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Chromodoris sp.
Image courtesy of Jim BlackPhoto taken at Batanta Island, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Nikon D-300 in Subal Housing with Ikelite strobes.
Copyright 2011, Jim Black
Chromodoris sp. (undescribed)
Looking at this new find, one is tempted to call it a Risbecia. Maybe a variation of, Risbecia pulchella or R. ghardaqana(Courtesy of Bill Rudman's Sea Slug Forum). Those yellow spots are sure suggestive. Don't think it is however and am calling it a new Chromodoris. The folks at Nudibranch Central (California Academy of Sciences) in San Francisco agree.
Pretty little devil. Its white notum is sprinkled with small yellow spots, which are situated on the tips of low tubercles. Laterally the edge of the mantle has a thin white marginal band, followed by a purple then a yellow sub-marginal bands. The edge of the foot bears the same banding. The anterior edge of the mantle differs having red, followed by yellow bands. The rhinophores are a burst orange. This same color is found on the edge of the gill branches.
Acid glands can be seen as small branched, yellow bodies along the edge of the mantle laterally. The anterior mantle is free of these glands. These are the very glands that produce caustic metabolites used in the animal's defense.
In Jim's photo it appears that the animal is feeding on a purple sponge. Watch for a new species name in a future description.
Gig Harbor, Washington
Nov. , 2011
Jim Black on location in in the Banda Sea
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Jim is retired from US Airways after 27 years as a pilot..., flying Captain on an Airbus 330 Internationally. Diving since 1970...with over 6000 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! 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!
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