IDENTITY CRISIS - (Part 2) Marine life identifications - Neville Coleman

FAMILY:  DORIDIDAE

COMMON NAME:  POM  POM TARINGA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Taringa halgerda

Dear Neville,   On a recent trip to Pulau Tioman I photographed this nudibranch.
According Helmut Debelius, Nudibranchs and Sea Snails Indo-Pacific field guide it's a Discodoris sp. known from the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. According to your book it looks like a Taringa halgerda. Is this the correct identification?
 
Regards, Marcel Eckhardt

REPLY:   Dear  Marcel, your shots are excellent of a very rarely seen nudibranch.  Yes, the identification in 1001  NUDIBRANCHS  is the correct one.

REMARKS:  Found from the Philippines to the Great barrier Reef  this species is a long way from common and I have only ever found it twice myself.  It was only described in 1998 and grows to around 25 mm.

Best wishes and many thanks for sharing your image with us.  Sincerely Neville

FAMILY : CALLYIONYMIDAE

COMMON NAME: PAINTED STINKFISH

SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Eocallionymus papilio

REMARKS:  This species is found from Southern Queensland to  south Western Australia. It is fairly common inshore though few divers notice them and has very variable colour variations.  Yours is a male which appears to be either displaying to a female , or has its fins almost erect as an alarm reaction due to your close presence. ( almost spronging )

FAMILY:  POLYCERIDAE

COMMON NAME: POOR KNIGHTS TAMBJA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Tambja sp.

Hi,  I found this nudibranch at the start of August at the Poor Knights. I'm
hoping that you can help identify it for me, as I understand that you have a
wealth of nudibranch knowledge and I haven't had much luck with
identification so far!   Thanks,   Danielle Reinecke

REPLY:  Dear  Danielle, many thanks for sending in such a fantastic critter. I have never seen it before and asked  Dr. Richard Willan.  He has seen one other image of it.

REMARKS:  This appears to be a new species. Richard seems to think it is an
unknown Pacific species which has turned up (like so many other tropical
species) at the Poor Knights due to the rise in water temperature due to
Global warming.  Congratulations, it is brilliant!

Sincerely    Neville

FAMILY:  DORIDIDAE 

COMMON NAME:  ALBATROSS ALDISA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Aldisa  albatrossae

Greg Heighes.     REPLY:  Dear Greg, thanks for sending  along this  image, it is an excellent study.  I have never seen this species in the field but have seen similar ones in my references.
REMARKS:  Apart from some additional yellow markings your species appears to be this one , or close to it.  There seems to be a couple of species which mimic each other  and at the moment  there are only a couple of references and little additional information available.  It occurs in Japan and Malaysia.

                           Sincerely     Neville

FAMILY:  ????????

COMMON NAME:  PADDLE MOUTH CNIDARIAN

SCIENTIFIC NAMES: ??????????

Dear Neville,  I photographed these life forms in 20 metres east of the Cod hole at Julian rocks  17/10. They have got me stumped,although they do look like some form of benthic jellyfish/seajelly . Your assistence will be greatly appreciated. thanks
Roger Smisek

REPLY:    Dear  Roger, many thanks for  your inquiry. These little critters are amazing and I have only seen images of them once before. Your images are excellent!

REMARKS:   I have never been fortunate enough to ever see these in the field and have not been able to track them down in any of my references. Though  there is every possibility they may be known as I do remember seeing them somewhere before.  I think your guess is as good as any and am unable to do better at this stage.    Sincerely     Neville

FAMILY:  APLYSIDAE

COMMON NAME: GEOGRAPHIC SEA HARE

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Siphonota  geographica

DEAR MR COLEMAN,
I AM MR .ANDREAS FROM ATHENS ,GREECE. I M A FRIEND OF MR [TONO]  TAMAKASA TONOZOUKA FROM DIVE -DIVES  BALI.I M SENDING THIS E-MAIL TO YOU WITH 2 TWO PICTURES OF NUDIBRANCHS I VE PHOTOGRAPHED IN SERIRIT NORTH BALI [BJ] PLACE ON 20-11-2006 IN 16 M DEPTH.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ME THE EXAT NAME OF THE SPECIFIC KIND BECAUSE IT,S THE FIRST TIME FIND THIS SPECIES. I M LOOK YOU BOOK NO FIND THIS SPECIES.
THANKS YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.
ANDREAS PARASKEYOPOULOS.

REPLY:   Dear   Andreas, many thanks for your submission, it sure is a magnificent sea hare, but one I have never seen in the wild.  I have checked with Dr.  Richard Willan  and we both agree on the identification.

REMARKS:  Although it has been recorded from Africa to the Philippines and Indonesia and across to Australia it is rarely seen and photographed.  Your specimen has a very distinct colour pattern, which is different from the specimen from Sydney Australia pictured on page 124/4 in 1001  NUDIBRANCHS.  However, it has the same basic shape.

FAMILY:   POLYCERIDAE

COMMON NAME:  DUSKY NEMBROTHA

SCIENTIFIC  NAMES:   Nembrotha kurabyana

Dear Sir,  I realise how busy you are. Nevertheless I decided to send you this amateur photo - as no one else seems to know what is that little blob in front of the nudibranch's head. 
Unfortunately I didn't have time to observe whether the nudibranch was eating it or just inspecting the thing. If it makes any difference, the photo was taken in Coral Sea on Osprey Reef last week, early afternoon. The mysterious blob
is a bit out of focus, but that's all I got. This is a full resolution crop from the original image file, saved with very low JPEG compression. I think the colors are off - my buddy's Canon gave much more red, but the image was too soft to see
any details.   Thanks for all your great work and have a happy new year!
Lev Zaikov
Sydney, Australia

REPLY:   Dear Lev, far from amateur, your image, colours,  subject and your  perspective are excellent and we thank you for your interest in the world of water and  for having an inquiring disposition.  We can always do better, but first we must begin, and your material  certainly does that.

REMARKS:   It  appears that you  have captured  this guy in the process of setting up dinner on what appears to be  the form of  a sea squirt upon which this nudibranch generally  feeds.  The object is as you have mentioned transparent and  extremely difficult to get in focus .  However, I am not  familiar with this species of sea squirt and it doesn't appear to have any internal organs, just two small green objects inside it which look like small slugs?
So, what it is I am not entirely sure,  but  your Nembrotha  certainly looks interested enough.     Sincerely    Neville

FAMILY:  DIADEMATIDAE

COMMON NAME: RADIANT SEA URCHIN

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Asteropyga  radiata

Hi Neville,
Can you enlighten us. Is this radiant sea urchin spurting eggs or excrement? It was moving quickly across the bottom. The gland on top was expanded at first but as it spurted, the gland deflated and became flacid.
These shots are stills lifted from our video and were taken over the muck at Lawadi after you left the Spirit of Niugini' expedition to Milne Bay in April this year. It was a truly amazing adventure and we came home with over 20 hours of video of some
extraordinary creatures. We enjoyed your company while you were there but missed your expertise when you departed. thanks, sea you later
Peter & Carol Bathie

REPLY:  Dear Carol and Peter, it was nice to meet you both and get the chance to finally meet the "PLASTIC BAGGUS" originators which still has us all puzzled .  Yes, it was an amazing trip and the critters even more so. I am so glad you both enjoyed it.  Milne bay is an extra ordinary place and Tawali and it's dive spots, remarkable.

REMARKS:   Yes , you are correct on your latter suggestion.  This sea urchin ( and most others) have their anus on the top. The gland you mention is it's anal bag, each species in this family has an individual colour and /or pattern.  This one is going to the toilet. Most species release excreta in the form of  small balls of detritus type materials. Any other unusual finds you have don't hesitate to share them with our readers.   Best  wishes     Neville

FAMILY:  LABRIDAE

COMMON NAME: PEACOCK RAZORFISH ( JUVENILE)

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Iniistius pavo

Greetings Neville from the sandbar.    Sorry I am bombarding you with critter queries of late.  I do attempt to identify them myself however this little wrasse has me beat.  He was in approximately 17 metres of water flitting around in a mixture of sand and grit.  He was quite approachable which was helpful when trying to photograph such a tiny fish.  My thoughts to his ID are either Xyrichyts dea (Leaf Wrasse) or Novaculichthys taeniourus (Rockmover wrasse) but I am more than happy to be corrected.  Thanks for all your assistance with recent ID's.  The WILDLIFE GUIDE TO THE COCOS ( KEELING ) ISLANDS  has come out nicely and my images came up so well.    Cheers - Karen

REPLY:  Dear Karen,  apologies for the delay on this one.   Yes, your pictures in the WILDLIFE  GUIDE  were stunning  and really  showed the true essence of the Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands. All  razorfish juveniles are difficult to identify unless one has all the various stages and colour variations of each species.  However, your image is very good and it does not pose a problem.

REMARKS:  This little fish often drifts along near the sandy bottom, or swims in a manner that mimics a piece of algae and is usually difficult to approach unless it believes you cant actually see it. The species is widespread and has been recorded from the Red Sea, Africa, Japan, Hawaii, Australia French Polynesia and across to Central America.    best  wishes     Neville

FAMILY:   STYELIDAE

COMMON NAME:  SPECTACLE  BOTRYLLOIDES

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Botrylloides  perspiculum 

 Pls. can somebody help me to identify this flatworm (or nudibranch...)
Picture taken in Puerto Galera, Philippines, 10m.Size: 25-30mm Thank you, Josef

REPLY:   Dear Josef, many thanks for your interesting critter, I will be able to sort this out for you.  Your other identifications came in and I will be working on those presently.
REMARKS:   This beautiful little colony of critters is enough to fool anybody into thinking it might be a flatworm or a nudibranch, but it is a colony of sea squirts or ascidians. At present we know it occurs from the Philippines to  Milne Bay Papua New Guinea and is certainly not common, I have only photographed it on 6 occasions in 40 years.  Due to the colour and pattern variations I will be using the entire 6 images in my new book on SEA SQUIRTS that is presently being  put together. Sincerely     Neville

FAMILY:  PLEUROBRANCHIDAE

COMMON NAME:  MARTEN'S BERTHELLA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Berthella martensi

 Hi Neville, How are things? I've come across this little bugger while diving in
Tioman, on the East Coast of Malaysia. The depth was about 18m, and it
was about 3cm long. Do you have any idea what it may be? Thanks in advance.
Mathieu

REPLY:   Dear Mathieu,  good to hear from you again.  I am doing fine but up to my GILLS in trying to get my new books out. Your little critter is no problem.

REMARKS:  This is a juvenile specimen and  although I have not seen one so small , or this colour there appears little doubt when studying your image.  This species is widespread and ranges from Africa to Mexico . The most common colour form is dark yellow/orange with black spots, black rhinophores and black edging to the mantle and body edging.

 FAMILY: OREASTERIDAE

COMMON NAME:  SULAWESI  PENTACERASTER

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:    Pentaceraster  sp.

Hi Neville,

I would like to run a seastar ID past you.  I photographed this seastar in Lembeh Strait and it was very large, about 60cm arm to arm.  I think it could be Pentaceraster regulus however I'm not entirely convinced as the colouration and spines appear to be slightly different to the images in your new seastar book. 
Your new book on echinoderms is very useful, I've been using it to cross check and some of my previous seatsr identifications and you have managed to cover heaps of different speces.  It is very handy!  Did you receive the CD that I sent you on Sulawesi nudibranchs?  cheers,  David

David Harasti
Senior Conservation Manager
Department of Primary Industries
Port Stephens Fisheries Centre
Locked Bag 1
Nelson Bay  NSW  2315
Ph: (02) 4916 3905
Fax: (02) 4916 3880
 

REPLY:   Dear David,  thank you for the kind remarks regarding the new SEA STARS book it is being very well accepted out there in the marketplace, from divers to scientists, as it is the first major visual identification guide to the ECHINODERMS of our region.
Sorry for the delay I had a few hiccups to deal with over the last few weeks as well as the BYRON BAY DIVE FESTIVAL  presentations to get done and give. 
Yes, I did get the CD you sent with all those magnificent Sulawesi  nudibranchs, there are at least 15 I can use, many thanks, I will get back to you when I get a chance to check them all out more closely.   The sea star  is indeed a beauty and the close up is exquisite.

REMARKS:   I agree that your specimen is different to those I have shown in the book.  However, this species is extremely  variable and  as I have not seen one from Sulawesi before and that location is thousands of kilometres from where my ones were found, it might well be another species. There is another one called Pentaceraster multispinus from Indonesia and the Indian Ocean but I have not seen it and do not have an image cross identified from a specimen by a taxonomist  for comparison.

FAMILY:  BORNELLIDAE

COMMON NAME: AFRICAN BORNELLA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Bornella sp.

REPLY:   Dear Bart, not sure what books you have or where you looked on the internet but most of these are relatively common and widely featured.  However, I am happy to help out and your images are good enough to make IDS from.

REMARKS:   To my knowledge this is an undescribed species which occurs from South Africa to Western Australia and has recently been recorded from Thailand and Malaysia. It comes in several colour patterns but is always red and white and is not considered  common

Dear Neville,

I saw the Identity Crisis in sport diving magazine June/July 2007 and thought I have to email this guy for some ID. The attached images were taken in the Gulf of Thailand and I am wondering what species of nudibranches I shot with my camera. I couldn't find any details using some books or internet. Hopefully the images are of such quality that you can help me identifying the critters. Thanks in advance.
Kind regards, Bart

Bart Kluskens
BSc Env. Tox.
Volunteer Environmental Toxicologist WWF - CMDCP
Cambodia
+855 12 160 3445

FAMILY:   DISCODORIDIDAE

COMMON NAME :  FUNERAL JORUNNA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:   Jorunna funebris

REMARKS:  Occurs across the Indo - Pacific region where it feeds on the blue sponge  Haliclona sp. Although the black pattern is variable the colours remain stable throughout its distribution.

FAMILY: PHYLLIDIIDAE

COMMON NAME:  PUSTULOSE PHYLLIDIA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Phyllidia pustulosa

REMARKS:  Widely distributed across the Indo  Pacific area the species is highly variable but colours remain stable in pink and black.  It grows to around 50mm and feeds on sponges.

FAMILY: FLABELLINIDAE

COMMON NAME: RED LINED FLABELLINA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Flabellina  rubrolineata

REMARKS:  A common species generally found on hydroids upon which it feeds.  It grows to 30 mm and is distributed across the entire Asia/Indo  Pacific. The species ( similar to most nudibranchs ) is very variable.    best  wishes     Neville 

Hi Neville
 
I found these two nudibranches while guiding on a wall in the north of Lembeh Strait (Jiko Jansi) on the 14th June 07. The first one (Unknown Nudibranch.jpg) was on the wall at around 9m deep. approx 3cm, and the second (Unknown Nudibranch02.jpg) was on the slope at around 4m deep. I have been diving here for more than two years and never saw these. One of our guides claims to have seen the second nudibranch around November 06 on the dive site called Nudi Retreat. These photos were taken with a Sony DSC-P73. No strobe/macro lense. Can you help?
 
Kind regards
Bernard Lamprecht

REPLY:   Dear  Bernard,  many thanks for your contributions and excellent imagery, they are very interesting subjects, one rare and one common.

FAMILY:     ZEPHRINIDAE

COMMON NAME:  MAUVE -TIPPED JANOLUS

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Janolus sp.

REMARKS:   This small nudibranch is not widely known, though we have photographic records of it from Malaysia, Philippines and  Indonesia.  It is an exquisite species with its yellowish spots and mauve tipped cerata, and is thought to feed on bryozoans.  Congratulations, it appears to be an undescribed species.

FAMILY:  FACELINIDAE

COMMON NAME:   SERPENT PTERAEOLIDIA

SCIENTIFIC  NAMES:   Pteraeolidia ianthina

REMARKS:  Found across the entire Asia/Indo-Pacific region including every state in Australia this species is very common and comes in an astounding array of colours and colour combinations. Regardless of colour they always have 2 blue or purple bands around the oral ( lower) tentacles.  They feed on stinging hydroids and are able to store undischarged nematocysts in the cerata on their backs to act as a predator deterrent. They are known to sting humans (personal experience)  They grow to at least 120 mm and are one of the few nudibranchs known to protect or brood their white circular egg strings. When juvenile they are pure white, but soon attract  various numbers of zooxanthellae ( microscopic algae) which are stored in their tissues and act as camouflage and a source of nourishment. Best  wishes   Neville

FAMILY:  AGLAJIDAE

COMMON NAME:  ELEGANT NOALDA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:    Noalda sp.

Dear Neville & Joey,
 
We just came back from Mabul, Malaysia Takako has found this species of Opisthobranch.  All images found and shot by Takako. Do you know this creature?
We have never seen it before or even recognize what family it belongs to.
 Only one specimen, about 20mm in length, found at depth of 15m, Semporna (near from Mabul Island), muddy site.
 Would you like to use them in your NEW book?
I think they are hi res enough for you to re-size.
 Will send you another few images (other nudis by Takako) in next mail.
Don't want to blow up your server storage and slow time transfer
 
Warmest thanks and big hugs,
Stephen & Takako
 
Stephen Wong & Takako Uno
Marine Wildlife Photojournalists

-REPLY:    Dear Stephen and Takako, WOW! What  a brilliant little critter.   I have only ever seen one of these before so it is extremely rare, mostly unknown and appears to be an undescribed species.

REMARKS:  This small sand burrowing slug is quite remarkable and unlike any other slug that I know.  I guess because it is quite small and lives under the sand, it has not been seen by divers much before. You have done a splendid job on the imagery for such a small  being and have captured every aspect very well.  It will certainly enhance the NUDIBRANCHS ENCYCLOPEDIA  book  as another extraordinary life form we are privileged to share.   Keep up the great work. many thanks     Neville

Mathieu Meur.
Hi Neville,  It's me Mathieu again, and this time with quite a few specimens. I hope that you won't mind having a quick look. They're all from Indonesia, and relatively shallow waters (8m to 12m). No.1 is from Lembeh Nos. 2, 3 and 4 are from Bali No. 5 is from Batam Once again, I can't seem to be able to put a name to these cuties.
Thanks in advance,
Mathieu

REPLY: Dear  Mathieu, yes, I can sort most of these out for you.  Some are not common knowledge and were not in 1001   NUDIBRANCHS. However, they are all in the new   NUDIBRANCHS ENCYCLOPEDIA  and your images are excellent so the ID's are relatively easy since I have been researching the new book for the last 3 month

Pic.1)  Lembeh Str.  Sulawesi  Indonesia

FAMILY:  APLYSIDIIDAE

COMMON NAME: RAMOSE SEA HARE

SCIENTIFIC  NAMES:  Petalifera ramosa

REMARKS:  Grows to around 40 mm and is found from Japan to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and across to Australia.  ( see page 126/14,15     1001  NUDIBRANCHS.

(Pic. 2)    Bali  Indonesia

FAMILY:  PLAKOBRANCHIDAE

COMMON NAME:   ORNATE   ELYSIA

SCIENTIFIC  NAMES:    Elysia  ornata

REMARKS:    This appears to be another version of this species.   I have it from several locations across the Asia/Indo-Pacific region.  It does look different to the more common form but we will have to wait until the taxonomists sort them out firther.

(Pic. 3)   Bali Indonesia

FAMILY:   DISCODORIDIDAE

COMMON NAME:  DAPPLED DISCODORIS

SCIENTIFIC  NAMES:  Discodoris sp.

REMARKS:   This  species appears to be undescribed and at this point in time there does not seem to be a published description, so until science advances and more information is available this is it.

 (Pic.4)     Bali   Indonesia

FAMILY:   PLAKOBRANCHIDAE

COMMON NAME:   BLUE  ELYSIA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:   Elysia sp.

REMARKS:   We are also in the same boat on this one.  It does not appear to be described as yet.  It is a very nice little species.

(Pic.5)    Batam  Indonesia

FAMILY:  CHROMODORIDIDAE

COMMON NAME:  GLANDULAR CHROMODORIS

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Chromodoris   tumulifera

REMARKS:   This species has emerged in a number of places  over the last couple of years.  Roger Steene captured some of the first images at Rabual  Papua New Guinea in 1987.  I have had images from Perhentian Islands in Malaysia and it has also been recorded in Fiji, so it has a fair distribution. 

   best  wishes      Neville