Gymnodoris sp.

Image courtesy of Jayne Bruner
Kwatisore Bay, Indonesia
Canon G12 in an Ikelite housing with an Ikelite 161 strobe

The family Gymnodorididae Ohdner, 1941 is one taxonomic mess, as seen by the 22 undescribed species in Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs. Only ten are described. And yet Jayne's critter is another, not included in this field guide. Like most species the body is translucent white, but this critter has a network of white reticulating lives over the surface, creating the appearance of clear pores on the body. This species belongs to the subgroup of Gymnodorids having the gill arranged in a complete circle (see page 147 in Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs), rather than a arc or line (see page 151 in Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs). We don't really know much about this species, except that it is known from Kwatisore Bay, Indonesia, and that Rie Nakano in Japan believes (and I agree) that it is undescribed. We will have to wait for Rie to publish her Doctorial thesis to find out if it gets an official name, and what opisthobranch species it feeds on.

Bob and Jayne Bruner on location

Jayne and husband Bob were YMCA certified in 1977 in the stone quarries of western Pennsylvania and northern Ohio. They soon found the Indo Pacific and never looked back at the Caribbean. In the early '90s they experienced Indonesia for the first time on a trip with Burt Jones that started and ended at the pristine "twilight zone" in Ambon Bay. Indonesia has captivated them ever since.. Bob pursued film stills until 1999 and then switched to video. He "retired" in 2009 to "see more on the reef". Jayne was a non-photographer (land or sea) until 2008 when a fellow diver gave her a point & shoot to try. That launched a passion to capture the world of nudis that has yet to be satisfied. She currently is shooting with a Canon G12 in an Ikelite housing with an Ikelite 161 strobe. Send Jayne email at brunercj@gmail.com WEBMASTER'S NOTES: The Webmaster would like to acknowledge Jim Black who was instrumental in making this BOW possible! Jim is and has always been a strong supporter of the site!

From left to right, Terry Gosliner, Angel Valdes, Dave Behrens La Jolla, Calif. Send Dave email at davidwbehrens@gmail.com

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