot for purposes of ID.  The white one kind of has the same coloring as the last one I sent in-that was Liemenandra Fusiform.
Thank you for your time. I know you are swamped with emails!   Jayne
 Jayne Carlson Director/Owner  Lalati Resort & Spa Beqa Island, Fiji

REPLY:     Bulla Jane,  happy new  year to all at Lalati   Resort.   I know your little slug very well and you images are excellent. The first orange ringed one is very small and not easy to photograph, of find.  It feeds on algae
    best  wishes     Neville

FAMILY:  SYNGNATHIDAE

COMMON NAME:   SAWTOOTH PIPEFISH

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:   Maroubra perserrata

Hi Neville
 
I have been seeing these little critters regularly at Port Noarlunga Reef in SA for more than 2 years. There are found in 1 of 2 small grottos in the rock in 4m of water. They are 5 to 6 cm long and more easily found at night. Usually there are 2 or 3 but sometimes as many as 5. The photos were taken on a dive specifically undertaken to photograph them which is quite difficult given the problem of getting light into the grotto.They are similar to Sawtooth Pipefish as described in Rudie Kuiter's "Guide to Sea Fishes  of Australia".The main difference is the colouration which is red with a distinctive electric blue colouration on the tail section (the photos don't do this justice). Can you please confirm the identity of these beautiful critters. I can provide higher resolution and/or photos if you require. Regards  Paul Macdonald

REPLY:    Dear Paul,   yes, you are right , they shore are exquisite little critters. I take on board what you have observed  but I am not familiar with this species and can only go by what has already been published and to me yours look the same.  To make sure I emailed your images to Rudie Kuiter and he confirms that they are indeed versions of the Sawtooth Pipefish.

REMARKS:  Distributed from New South Wales to south Western Australia this species grows to around 85 mm and generally inhabits narrow ledges frequently hiding behind sea urchins.  They are usually  observed as a pair or (similar to other Pipefishes) form small aggregations. Some Pipefish are known to sleep together in groups.    sincerely      Neville 

FAMILY: MAJIDAE

COMMON NAME:  ORANG- UTAN CRAB

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Oncinopus aranea

Subject: Weird Creature   Mr. Coleman,
 
We were recently (DEC 07) on a diving trip to Malaysia.  While on one of our dives of of Mabul Island I took several pictures of something that I have no idea of what it is.  It looks like a crab of some sort but doesn't appear to have a hard shell.
 None of the dive guides were able to give me any help in identifying this critter.  One of them recommended that I contact you because of your expertise with identifying weird creatures in this area of the world.
 The picture was taken between 5-7m water depth off of Mabul Island in the vicinity of what is referred to as the the Jetty/House Reef.
 
Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated because I have never seen anything like this before. Sincerely, Rick Greatting

REPLY:  Dear Rick,   yes you were correct on the crab id.  Mabul is a really fantastic area and there are lots of very exciting species there. I know the Jetty / house dive very well as it is the place I discovered the most fantastic nudibranch of my entire career.

 REMARKS:  This strange little spider crab is always covered in a soft spongy material and is generally found living in bubble coral polyps, anemone tentacles, soft corals etc. It appears to be a nocturnal plankton feeder and is widely distributed  from Japan throughout Asia/Indo  Pacific region and is fairly often seen by underwater photographers searching for critters.   best wishes  Neville