Jorunna parva

Image courtesy of Jim Black
Anilao, Philippines
Nikon D-300 in Subal Housing with Ikelite strobes.
Copyright 2011, Jim Black

Jorunna parva (Baba, 1938)

This small cryptic species has noteworthy very tall thin, black tipped caryophyllidia. The mantle glands that secrete acidic substances when the animal is disturbed are not apparent in Jim's photo here. When apparent they are situated along the edge of the mantle and are opaque white.

The rhinophores and gill are a dark dusky grey-black. Can be found in shallow water where it feeds on unidentified sponges.

Why Dr. Kikutaro Baba gave this species the name "parva" is unknown, however since its Latin translation is, small or tiny makes sense. The species distribution is wide, from Tanzania throughout the western pacific all the way to the Marshall Islands and Japan.

A short video of Jorunna parva taken by John Greenamyer is also being presented for the enjoyment of our readers!



Dave Behrens
Gig Harbor, Washington
Jul, 2011



Jim Black on location in Thailand with friend

Jim is retired from US Airways after 27 years as a pilot..., flying Captain on an Airbus 330 Internationally.

Diving since 1970...with over 5200 dives logged. Shoots Nikon D-300 in Subal Housing with Ikelite strobes. Macro Mate on 105mm for supermacro.

Jim's photography has been featured in a number of books and publications including Helmut Debelius' Nudibranchs and Sea Snails of Gosliner, Behrens and Williams Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific. A photo of Jim petting a shark in "Sleeping Shark Caves" off Isla Mujeres Island, Mexico, taken by Amy Foster his significant other, recently appeared in Dave Behrens' Diving Guide to Cozumel, Cancun & The Riviera Maja.

Jim has been a solid supporter of the Slug Site since day one. His countless contributions put him near the top of the list of photographers who have greatly expanded our knowledge of sea slugs. There are a lot of kids in the formative stage of their education who are getting their first introduction to our sea slug friends via the great photographs Jim and other contributors have made to the site. My hat is off to Jim for making this presentation possible!

As an added note, Jim was one of the keynote speakers at the Pittsburgh Scubapalooza, held Saturday, 5/14 at the Pittsburgh Scuba Center, 818 Ann St., Homestead, Pa.

Send Jim email at jim.black14@verizon.net

WEBMASTER'S NOTES : Another great submission by Jim Black who continues to astound us with his uncanny ability to find and photograph slug images most of us probably aren't going to see in this lifetime!



From left to right, Terry Gosliner, Angle Valdes, Dave Behrens La Jolla, Calif.

Send Dave email at davidwbehrens@gmail.com

© The Slug Site, Michael D. Miller 2011. All Rights Reserved.