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Stiliger sp.
Image courtesy of John GreenamyerMilne Bay, PNG
Image taken with Sony HC-1 Camcorder in still frame mode
Copyright 2010 John Greenamyer
Stiliger sp. undescribed
Well, yet another species not found in any of the three new monographs. For the time being let's call it Stiliger sp. The species is similar our Caulerpa Mimic (pg 72) and Stiliger smaragdinus (pg 73),
Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs and Sea Slugs, as it resemble a clump of the green algae, Caulerpa racemosa , on which it is well camouflaged. The main differences seem to be the number and shape of the cerata (this species has broad based, elongate, almost triangular cerata), and the head and rhinophore placement. S. smaragdinus also has small tapering papillae at the tip of the cerata.
Like most sacoglossids this species feeds on algae, in this case certainly Caulerpa racemosa. The name of the group "Sacoglossa" means sack tooth, or reversed, tooth sack. All members have a short radula made up of a chain of single rachidian teeth. As the tooth becomes dull from puncturing the cell wall of the algae, it drops off and is held in a sack, as long as the species lives.
Many of the species retain chloroplasts from the algae they eat and store these in their cerata. Still operational, the chloroplasts continue to carry out photosynthesis, using the energy from the Sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen. The alga therefore benefits the slug in two ways: 1) providing initial nutrition, and 2) continuing to generate food and oxygen within the slug's body, over the long term. This is why we include these guys in the group, referred to vernacularly as "Solar Sea Slugs" (courtesy of Bill Rudman's Sea Slug Forum), Pretty cool huh?
John was kind enought to provide us with a video of Stiliger sp. grazing in Caulerpa . This video can also be seen in 720p for those with an updated version of quicktime.
Gig Harbor, Washington
Apr., 2010
John with friends at Tawali Resort in PNG
BEEN DIVING SINCE 1983 AND HAVE OVER 3500 DIVE LOGGED. I HAVE BEEN TO MOST EVERY WARM WATER DISTINATION. BORNEO , THAILAND,SOLOMONS,PNG,PHILLIPINES,RED SEA,INDONESIA,MEXICO,COSTA RICA. I HAVE DONE THE BIG ANIMALS EARLY ON BUT FIND IT MOST REWARDING TO GO ON TRIPS WITH RODGER STEENE AND NEVILLE COLEMAN AND FIND THE NEVER BEFORE SEEN LITTLE NUDI'S. MY FAVORITE PLACE IS MILNE BAY , PNG ON BOARD THE CHERTAN AND FROM THE TAWALI RESORT WHERE I HAVE A TIME SHARE HOUSE, BUT ANILOA ,PI IS ALSO A FAVORITE. IM MOSTLY SHOOTING HD MACRO VDO BUT DO STILLS ALSO AS A BACKUP. FROM SAME CAMCORDER. THIS PICTURE IS AT TAWALI WITH DIVE BUDDYS. LIVE AND LOVE THE OUTDOORS. LIVED IN RUNNING SPRINGS, CA FOR PAST 40 YEARS HAVE LIVED Send John email at mrjhon69@verizon.net Webmaster's Notes: John Greenamyer probably doesn't need an introduction to most sluggers. John has been contributing videos to the site for some time! In fact, the Tambja video above will be John's 70th presentation on the Slug Site! Pretty incredible when you think about it, to give up taking video of big guys to video our little friends which I believe is up to the challenge of taking video of the larger animals if you are fortunate to find any nowadays! John has been an inspiration along with Alan Grant for prompting my own entry into the world of High Definition Video back in 2006. I am very thankful for the guidance given by both and have never looked back! As the ol' saying goes, it just gets better and better (especially when you are looking at John's videos!).
San Diego, Calif |
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