Nudi ID

Here's one from Thailand that we couldn't find in the slug ID book on the boat.

Any Ideas?

Here's one from Thailand that we couldn't find in the slug ID book on the boat.

Any Ideas?

Herb,

I have some ideas but am going to direct you to an expert. Post your image on the Sea Slug Forum and Dr Bill Rudman will positively identify it for you (or will know if it is undescribed or unidentifiable from one image). They have identified countless nudi's for me over time.

M

Looks like a Dendrodoris and similar to tuberculosa but way different colouration

It looks like a black variant of the "dermatobranchus ornatus".

Have a look Hat Helmut debelius Slug-Id book (English Version at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3931702987) there is pictured a white variant .

Simon

Simon,

Thanks for the pointer. Here's what they have on seaslugforum.net

http://www.seaslugforum.net/dermorna.htm

It looks like this can be our critter. It's too bad I couldn't get a photo of it from another angle. I've sent them the photo to ID and am still waiting to hear from them.

Herb

The species is Dermatobranchus ornatus.

I have an image of it on one of my nudibranch pages on my website at:

Nelson Bay Nudibranchs

They are not a very common species but they do have a very broad distribution around the world, especially in the Pacific region.

Simon and Dave, looks like you are correct. I just got a reply from the seaslugforum

http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?ba...ermorna&id=9066

Good news and bad news then you got a name but not the Dermatobranchus herbkoii.

I was almost right it started with a 'D'

@Goldfish: Don't be mad as us!

You now I'm always the one one the boat the other thinks he is nuts because I have 5 or 6 ID Books with me... until after the dive when they come to me: "Can I lend your ID Book" or "May I have a loook at that book..." ;-)

When I did the UW-Naturalist Dive in my AOWD course I coud teach my instructor some things ;-)

Bye Simon

That's the problem with fish... Even after decades of getting to know them and thinking you do - Along swims a new one!

I know this! (And I'm sure you now a lot more fish by name (and on firts name basis ;-) ) than I do) And this is why I allways put 5 kg books into my luggage ;-)

I would love to have my ID Books in a CD-Rom version......

Hey thats a market niche ... with all the photographers here and their archives it should be no problem to build one....

Simon

There's an Idea - Start researching a fish ID database that can be stored on DVD with a search facility.

While people have their ID books open... can anyone help me identify this little fish?

This fish was about 1 - 1.5cm hiding under an acopora coral, he was found in Januray in Papua New Guinea at Loloata Island. I only got the one photo before I lost sight of the little sucker.

My initial thought is a juvenile dragonet species, perhaps a Synchiropus sp ?

It could be a juvinille Starry Dragonette? "Stallatus"