Aeolidia papillosa

Eric van Andel Aeolidia papillosa in Dutch waters.... E520 Zuiko Olympus 50 mm Subsee +10 diopter F = 18 1/125 2 Inon strobes

Eric van Andel Thanks for the likes!

Ken Thongpila Nice shot Eric :-) Love the angle too...

Annette Graves Juvenile nudibranch (Aeolidia papillosa) plate..

Annette Graves Nudibranch (Aeolidia papillosa) art....

Liz Morris Hello, I've had some Welsh seasearchers debating this Aelodid. Could you please confirm whether it is A.papillosa, A.glauca or as one person is adament, a strange colormoph of A.sanguinea. My bets on A.papillosa, although they are adament it was missing it's typical 'V' on the head. Your help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks very much.

João Pedro Silva From this perspective it's not clear but it sure looks like A. papillosa.

Eric van Andel In my opinion it's a papillosa... http://www.eric-van-andel.nl/index.php?supermode=gallery_view&previewm=1&a=March_2012&image=120318034427_ea-2012-03-18-stalland_004-grotevlok.jpg&screenres=1680-1050

Bernard Picton Aeolidia papillosa, note the heavy appearance, thick, tapering, oral tentacles and large number of cerata.

Liz Morris Hi, thanks very much - that is exactly what I thought but they seemed so adament it was different I thought I'd check with you guys in case I was missing something. Thanks very much :)

Klas Malmberg Aquatilis Aeolidia papillosa juvenile style?

Peter H van Bragt Not likely, but I must also say that I have no idea what else it might or could be. Pigmentation looks like Cumanotus beaumonti, but it doesn't seem to have cerata in front of the rhinophores. How small was this slug?

Arne Kuilman Doesn't look like the juveniles I've seen and Peter's seen even more. Would be new to me if I saw this in Dutch water.

Klas Malmberg Aquatilis Slug was 11 mm, Cumanotus has very long and small cerata so I do not think thats right, the pigmentation at the face is why I do think its a Aeolidia but I still think its a strange form. I think it looks like combination of Aeolidia papillosa and Eubranchus pallidus... so any other suggestions?

Erling Svensen Were do I look to see the difference between the Aeolidia papillosa and the A. glauca? And what about this one?

Peter H van Bragt These two are A. papillosa.

Erling Svensen Thanks, Peter. Do you see it on the cerrata that are more triangular on the papillosa?

Brendan Oonk A. Glauca doesn't have a white triangle between its rhinophores. Is usualy more orange. But I've been told that to be absolutely sure you need to look at the radula

Brendan Oonk Forgot to mention the size difference. If its 5 cm or more you can be pretty sure it's papilosa.

Ian Smith There is a selection of different colour forms of A. papillosa at http://www.conchsoc.org/spaccount/Aeolidia-papillosa Lucas has pointed out that “A. papillosa” is more than one species, so I don’t know if these are all one or more of the segregates. Some have somewhat similar colouration to Aeolidiella glauca, but they all have what in my experience separates them from A. glauca: the gap between the oral tentacles is about three times the width of the base of a tentacle, while the gap on A. glauca is about as wide as one tentacle (Compare http://www.conchsoc.org/spaccount/Aeolidiella-glauca ) . On this basis, I think this is Aeolidia papillosa. Also, as Brendan says, the white triangle on the head is typical of A. papillosa, though they don't all have it

Bernard Picton But Lucas says the white triangle is actually typical of (one of) the new, un-named species...

Ian Smith Glad to hear that Bernard. Was it Pers Comm from Lucas or has something been published?

Lucas CerCur Our studies are not published yet. We have to complete with more material fron NW Pacific (Oregon and California States) and UK material from several localities in order to determinate the real geographical distribution of true A. papillosa and the "other A. papillosa (sibbling species).

Lucas CerCur I hope to be able to sequence one specimen of A. glauca from UK in a few weeks.

Lucas CerCur But now, from 2 weeks ago I have a lot of burocracy on my back, and many Universitary policy meetings (rubbish....).

Bernard Picton collections auditing, documentation, doing the jobs of people who have retired recently...

Bernard Picton I will soon be able to get A. glauca, Strangford Lough has a population which seems to be there each year at the right time...

Peter H van Bragt Lucas already has Dutch specimen of A. papillosa. As soon as we get A glauca again (late winter, early spring, locally very common) I could collect a few specimen too.

João Pedro Silva (off topic, but I wonder if bureaucrats are a widespread species or several different species occupying the same niche... and they do have some morphological similarities)

Lucas CerCur Thanks to all of you!!!!!

John de Jong I thought it was a parasite on these Janolus cristatus, but it seems to be a juvenile Aeolidia papillosa of 2-3mm. Olympus E330 with 50mm macro and +10 diopter, ISO200, 1/125 and F22.0 and 2x Ikelite DS160-161 strobes. At Zeelandbrug, Oosterschelde, the Netherlands.

Paula Lightfoot Hi, could this be Aeolidiella glauca? Seen at 8.5m depth on Urticina felina. My first thought was the grey sea slug Aeolidia papillosa which is certainly common intertidally in Yorkshire, but this specimen doesn't have the V-shaped marking on the head.

Julia Nunn i think probably glauca - speckling on the back cerata

Brendan Oonk I agree

Eric van Andel Today at Oosterschelde; St Annaland. Found a Aeolidia papillosa that has a orange like color (especcialy the tips of the rinophores). Perhaps getting in the mood for the European Championships Soccer as a fan of the Dutch team??

João Pedro Silva I wonder what you would say about the Doriopsilla or Armina maculata and of course Berthellina edwardsi. Actually, orange is a very common colour in our opistobranchs. I wonder if someone has ever tried to find patterns in the geographic distribution of colour.

Eric van Andel Here in NL you only see white or brownish Aeolidia papillosa that was why I was wondered... Is it Ecotypical Variation?? With other words... do they get the color of the food they eat?

João Pedro Silva I'm really not sure. Some do get their colour from the food (or what we actually see is the colour of the food), even showing some variation along the digestive gland (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/4784556408/). But what to say about Cratena peregrina's "war paint"? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/5830432341/

Marco Faasse João, that's an interesting splanchnotrophid parasite in your Cratena photo, any idea which species it belongs to?

João Pedro Silva Marco, I have no idea. But I've been tagging the photos with parasites and assembling a set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/sets/72157626974078442/

Marco Faasse Very good! There are several species of splanchnotrophids in the NE Atlantic. I noticed that some egg sacs are white and others are purple. I wonder whether different parasites produce eggs in different colours. We have Spanchnotrophus angulatus parasites with purplish eggs in Aeolidiella glauca.

Chris Wood One of our Seasearchers from Sussex has sent this picture in for ID. In view of the cnidosacs is it Aeolidiella alderi (which doesn't seem to be recorded from the area) or a buff coloured version of Aeolidiella sanguinea, which I see from the NBN that Dawn Watson has recorded from North Norfolk - what colour were those ones? Habitiat is right for either with snakelocks and daisies around to eat

Richard Lord Do you know their size?

Phillip Hyden Stunning

Ian Smith From wide gap between oral tentacles and slightly laterally compressed "willow leaf" cerata I'd say one of Aeolidia papillosa agg. As Richard asks, what's the size?

David Kipling I'd agree it's not A. alderi. The cerata are more rounded as opposed to the more flattened ones here (as Ian says). The white ruff on alderi is also very prominent. Let me go dig out a photo of alderi for you Chris.

Chris Wood Certainly there isn't a white ruff on these so not A. alderi. Size to judge from the habitat is 6-10cm and A, papillosa would occur in the area but the presence of white cnidosacs on the end of the cerata was leading me to think it might be something else.

Bernard Picton Lucas CerCur, Leila CB, you might like to comment on the Aeolidia papillosa situation?

Leila CB That's an Aeolidia, not Aeolidiella... and it looks like one of the new species, could you please Chris Wood tell me where's it from?

Chris Wood Selsey, Sussex, shallow sublittoral

Ian Smith Chris 6-10cm is far too big for Aeolidiella. As David's given a link to alderi, here's one to sanguinea, check out the key features and similar spp. bullet points. http://www.conchsoc.org/spAccount/aeolidiella-sanguinea

Leila CB thanks Chris Wood for the information!! it'll awesome if next time you see it, you collect some for me... :)

Leila CB Actually, as Lucas CerCur said, we're trying to complete the range of distribution of this complex of species, so any help is very welcome :)

Justin Evans These are very common in the waters off Selsey at this time of year, often occurring in groups of 4-6 at depths of 1 to 6m. More photos of them in Mulberry Divers FB postings at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.572460712785116.1073741845.213955105302347&type=1, and https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=572042549493599&set=a.572042486160272.1073741844.213955105302347&type=1&relevant_count=2, and

Neil Watson These two had eggs next to them on the dive, not sure if that was by chance or not. They were about 6-8cm big, in water about 4-5m deep.

Cat Wilding These eggs were found on the rocky shore at Polzeath this weekend, does anyone have any idea what might have laid them?

David Kipling Size? And what are they laid on?

Cat Wilding about 3/4mm across, laid on saw wrack. A few nudibranch species found on the day

David Kipling Does look like mollusc eggs - what nudis did you see?

Cat Wilding Sea hare and another, have to check what it was.

Douglas Herdson Are they Flat periwinkle - Littorina obstusata/mariae/littoralis?

Cat Wilding aeolidia papillosa

Douglas Herdson Aeolida are larger pink and wavy.

Cat Wilding they are raised, like tinyturquoise donuts

Paula Lightfoot Lacuna vincta eggs?

Cliff Benson Hi Doug, Hope you are well have you had anything to do with I spot a BBC OU thing seems quite good fun!

Cat Wilding Oooh Paula Lightfoot, nice one, that looks bang on! Interestingly not currently listed by Marlin as having any records from the North Cornish coast... :)

Paula Lightfoot Interesting records then, well done! Did you see the adult snails as well or just eggs? http://www.conchsoc.org/spAccount/lacuna-vincta

Ian Smith My first inclination was, like Paula, to Lacuna vincta, but the colour made me look it up in Fretter & Graham, Brit. Prosobranch molluscs (1962). Firstly, Littorina obtusata/mariae spawn is not doughnut shape; it is kidney shape or circular. The latter shape is sometimes confused with spawn of Lacuna pallidula (inverted watch glass shape). F&G say of Lacuna vincta spawn "It forms the familiar yellow rings which may be found from Jan. to early summer on various weeds; Lebour stated that other egg masses of similar shape which are pink or green almost certainly belong to another species." F&G said that the spawn of other British Lacuna spp. had not been described. Maybe Cat's is one of them. But difficult to rear to find out as they hatch as veliger larvae that live in the plankton. Or Lebour might be mistaken.

Cynthia D. Trowbridge Certainly look like Lacuna to me :-)

Bülent Kılınç Spanish Dancer Gökçeada Turkey Nikon d800E 60 mm f18 1/200 ISO 100 Z240 Strobes

Jenny Wong Spanish dancer? Lot difference from the one i used to saw!

Krzysiek Ro Gal Beautiful Lady :-)

João Pedro Silva Looks like a sea hare, not a spanish dancer which is a common name associated with a nudibranch (Hexabranchus sanguineus) not occurring in the Mediterranean (at least yet...).

João Pedro Silva It actually a cephalaspidean, a head shield slug: Gastropteron rubrum. More info at the Sea Slug Forum: http://www.seaslugforum.net/gastrubr.htm

João Pedro Silva This goes to show the use of common names in these animals is often misleading. Here's a post by Bill Rudman on the subject of using common names for sea slugs: http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/common

Ron Silver Use of common names period is misleading! Long live binomial nomenclature - even if it is constantly changing. LOL

João Pedro Silva Even then, Ron Silver. While writing the field guide on the Sea Slugs of the Algarve we had to do many changes: the Chromodorididae were all revised a few months before we delivered the manuscript.

Ron Silver I know. The use of genetic testing is basically rewriting the science (art?) of classification and certainly seems to be tolling the death knell of the 'lumpers vs. splitters' arguments of days gone by!

João Pedro Silva But this photo and the consequent comments have shown there are some exceptions. This was not a case of simply using a common name for several unrelated species: no one uses "spanish dancer" for Gastropterum rubrum. It is a case of misidentification. There are 3 or 4 common names in some languages which can be used to positively identify a species. One of those cases is precisely "spanish dancer" as everyone knows it refers to Hexabranchus sanguineus. Other is the Mediterranean and Atlantic Peldororis atromaculata which is called in several latin languages (but not french) "small cow" (and variations on the same theme). When someone tells me he or she has seen a small cow I can be sure they have seen Peltodoris atromaculata. Most of the other names are useless an can be used to refer several unrelated species even within the same distribution range (let alone in different oceans...).

João Pedro Silva I think there are "lumping" and "splitting" periods and even overlapping sometimes. And DNA analysis (actually, some scientists consider the gene loci used so far may not be good enough) may provide information which goes both ways. For instance, the latest revision on Aeolidiidae hints on Aeolidia papillosa actually being a complex of 3 species... and the control specimen used (from other families) hint towards Flabellina confusa and Piseinotecus gaditanus being the same species (I think synonymy was not proposed because it was out of the scope of the paper). http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0063000

Ron Silver I surrender! :-D

Bülent Kılınç thanks a lot for the information you gave us Joao Pedro Silva and I will inform the local dive guides in Gökçeada Turkey.I was told that this critters have not been seen around there before and a kind of Spanish Dancer.

Bülent Kılınç I change the name of this critter as Gastropteron Rebrum

João Pedro Silva Glad to be of help, Bülent Kılınç!

João Pedro Silva Although this species is also present in the Atlantic, we haven't included it in our field guide. If you're comfortable reading french I recommend you a very comprehensive field guide for the Mediterranean with 171 species of sea slugs: "Des Limaces de Reve", by Sandrine Bielecki, Gilles Cavigneux, Jean Michel Crouzet and Sylvie Grall. http://www.deslimacesdereve.com/ Although it's only 3 years old there have already been some changes in the nomenclature so it may be worth to check with WoRMS for the current valid names.

Fabio Strazzi nice shot

Rob Durrant This is surely Aeolidiella alderi, specimens from Hannafore on consecutive days. The first about 22mm, the second as you see appx 27-30mm. A new species to me. In the first image, the 'ruff of white cerata immediately behind the head' (Collins) is visible, though not in the second. And the species 'recalls Grey Sea Slug, but smaller' (Steery & Cleave). Would you agree?

Ian Smith Hi Rob the first two with Y mark on head are Aeolidia papillosa - the Y is diagnostic when it occurs as nothing else has it. Some "A. papillosa" don't have the Y, but they are probably a hitherto unrecognised species that has recently been separated with DNA. We await publication of the results and correlation with morphology. But your third one isn't an A. papillosa segregate in my opinion; I think it could be Aeolidiella alderi as you suggest. Note the gap between the oral tentacles; wide on Aeolidia papillosa aggregate ; narrow on Aeolidiella group. The white ruff is variable and can occur on other Aeolidiella spp., but the colour and body markings make me think yours is probably A. alderi. Aeolidia and the 3 British Aeolidiella species have detailed illustrated accounts at http://www.conchsoc.org/groupbrowser/Marine%20slug (click on last 4 thumbnails on page.)

Rob Durrant Thank you very much, Ian. You've made me look again. I jumped to the conclusion that as they look broadly similar and are both white and found in same area they were two specimens of the same species. But now I see that not only does the larger one have a very clear white Y mark lacking in the one which has the 'ruff', but that the cerata are actually different too.

Klas Malmberg Aquatilis Aeolidia papillosa juvenile style?

Peter H van Bragt Not likely, but I must also say that I have no idea what else it might or could be. Pigmentation looks like Cumanotus beaumonti, but it doesn't seem to have cerata in front of the rhinophores. How small was this slug?

Arne Kuilman Doesn't look like the juveniles I've seen and Peter's seen even more. Would be new to me if I saw this in Dutch water.

Klas Malmberg Aquatilis Slug was 11 mm, Cumanotus has very long and small cerata so I do not think thats right, the pigmentation at the face is why I do think its a Aeolidia but I still think its a strange form. I think it looks like combination of Aeolidia papillosa and Eubranchus pallidus... so any other suggestions?

Pat Gunderson ID please, is it Flabellina japonica, about 35cm Edmonds WA USA in the eelgrass near eggs typical of an Aeolid Never seen this one before.

Kimber Stonehouse Beautiful pic!

Pat Gunderson Thanks Kimber

Marli Wakeling I don't think so. I think it's Aeolidia papillosa.

Pat Gunderson Thanks Marli, it just looked like the cerata are too long compared to other Shag rug nudis I have seen.

Marli Wakeling Yes, it is a bit different. The lines on the cerata and lack of spots is unusual, but apparently they vary a lot.

João Pedro Silva Well.... now the problem is "which" Aeolidia papillosa. Take a look at the latest revision of the Aeolidiidae based on molecular evidence: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0063000

Marli Wakeling Given the article and the location of Pat's specimen in Washington State , it would appear to most likely be the "true" A. papillosa, unless one from California took a northern holiday.

Leila CB I think is one of the cryptic species of A. papillosa...

João Pedro Silva I'm waiting to see what will come out from this (there are other hints on the side lines of this revision like the status of Piseinotecus gaditanus and Flabellina confusa). It could be an atypical "true" A. papillosa or one of the "other" on the same area as the "true" A. papillosa. And even the presence or lack of white pigment on the front (that "typical" inverted Y on the "forehead") may be irrelevant to determine the species.

Pat Gunderson We saw at least 2 of these in the eel grass that had the same appearance.

Gary Cobb Are you sure of the size? 350mm

João Pedro Silva Must be 35mm, although it can grow more than than.

Pat Gunderson Typo 35 mm sorry

Pat Gunderson A little more than 1 inch

Gary Cobb I thought so....thanks!

Erling Svensen Were do I look to see the difference between the Aeolidia papillosa and the A. glauca? And what about this one?

Peter H van Bragt These two are A. papillosa.

Erling Svensen Thanks, Peter. Do you see it on the cerrata that are more triangular on the papillosa?

Brendan Oonk A. Glauca doesn't have a white triangle between its rhinophores. Is usualy more orange. But I've been told that to be absolutely sure you need to look at the radula

Brendan Oonk Forgot to mention the size difference. If its 5 cm or more you can be pretty sure it's papilosa.

Ian Smith There is a selection of different colour forms of A. papillosa at http://www.conchsoc.org/spaccount/Aeolidia-papillosa Lucas has pointed out that “A. papillosa” is more than one species, so I don’t know if these are all one or more of the segregates. Some have somewhat similar colouration to Aeolidiella glauca, but they all have what in my experience separates them from A. glauca: the gap between the oral tentacles is about three times the width of the base of a tentacle, while the gap on A. glauca is about as wide as one tentacle (Compare http://www.conchsoc.org/spaccount/Aeolidiella-glauca ) . On this basis, I think this is Aeolidia papillosa. Also, as Brendan says, the white triangle on the head is typical of A. papillosa, though they don't all have it

Bernard Picton But Lucas says the white triangle is actually typical of (one of) the new, un-named species...

Ian Smith Glad to hear that Bernard. Was it Pers Comm from Lucas or has something been published?

Lucas CerCur Our studies are not published yet. We have to complete with more material fron NW Pacific (Oregon and California States) and UK material from several localities in order to determinate the real geographical distribution of true A. papillosa and the "other A. papillosa (sibbling species).

Lucas CerCur I hope to be able to sequence one specimen of A. glauca from UK in a few weeks.

Lucas CerCur But now, from 2 weeks ago I have a lot of burocracy on my back, and many Universitary policy meetings (rubbish....).

Bernard Picton collections auditing, documentation, doing the jobs of people who have retired recently...

Bernard Picton I will soon be able to get A. glauca, Strangford Lough has a population which seems to be there each year at the right time...

Peter H van Bragt Lucas already has Dutch specimen of A. papillosa. As soon as we get A glauca again (late winter, early spring, locally very common) I could collect a few specimen too.

João Pedro Silva (off topic, but I wonder if bureaucrats are a widespread species or several different species occupying the same niche... and they do have some morphological similarities)

Lucas CerCur Thanks to all of you!!!!!

Erling Svensen Bernard said something about nudies eating different food when juvenil and adult. Here are many Dendronotus frondosus on Obelia. They do not eat Obelia when adult?

Peter H van Bragt They do eat a variety of hydroids that may be available. However in Dutch coastal waters there is a distinct preference for Tubularia indivisa, if available. Feeding on this large solitary hydroid this nudibranch grows to a much larger size (12+ cm.) with also a much larger spawn than when feeding on other hydroids. An interesting form of ecophenotypical variation. As soon as T. indivisa is locally depleted by the predating nudi's they shift to other small hydroids. Cheers Peter H van Bragt

Bernard Picton I think that idea of ecophenotypical variation needs testing, Peter. It could be that we have several similar species here in Dendronotus.

Peter H van Bragt What we observe is that D. frondosus is year round present as relatively small indivuduals. In an annual reoccuring cycle we also see that when animals start feeding on T indivisa in winter, that animals solely feeding on T. indivisa tend to become extremely large. As soon as T. indivisa is depleted by predation the large ones have reproduced/spawned and only smaller individuals remain feeding on other hydroids. Outside the T. indivisa covered feeding grounds we do not find such extreme sized animals. Would you have access to DNA testing facilities??? I can provide specimen in early spring.

Lucas CerCur Erling, this is a very good question that shoud be tested bofore a reply.

Lucas CerCur I think that it is probable that changes in the diet of some opisthobrachs can happened. But I have not objetive data to confirme this.

Lucas CerCur Only some observations that could be use as departure hypothesis that should be tested.

Peter H van Bragt So, who can do the DNA work?????

Lucas CerCur What species you would like to sequence?

Peter H van Bragt Hi lucas, it's about Dendronotus frondosus: large specimen who feed on T indivisa and smaller ones who feed on other hydroids.

Lucas CerCur I'll try to reply later. I'm returning by train to home. OK?

Peter H van Bragt We're not in a rush ;-)

Cynthia D. Trowbridge From Sea Slug Forum: Robilliard, G. A. 1975. The nudibranch Dendronotus frondosus - one species or four? The Festivus (San Diego Shell Club), 6(8): 44-47.

Bernard Picton or ten?

Lucas CerCur I think that D. frondosus could be (or not) another case similar to Aeolidia papillosa.

Lucas CerCur In fact, in 1999 (I think) Mikael Thollesson published a paper in which replace the name D. lacteus as valid, when was considered as a junior synonym of the former.

Lucas CerCur So, in my view it is necessary to get (when possible) material from different localities of the theoretical distribution of the species, and then...start the sequencing.

Eric van Andel Today at Oosterschelde; St Annaland. Found a Aeolidia papillosa that has a orange like color (especcialy the tips of the rinophores). Perhaps getting in the mood for the European Championships Soccer as a fan of the Dutch team??

João Pedro Silva I wonder what you would say about the Doriopsilla or Armina maculata and of course Berthellina edwardsi. Actually, orange is a very common colour in our opistobranchs. I wonder if someone has ever tried to find patterns in the geographic distribution of colour.

Eric van Andel Here in NL you only see white or brownish Aeolidia papillosa that was why I was wondered... Is it Ecotypical Variation?? With other words... do they get the color of the food they eat?

João Pedro Silva I'm really not sure. Some do get their colour from the food (or what we actually see is the colour of the food), even showing some variation along the digestive gland (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/4784556408/). But what to say about Cratena peregrina's "war paint"? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/5830432341/

Marco Faasse João, that's an interesting splanchnotrophid parasite in your Cratena photo, any idea which species it belongs to?

João Pedro Silva Marco, I have no idea. But I've been tagging the photos with parasites and assembling a set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/sets/72157626974078442/

Marco Faasse Very good! There are several species of splanchnotrophids in the NE Atlantic. I noticed that some egg sacs are white and others are purple. I wonder whether different parasites produce eggs in different colours. We have Spanchnotrophus angulatus parasites with purplish eggs in Aeolidiella glauca.

Erling Svensen Yes - really nice day with quite flat ocean. Have not seen the ocean like this since October last year. Got a nice 75 minutes dive with a lot of nice things in a very exposed place in Egersund. I will post some more pictures in different groups, but this nudi - could it be Aeolidiella glauca - or another one? (I hope for another one.....)

Bernard Picton Aeolidia papillosa I think, with this white mark. It is very sharply marked on this one though...

Rudolf Svensen Anybody knows which type this nudi is? It is close to 10 mm long and image is captured in Stavanger, Norway.

Eric van Andel Aeolidiella glauca (Alder & Hancock, 1845) ??

Rob Maller Eric, I was just about to say the same :)

Eric van Andel http://www.anemoon.org/anemoon/soortinformatie/naaktslakken/aeolidiella_glauca Site is in Dutch but it seems a look alike!

Rudolf Svensen Thnx. Usually these are so large so I guess the sice fooled me.

Eric van Andel @ Rob: great minds think alike.... lol

Eric van Andel Rudolf, I think you usualy see the: Aeolidia papillosa (Linnaeus, 1761) Those are bigger!

Rudolf Svensen Yes, your right. I noticed Erling Svensen had the wrong Norwegian name of one Aeolidiella glauca in our database. He is the sea slug man, so he should know better ;-) thanks a lot.

Penny Martin What eggs might these be ??

Chris Barrett There were some that looked similar to this on the North Yorkshire coast, which turned out to be sea hare eggs (Aplysia punctata I think they were). Not sure if these are the same though, a second opinion would be good :)

Chris Barrett On a closer look, I don't think they are the same actually

Andy Horton Aeolidia papillosa

Andy Horton http://www.glaucus.org.uk/seaslug1.htm#Aeolidia

Chris Barrett Yes, I think you're right, Dawn

Richard Lord Aeolidia papillosa - I agree with Andy on this.

Douglas Herdson I agree Aeolidia papillosa, though they are often pale pink. Aplysia are more robust and can be bright red to yellow; I tend to think of them as red spaghetti.

Penny Martin what sea slug is this ?? with egg ribbon??

Richard Lord Could be Aeolidia papillosa

Chris Barrett I agree with Richard. Ooh, and is that BoBotryllus schlosseri I see?

Chris Barrett *Botryllus

Bernard Picton The spawn is probably from the Onchidoris

Chris Barrett Is that an Onchidoris you can see beneath the Aeolidia?

Bernard Picton Yes, I just tagged it.

Penny Martin Thank you :-)

Bernard Picton Don't think you'll get this treatment next time Penny, I'm just trying out the possibilities here.

Penny Martin sorry ..... did i do something wrong ????

Lucas CerCur My student Leila Carmona has been just awarded by the Malacological Society of London with a Research Grant with the project "What is Aeolidia papillosa (L., 1761)". It has been a very good new.

Lucas CerCur So, we need additional material from eastern, western and southern British Isles, Northern France, Jutlandia peninsula.....and Portugal (there it is a very rare species). Even if we have material from Sweden, material from Norway is also wellcome.

Joshua Hallas Congrats Leila CB. if you need an assistant please let me know

Peter H van Bragt Hello Luicas, great to be able to spend more time on the the A. paillosa quest. Do you have sufficient material from The Netherlands? And has your initial work with the Dutch specimen already been published?????

Cynthia D. Trowbridge what about from the NE Pacific?

Lucas CerCur Peter, I think that we have enough material from the Netherlands. But material from Germany, Denmark and Norway would be useful.

Lucas CerCur Cynthia, we have material from Alaska and from the State of Washington, as well as some California material. However, more material from California, as well as from the Oregon coasts would be very useful.

Cynthia D. Trowbridge Found one last week near OIMB so I am sure I will see more on the next tide series. 100 EtOH?

Lucas CerCur We have data from NE Pacific, but to complete our hypothesis we need the above stated material. I can tell you that there are more that one species.

Lucas CerCur Yes, please, Cynthia. And...photos are very useful also, if possible.

Cynthia D. Trowbridge Will do :-)

Lucas CerCur Thank you so much!!!!

Jim Anderson Aeolidia papillosa and Aeolidiella glauca? (approx 55mm) at 7 m. Inverkip Pier, Firth of Clyde - 6 Mar 2013

Brendan Oonk Just papillosa

Peter H van Bragt I agree with Brendan, all A papillosa's

Gary Cobb I agree with Aeolidia papillosa nice find Jim so many to choose from!

Lucas CerCur Very interesting.

Lucas CerCur How many kms (or miles) are from this locality to the first one from which you collected the A. papillosa that you sent me some months ago.

Lucas CerCur How many kms (or miles) are from this locality to the first one from which you collected the A. papillosa that you sent me some months ago?

Jim Anderson Approx 50 km

Lucas CerCur Thank you.

René Weterings "Aeolidia papillosa" Found in the Eastern Scheldt in The Netherlands on the 12th of december 2012, at a watertemperature of 3 degrees Celsius (about 38 degrees Fahrenheit) and a depth of 5m.

Lucas CerCur But ...is this the real papillosa? I feel this specimen not.

René Weterings Yes I am sure.

Marco Faasse The beast looks a bit strange, but in this area not unusual for A. papillosa. In my opinion there is no doubt. Note the white triangle on the head.

Lucas CerCur I supposed that this would be your thoughts. However, molecular studies that has been carried in my lab very recently (unpublished), showed that in the Netherlands there are two species under this name.

René Weterings Ok, that's interesting news! But as far as the average divers knows....(like me) we only have the Aeolidia papillosa. And of course the Aeolidiella glauca which looks a bit like it.

Marco Faasse Lucas CerCur, I am very curious to read your results when published. Especially curious which separate niches the two species occupy. Always interesting to see in retrospect how it was possible to overlook things.

Brendan Oonk Lucas , I would like to have more information on this. Are there any morfological/anatomical differences, or is it just genetics? Any idea on if and when this will be published? René Don't forget the recently found Aeolidiella alderi ;)

Lucas CerCur Brendan, it is difficult to distinguish both species. We have to discover this carrying molecular phylogenetic analyses.

Lucas CerCur It seems like the true papillosa is darker usually, and the cerata are spindle shape vs an hooked top in the non true papillosa.

Lucas CerCur But to compare more material from different localities would be much better. Moreover, we know nothing about potential ecological and biological differences.

Lucas CerCur I don't know when we will publish our results, but this will take time because we want to have more data and information.

Brendan Oonk Thanks for your response! If we can help you by collecting data/material/fotos just let it know. (Patiently) Looking forward to your publication :)

Lucas CerCur Brendan, what is your potential sampling area?

Lucas CerCur Dear branchers, I know that some of you know that in my lab we are working on Systematics of Aeolidiidae. Leila Carmona is conducting her PhD Thesis on this group. For this reason, I want to ask all those of you that currently dives in the British Isles that we would be very happy if some of you could get some material of Aeolidia papillosa. After our researches, if you ask us, we cannot tell you if in this area there are one or two species under the name A. papillosa. So, we need fresh material to reply to this question. I can supply few instruction of what to do when collected.

Anna Nudi Burn Aeolidia papillosa, I think.... Brighton Pier, UK

David Kipling White V between rhinos and line down the oral tentacles ... I would have thought so although it's lighter overall than the ones I've seen before.

Brendan Oonk When they are young they are completely white. This is A. Papillosa indeed

Ian Smith 33mm white one from the murky Mersey at http://www.conchsoc.org/node/5203

Peter H van Bragt Indeed A. papillosa. We see the first juveniles in the Netherlands around the end of August. They tell us that winter is approaching again ;-)

Terry Griffiths Told you lol

René Weterings "Aeolidia papillosa" Olympus E-PL2 with Olympus housing PT-EP03 Lens: M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm F2.8 Macro Wet lens: Subsee +10 Camera settings: f/20 1/180s ISO200 Strobes: Inon Z-240 + Inon D-2000 (both type 2) with custom made snoots 50mm (picture is not cropped)

Ron Silver This nudi has a fairly wide geographic distribution. Where was the photo taken?

René Weterings In the Eastern Scheldt in The Netherlands Ron!

Ron Silver Thanx.

Scubashooters Dot Net Great!!! More and more amazed by the Neth sea!!!! :)

Johannes Oei Great picture

João Pedro Silva Aeolidia papillosa Local: Baleal, Portugal Profundidade: intertidal Data: 10-08-2004

Karen Enayati Hello to all Nudibranch Lovers. I am looking for some photos from the Aeolidia papillosa (Linnaeus, 1761). I am writing my Tessi about the distribution of this specie and would need some original photos with description. Thank you very much ... :-)

Roy Arthur David Lontoh Hi Karen, you may check at nudibase, nudipixel or seaslugs forum for the pictures :)

Carlos Fernández-Cid Ramos Galicia, Spain http://www.nudipixel.net/photo/00035823/

João Pedro Silva I have only a very few on film. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/5574112485/

Karen Enayati Thanks Roy, Carlos, João for your help. There are some really nice, useful picture in there. As I will be using it for my Masters Work, it is very important to have the exact location and description. If any of you would collect some specimens on your next dive, it would be greatly appreciated. As Joshua Hallas said it, I need specimens stored in alcohol, 95% is preferred but I will take whatever I can get. Thank you very much.....Best regards from Spain!!!

João Pedro Silva Karen, I'm going back to that same place this wednesday so I'll try to collect one if I find it... but the one in the photo was the only individul I've ever found, and that was 8 years ago.

Karen Enayati Hi João Pedro Silva, actually that would be incredible. As I do not have a specimen from that low latitude in the Atlantic. Leiria should be very much the distribution limit of Aeolidia papillosa. The nearest specimen I have from this zone is Galicia. Good luck for Wednesday... :-)

João Pedro Silva Leiria is the district capital, about 50km north of Baleal, where the photo was taken. More precise coordinates of where I found it: - Lat: 39.37394 - Lon: -9.33638

João Pedro Silva Going back there tomorrow. Maybe we'll get lucky.

Christian Skauge Here are a couple images from Norway if you need :-) http://www.undervannsfoto.no/index.php?page=shop.browse&option=com_virtuemart&keyword=aeolidia%20papillosa

René Weterings "Aeolidia papillosa" Olympus E-PL2 with Olympus housing PT-EP03 Lens: M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm F2.8 Macro Wet lens: Subsee +10 Camera settings: f/20 1/180s ISO200 Strobes: Inon Z-240 + Inon D-2000 (both type 2) with custom made snoots 50mm (picture is not cropped)

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ not seen these before,st abbs,10mtr on rocky bottom covered with brittlestars and plumose anemones

João Pedro Silva I think these are the eggs of an aeolid nudibranch. Determining the species may not be that easy unless you catch them "in the act".

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ they were found not too far from several aeolidia papillosa nudis

João Pedro Silva And that's a strong suspect. Here it could easily be attributed to Spurilla neapolitana, too, athough this species is more often found spawning intertidally.

Ian Smith I don't think this is A. papillosa spawn which is a tight spiral which is then arranged in a larger spiral. There is a very good image of it on Bernard's online Encyclopedia of Marine life. Yours is a loose single spiral like a spring. It resembles more http://www.conchsoc.org/node/5272 , but I don't think it safe to identify it positively as Janolus. Can you crop in close enough to show the ova? J.hyalinus has few large capsules (many ova hidden within each); only 3 or 4 fit across the width of the string. A. papillosa has many more.

David Kipling Surely the spawn is too big for J hyalinus? Looking at the size of the brittle stars in the background this looks to be a big spawn coil, hence needing something chunky to lay it like A papillosa.

Ian Smith Janolus cristatus grows to a chunky 75mm and has similar form of spawn to J. hyalinus (26mm). I don't think it possible to say exactly what it is, but feel sure it's not A. papillosa.

David Kipling I'm pretty confident Gary's is not J cristatus spawn. His is a long spiral thread, J cristatus is laid out as a zip-zig disc with very visible white balls. I see loads of cristatus spawn in Bugula rich dive sites with loads of adults around (it usually triggers me to look for the adults!). However, I've only ever see hyalinus once and not with spawn, so can't comment on what that looks like. Are you thinking Gary's is cristatus or hyalinus spawn Ian?

David Kipling Here's a link to a classic cristatus spawn spiral for reference: http://www.seaslug.org.uk/nudibranchs/repro.html

Ian Smith David as I said, I don't think its possible to say exactly what it is, but I don't think it's papillosa.

David Kipling So if it's not cristatus or papillosa I wonder what it is? Perhaps it's not a nudibranch, would that be possible?

Ian Smith Discarded noodles from Chinese takeaway.

Ian Smith Maybe Gary will post a close up so we can discern ova capsules.

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ tried to blow picture up but only distorts the picture,you cannot make out any more detail :-( but many thanks for all the input,i am still new to this identification thing so all help is greatly appreciated

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ could these be the eggs from Tritonia hombergi,they look very similar,just looking through great british marine animals by Paul Naylor?

David Kipling Was there any dead man's finger in the area Gary?

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ yes,plenty of them,st abbs is covered in dead mans fingers

Ian Smith Looks like you've done your own id Gary, congrats! Alder and Hancock in their great monograph, published 1845-1855, wrote: "The spawn is deposited in the form of a gelatinous yellowish-white cord, about the thickness of a small whip-cord of great length and very much convoluted." Form and size both fit your image.

Avril Keith i dont have a clue what this is, but i found loads of them on the rocks at the farne islands last weekend.

David Kipling Dendronotus frondotus. It eats kelp fir, hence why it's on kelp. Very cute species !

Avril Keith wow thanks..can you recommend me a reference book on nudis? ive only got paul naylors book and it only touches on them.

David Kipling Bernard Picton's field guide (out of print, hunt it down on eBay or abebooks).

Avril Keith thankyou so much x

George Brown Or Bernard's website http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/index.html

Jane Wilkinson Picton's nudibranch book is like golddust Avril and if you're lucky enough to find one you'll have to pay a fortune for it! Try Jim Anderson's site Scottish Nudibranchs. You'll find practically everything you need on there. Nice pic by the way.

Craig Muirhead Try http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/

Avril Keith ive been on ebay and amazon and seems none...lol but a link says that book might be reprinted...

Craig Muirhead The mollusca section is basically Bernard's book in digital format.

Craig Muirhead Jim's site is very good too of course :)

Jane Wilkinson I think he'd be glad that you added that comment :D You being his dive buddy an all.

Laura Shearer This species is fairly common around here but stunning little individual there- nice pic!!!

Avril Keith i havent been lucky with spotting nudibrancs in my last year of diving and i was over whelmed by them in the farnes :) it was amazing to see so many

Laura Shearer They are numerous around the Farnes and nice variety of species :) good vis certainly helps too!!

Bernard Picton Avril, were all of the Dendronotus you saw at the Farnes this colour? We had large numbers near Oban three weeks ago, mostly white but a few like this. We know that Dendronotus lacteus is a different species, but I think it may come in red, brown and white forms.

David Kipling Are you suggesting the white ones are adapted to lived in the dark abyssal depths, only to be preyed upon by the lone B. pictonesis with its specialised MgCl2-containing venom gland?

Avril Keith Yes they were all red x

George Brown Hey! He wasn't entirely alone!

Bernard Picton I did spend considerable time in the kelp, Dawn. Had to decompress somewhere....

Jane Wilkinson Also red ones at Loch Carron a month ago

Bernard Picton If you want the text for the book it is here: http://www.seaslug.org.uk/nudibranchs/

David Kipling You don't get out of doing a reprint *that* easy, Bernard ...

Jane Wilkinson We'd all like a reprint Bernard! Frustrating miles from anywhere with no signal trying to ID stuff.

Bernard Picton I should point out to you that we know that Dendronotus frondosus is not a single species, but at least 4 in Norway. So sets of photos of animals which make up a single population are useful to try and pin down variation within these cryptic species.

Bernard Picton Reprint - yes, working on it. I'd like it to stand the test of the next 20 years, so needs some names for some undescribed Doto and probably several other cryptic species. We now know that even the common grey seaslug, Aeolidia papillosa, is two species in the NE Atlantic..

Rachel Shucksmith Never been anywhere with so many Aeolidiella glauca (or so few other nudibranchs), who seemed to be mostly preoccupied with making hundreds more of themselves. Toft Pier, Shetland. The pier legs were covered with plumose anemones which they were devouring. Lucus CerCur are you still wanting Aeolidiellas?

Brendan Oonk Rachel these are Aeolidia papillosa

Rachel Shucksmith do they not need a mono-brow?

Ian Smith Rachel if you look at http://www.conchsoc.org/spAccount/aeolidia-papillosa you will see that what has passed as A. papillosa sometimes does not have the white V or Y on the head. But Lucas' paper shows (if I've understood it) that there are at least 2 spp. being called A. papillosa in NE Atlantic. I'm looking forward to his promised information on individual species/ genus. I hope there will be some morphological features that will enable us to segregate the A. papillosa spp., maybe presence/absence of the white head mark?

Brendan Oonk In the second picture you can see the eggs of your nudis. A.glauca eggs look different. For a picture see: http://www.jojodive.nl/Nudy%20branches/Dutch%20%20Sacoglossa%20and%20Nudibranchia/slides/Aeolidiella%20glauca%20spawn.html

Lucas CerCur Yes, I'm still waiting for it. I suspect that these animals are from northern UK also, isn't it?

Rachel Shucksmith yes they are, but we do also get the ones with the white V/Y, which I have seen more often. There werent any with the V/Y on this dive.

Jim Anderson Aeolidia papillosa and Aeolidiella glauca? (approx 55mm) at 7 m. Inverkip Pier, Firth of Clyde - 6 Mar 2013

Brendan Oonk Just papillosa

Peter H van Bragt I agree with Brendan, all A papillosa's

Gary Cobb I agree with Aeolidia papillosa nice find Jim so many to choose from!

Lucas CerCur Very interesting.

Lucas CerCur How many kms (or miles) are from this locality to the first one from which you collected the A. papillosa that you sent me some months ago.

Lucas CerCur How many kms (or miles) are from this locality to the first one from which you collected the A. papillosa that you sent me some months ago?

Jim Anderson Approx 50 km

Lucas CerCur Thank you.

René Weterings "Aeolidia papillosa" Found in the Eastern Scheldt in The Netherlands on the 12th of december 2012, at a watertemperature of 3 degrees Celsius (about 38 degrees Fahrenheit) and a depth of 5m.

Lucas CerCur But ...is this the real papillosa? I feel this specimen not.

René Weterings Yes I am sure.

Marco Faasse The beast looks a bit strange, but in this area not unusual for A. papillosa. In my opinion there is no doubt. Note the white triangle on the head.

Lucas CerCur I supposed that this would be your thoughts. However, molecular studies that has been carried in my lab very recently (unpublished), showed that in the Netherlands there are two species under this name.

René Weterings Ok, that's interesting news! But as far as the average divers knows....(like me) we only have the Aeolidia papillosa. And of course the Aeolidiella glauca which looks a bit like it.

Marco Faasse Lucas CerCur, I am very curious to read your results when published. Especially curious which separate niches the two species occupy. Always interesting to see in retrospect how it was possible to overlook things.

Brendan Oonk Lucas , I would like to have more information on this. Are there any morfological/anatomical differences, or is it just genetics? Any idea on if and when this will be published? René Don't forget the recently found Aeolidiella alderi ;)

Lucas CerCur Brendan, it is difficult to distinguish both species. We have to discover this carrying molecular phylogenetic analyses.

Lucas CerCur It seems like the true papillosa is darker usually, and the cerata are spindle shape vs an hooked top in the non true papillosa.

Lucas CerCur But to compare more material from different localities would be much better. Moreover, we know nothing about potential ecological and biological differences.

Lucas CerCur I don't know when we will publish our results, but this will take time because we want to have more data and information.

Brendan Oonk Thanks for your response! If we can help you by collecting data/material/fotos just let it know. (Patiently) Looking forward to your publication :)

Lucas CerCur Brendan, what is your potential sampling area?

Carlos Fernández-Cid Ramos http://www.flickr.com/photos/78557484@N02/sets/72157632261258262/detail/ Galicia. Spain

João Pedro Silva Following René Weterings' latest post with A. papillosa, it may be interesting to check Carlos Fernández-Cid Ramos' photo of his set of Galician sea slugs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/78557484@N02/8277858522/in/set-72157632261258262

Lucas CerCur Yes, the Aeolidia papillosa from Galicia is not the true papillosa, but an undescribed. We include one Galician specimen in our study. Nevertheless, I would acknowledge to have 2-3 more specimens from Galicia and from Portugal.

João Pedro Silva Only found it once in Portugal 8 years ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/5574112485/

Lucas CerCur Well, at least...twice. One from Cabo Espichel (maybe?) and from Algarve also (it is supposed).

Carlos Fernández-Cid Ramos This one is from Cabo Home, Ría de Vigo. The only one I have found also.

João Pedro Silva There are two observations by César Gavaia from the Algarve, one from Ria Formosa (June 2001) and another from Sagres (August 2001). The individuals are almost identical to the one I found in Baleal, near Peniche.

Lucas CerCur Our Galician material is from Ribeira. I have just checked and we study 3 specimens, instead one.

João Pedro Silva Gonçalo Calado has one observation too but I'm now sure if it's from Cabo Espichel or closer to Setúbal. Also from 2001.

Lucas CerCur Peniche!!!!! Your right. Sorry by the mistake.

Lucas CerCur Gonçalo observation was close to Setubal (I think).

Lucas CerCur We think that all these specimens and those from Galicia and French Atlantic coasts are not the true papillosa, according to our analyses.

Lucas CerCur In The Netherlands, however, there are the 2 species, the true papillosa and the "other".

Lucas CerCur And...very probably, the same situation in the British Isles.

Lucas CerCur However, to have a more detaild information about the distribution of both species, we need to study speciemns from more localities, manly north of France, southern/Eaatern of British Isles, Germany; Denmark.

João Pedro Silva Has anyone ever did a "heat map" of the number of species observed per time of the year? For instance, here in Portugal in May-June one can see 20+ species in a single dive but barely exceeding 10 species during the winter months.

Brendan Oonk Thanks to "Stichting Anemoon" and their MOO-project we have good data on seasonal occurance of nudibranches in the Netherlands. The molluscs Atlas that will be published next year contains some graphs showing this seasonal shift. It might be posible to combine these graphs with watertemperature data..... Not sure who has the time, and the wish to do this though

João Pedro Silva Looking forward to see the Atlas. My idea for that map was restricted to the NE Atlantic where we have some species occurring more frequently in different periods in different areas, like Limacia clavigera or Polycera quadrilineata. Not sure these yearly variations are temperature related.

Peter H van Bragt Hello Joao, best nudi spotting along the Dutch coast is for sure late spring (May-July). up to 15-18speciesin a weekend by a single diver. Water temp is than approx 14-16 degrees C, I do not have the data with me where I am now. As far as I know the record is 13 species on one single dive out of a total of 57 species ever been recorded in the Netherlands. Winter time water temps drop here to 0-2 degrees C. Few nudis like this, but most species larvae seem to survive OK. Cheers Peter

João Pedro Silva Thanks, Peter! That period coincides with the peak of nudibranch diversity also here in Portugal, only with a few exceptions like Cadlina laevis and Spurilla neapolitana which appear to be more frequent during the winter. Yes, many species can be found at any time, namely most Felimare villafranca, Felimare cantabrica, 'Felimida' purpurea, Flabellina babai and others. Water temperature has been "strange" during the past few years frequently with 18-19ºC during autumn and 13-14ºC in August. But the temperatures here are usually between 13ºC-19ºC, being 15-16ºC the most common values (and these can occur at any time of the year, it's 16ºC right now). I don't know the "national record" but my personal record until last June was something like 18 or 19 species during a single dive... then I had several dives over 20 species until I got to see 26 during a single dive on the 20th of June.

Peter H van Bragt Hello Joao, we also have some typical winter species, e,g. Aeolidia papillosa: juveniles start in september, they develop through winter, spawn and die in early spring. At your place water temps seem to be rather stable, here they differ greatly between summer and winter and this causes big differences in biodiversity. How large is the Portugese nudi fauna list (incl. species that are extreme rare or have not been seen for a while)?

João Pedro Silva We have ~140 nudibranch species. Latest checklist (2004) has 215 opisthobranchs. Mine and Gonçalo Calado's recent field guide has 115 species (95 nudibranchs and 20 other opisthobranchs) including some which were not included for Portugal in the 2004's checklist (yet present in the checklist as it includes the entire Iberian Peninsula plus the archipelagos of Açores, Madeira, Canarias and Baleares).

Karen Enayati Hello to all Nudibranch Lovers. I am looking for some photos from the Aeolidia papillosa (Linnaeus, 1761). I am writing my Tessi about the distribution of this specie and would need some original photos with description. Thank you very much ... :-)

Roy Arthur David Lontoh Hi Karen, you may check at nudibase, nudipixel or seaslugs forum for the pictures :)

Carlos Fernández-Cid Ramos Galicia, Spain http://www.nudipixel.net/photo/00035823/

João Pedro Silva I have only a very few on film. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/5574112485/

Karen Enayati Thanks Roy, Carlos, João for your help. There are some really nice, useful picture in there. As I will be using it for my Masters Work, it is very important to have the exact location and description. If any of you would collect some specimens on your next dive, it would be greatly appreciated. As Joshua Hallas said it, I need specimens stored in alcohol, 95% is preferred but I will take whatever I can get. Thank you very much.....Best regards from Spain!!!

João Pedro Silva Karen, I'm going back to that same place this wednesday so I'll try to collect one if I find it... but the one in the photo was the only individul I've ever found, and that was 8 years ago.

Karen Enayati Hi João Pedro Silva, actually that would be incredible. As I do not have a specimen from that low latitude in the Atlantic. Leiria should be very much the distribution limit of Aeolidia papillosa. The nearest specimen I have from this zone is Galicia. Good luck for Wednesday... :-)

João Pedro Silva Leiria is the district capital, about 50km north of Baleal, where the photo was taken. More precise coordinates of where I found it: - Lat: 39.37394 - Lon: -9.33638

João Pedro Silva Going back there tomorrow. Maybe we'll get lucky.

Christian Skauge Here are a couple images from Norway if you need :-) http://www.undervannsfoto.no/index.php?page=shop.browse&option=com_virtuemart&keyword=aeolidia%20papillosa

Joshua Hallas Hi all I am putting a call out to everyone that can or is willing to collect for me. I am doing work on the family Onchidorididae for my Masters work. So i'm looking for Acanthodoris, Adalaria, Corambe, Loy, Calycidoris, Diaphorodoris, Onchimira and Onchidoris. I know some nudibranch enthusiasts don't like collecting which is understandable but to better comprehend the evolution of these animals some need to be collected and studied. I need specimens stored in alcohol, 95% is preferred but i will take whatever i can get. I appreciate any and all help that i can get....

Sven Kahlbrock Hello Joshua, are there any of you favourits in the red sea, i´m going back there this week. hope you get some good material,

Joshua Hallas i'll have to double check...and i'll let you know asap

Karen Enayati Hi Joshua, I am at the University in Cádiz (Spain) and doing my Masters Work about Aeolidia papillosa. Are you doing it in San Francisco with Terry Gosliner?? Best regards from Spain!!!!

Joshua Hallas yes i am, i thought Leila Carmona Barnosi was the only one working on nudi's over there

Karen Enayati Not any more.....and I have the pleasure to learn from her and she is a great teacher. Good luck with with your Masters Work!!! :-)

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ is this a sea mouse? first time i have seen these at st abbs,there were 5 or 6 within a few metres

Wendy Northway no, that is a nudibranch. A seamouse is very distinctive by the irridescent hairs on it's outer edge. Let me find you a link

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ this was about 4 inch in length

Wendy Northway http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2564

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ Cheers Wendy,i didnt think it was a nudi due to its large size

Wendy Northway I think what you have found is aeolidia papillosa - the largest nudi found in this country

Wendy Northway just readin Bernard Picton's description of it - it usually eats anemones particularly dahlias, but will eat plumose - just adjacent to your nudi is such one - yum yum!

Gary Gubby ˚͜˚ Cheers Wendy,hopefully i will be able to recognise more species in time lol,still a novice at this I.D lark

Kerry Netherway With photos like that you'll get there in no time!