Eubranchus sp. new species

Wow - well here is another new species discovered just in time for the third edition of Nudibranchs and Sea Slugs Identification. Pretty sure it is a new Eubranchus as Terry and I have never seen it before.

Eubranchids differ from their closest slug sisters by having swollen cerata externally and a triseriate radula internally. Triseriate means it has three radular teeth per row rather than a singular rachidian tooth, as in Tenellia (Cuthona).

Gordon's new find has brown specks covering the body and unique ceratal tips with apical bands of white, yellow followed by blue with a white tip.

Gordon's discovery reported here is another example of the valuable contributions underwater photographers and citizen scientists make to our growing knowledge base of this amazing group of animals. Thumbing though the pages of NSSI one can count dozens of species we would not have known about had these folks not shared their finds with us.

Thanks Gordon and the many others like you.

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