As a follow-up to our piece on the variation seen in some sea slug species, in this case Hermissenda crassicornis, this week we examine another example of variation. This week's BOW is the aeolid Tenellia acinosa, a widely distributed western Pacific species that comes in several colors.

This is a perfect example of - when identifying species, look for similarities, NOT differences. Nus' photo here is the bright yellow variant of the species. The individual shown in NSSI (2nd ED) top of page 290, is the orange-red variant. Which is the normal color you may ask. Who knows? In fact, we don't even know if there are other color forms of this species, crawling around out there waiting to be discovered.

What is key here are the "similarities" between the two specimens - most significant is the opaque white body and white band across the head and the color band connecting the head tentacles. Otherwise, the cerata are basically identical differing only in color, both clearly showing nematocysts containing cnidoblasts in their tips.

This is just another example of don't be fooled by color alone.

Nuswanto Lobbu, also known as Nus, was born and raised on the small island of Talaud, Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Nus was among a privileged few who began their underwater adventure under the tutelage of the late Larry Smith, a legendary dive pioneer in the Lembeh Strait.

With over 25 years in the dive industry, Nus is world-renowned. His expertise and professionalism make him an adept dive guide with an extensive knowledge of photography and marine behaviour in addition to dive operations. Nus co-authored the award-winning book The Undersea Art of Indonesia. His photography has also been featured in local and international dive publications. Nus won 1st place in the macro category at the TDEX 2018 underwater photography competition and has also garnered an honourable mention in the Fish Behaviour category of the Ocean Geographic photo competition in 2017.

Nus is a certified instructor with CMAS, POSSI, SSI and SDI. Along with these dive credentials, he also holds a Mechanical Engineering degree.

Although Nus is probably well known to most of us, for those that are unacquainted with his work, Divephotoguide.com recently named Nus as the photographer of the week! Well worth your time to visit the link!

Send Nus email at nusdive@gmail.com

Michael Miller
Webmaster

The Undersea Art of Indonesia by Charles Rawlings, Nuswanto Lobbu, and Leah Perez is the latest in a series of large format photographic underwater adventures penned by Charles et al. I own each one and thoroughly enjoy the amazement evident on first time reader's faces as they page through these marvelous volumes. As editor of the journal, American Conchologist, I have not only enjoyed and appreciated the photographic skills and adventurist spirit of Charles, but I have directly benefited over the years as he has provided me, and thus our readers, a plethora of high quality images of undersea life for use in the journal. Colors that leap off the page and images of minute alien-appearing organisms have been juxtaposed with first-time ever photographs of rare mollusks and camouflaged seashells in their natural environment.

With this latest adventure and book, it seems Charles, Nus, and Leah have decided to draw the reader's attention to the art possible with skilled photography and the wonders of nature found in Indonesian waters. Each image belongs behind glass, framed, and mounted on an exhibition wall. One section of panoramic images in unbelievably clear water, another of coral reef fishes and their myriad of colors, another of close up images of brightly colored organisms small enough to fit several in a soup spoon, and finally a section where the colors and patterns win out over any identification of the exact subject matter -- underwater abstract art in nature. This is a marvelous celebration of the wonders of life and as readers we are lucky to have this opportunity to share the very best of what Charles and company discovered in countless hours of underwater photography.

Thank you Charles, Nus, and Leah, I really look forward to sharing this newest volume of treasures and watching first time readers discover the beauty of your undersea world.

Thomas E. Eichhorst

editor -- American Conchologist Conchologists of America, Inc.

Webmaster's Notes:

The book is carried by Amazon But I wouldn't wait too long if you are interested as there are only limited copies available as of 04/03/2022.

Mike Miller
Webmaster
San Diego, Calif