Veretillum cynomorium

Aldo Ferrucci Veretillum cynomorium with Pennatula on the back Shot taken on Ferretti wall in Petrosino Sicily -74 mt Hugyfot housing with D700 Nikon, 14-24 f2,8, Subtronic Gamma strobes

Angelo Mojetta Foto così sono importanti per conoscere meglio i nostri mari. La colonia era isolata o ve ne erano altre?

Aldo Ferrucci Ciao Angelo, di Veretillum ne ho incontrati solo due durante l'immersione, mentre di Pennatule ce ne erano tantissime, molte di più di quando avevo fatto l'immersione lo scorso anno.

Rudolf Svensen Here is an other bugger from todays dive, Armina loveni. Never seen one before. It was quite eager to dig down in to the mud too. Does anybody knows what they eat. Maybe sea pens?

David Kipling Bernard Picton's website suggests the sea pen Virgularia mirabilis. Wow ;)

Torjus Haukvik Sea pens are correct, specifically Virgularia mirabilis.

Jussi Evertsen Both Pennatula and Virgularia - Armina is a burrowing species so you were lucky to find one up and about

Rudolf Svensen Yes there was a lot of Virgularia mirabilis around and some of them looked a bit worn out :-) . Jussi Evertsen we found several. Is Cuthona pustulata a burrowing species too?

George Brown I watched one crawl towards a juvenile Pennatula but it disappeared into the mud just before it made contact. Maybe heading for the seapens root? Google "Attack of the Sea Slugs" for an amazing video that reveals why we don't see this nudibranch often. If Cuthona pustulata also borrows I wonder how many other species employ this tactic?

Jussi Evertsen I have only found Cuthona pustulata on hydroids so far, so I would not place a bet on it

João Pedro Silva I've only seen Armina maculata eating (it feeds on Veretillum cynomorium). In some places it's often found intertidally and there it appears to "dig in" for the "root". But I once saw one on top of the Veretillum cynomorium (~10m deep) and the sea pen had distinct bite marks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/6997998059/ The bite marks appear to fit the profile of the radula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Armina_maculata_Rafinesque,_1814_-_radula_.jpg).

Tony Gilbert How interesting. Virgularia mirabilis occurs a lot in Scottish sea lochs, although there is one colony I've seen in Holyhead marina, and another next to the Lochgarry. Although I've not seen the nudi: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyjgilbert-images/4256758825/in/set-72157621920489748/ Veretillum cynomorium is present also in Canary islands, Where in Lanzarote it is only (mainly) seen nocturnally, and is recorded as rare-ish here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyjgilbert-images/5559034843/in/set-72157626351917680 Be sure to be looking for this one next time!

Tayfun Guven veretillum cynomorium/Buyukada-Ä°stanbul Canon G12 f:3,2 1/60 iso100

Ron Silver Sea Pen

Tayfun Guven Thanks Ron Silver for the explanation:))

Tayfun Guven veretillum cynomorium/Buyukada-Ä°stanbul Canon G12 f:4 1/60 iso100

João Pedro Silva A very large (~15cm long) Armina maculata bending down Veretillum cynomorium with its weight. The sea pen appears to have some bite marks but I'm not sure if those were made by the nudibranch. Arrábida, Portugal (Lat: 38.50784, Lon: -8.92032), ~8m deep.

João Pedro Silva After looking at this SEM image of the radula of Armina maculata, I'm convinced that it is the "exhibit A" I was looking for. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Armina_maculata_Rafinesque,_1814_-_radula_.jpg Feel a bit like CSI :)

João Pedro Silva Which Armina? Shot in Tróia, Portugal, during the low tide. Lots of Veretillum cynomorium around and their predator look alike Armina maculata.

Gonçalo Calado My 7-year-old son holding an Armina maculata today at Tróia, Portugal on a huge spring tide.

João Pedro Silva And this is not the biggest they get :) It's really difficult to tell from a few meters away if it's Veretillum cynomorium, Armina maculata... half squeezed orange or a fancy tennis ball.