Atagema sp. 14 in NSSI 2nd edition

Great photo by Gordon of one of the more than a dozen undescribed species of Atagema from the Indo-Pacific. Members of this subgroup of Discodorididae have the dorsum covered by microscopic organs called caryophyllidia, composed of spicules surrounding a central knob, covered with cilia. The function of these organs is unknown, but evidence indicates that they evolved only once in cryptobranch dorids, therefore all the species bearing caryophyllidia are derived from a single common ancestor (Valdes & Gosliner, 2001).

In Gordon's photos here you can clearly see the black spots on either side of the body, but more importantly the compound tubercles, or caryophyllidia, bearing spicules. In his photos the tubercles appear tall, club shaped tipped in white. If you look closely, you can see the spicules surrounding the central knob. Similar knobs encircle the rhinophoral pits and gill.

References:

Valdes, A. & Gosliner, T.M. 2001. Systematics and phylogeny of the caryophyllidia-bearing dorids (Mollusca, Nudibranchia), with the description of a new genus and four new species from Indo-Pacific deep waters. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 133: 103-198.

My diving career started in the cold lakes of northern Wisconsin during summer camp in 1964. I have now logged over 3000 dives. My passion for this hobby/sport kicked into high gear around 2006 when I got my first underwater camera and went to Taveuni, Fiji. It was a Canon SD 550 point and shoot. Certainly limited for wide angle, but it took amazing pictures of Nudibranchs! It ignited an obsession for underwater photography and nudi hunting that has taken me to all the corners of the Coral Triangle.

I retired and moved to the Philippines in 2008 to avoid those long international flights and have been blessed to be here for the last 14 years. I chose the island of Negros Oriental for many reasons, but mostly for the easy access to great macro/critter photography. Also being the frogfish capital was the bonus round. And the 600 plus species of nudibranchs that call it home. Being in the center of the best diving on planet earth is a dream come true.

So, as they say " I'm living the life".

Webmaster's Notes:

Gordon certainly has a knack for locating and photographing one of the most difficult sea slug species (Stiliger) to find.
A prevous Stilger submission by Gordon which morphed into a BOW was posted as Stiliger sp.5. Interesting enough, Stiliger sp. 5 was also photographed at Romblon, Philippines!
Let's see, what is my travel agent's number?

Send Gordon email at gtillen@mac.com