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Melibe arianeae
Image courtesy of Anne DuPontWell, we have a new species of Melibe thanks to the efforts of Ariane Dimitris who excels in unbounded enthusiasm for finding macro sea life that most of us would not even see in the first place.
Quoting the citation:
..."This new species of Melibe is described based on two specimens collected in Florida. This new species is well differentiated morphologically and genetically from other species of Melibe studied to date..".
"...This paper provides the first confirmed record of Melibe in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean..."
Melibe is one of my favorite video subjects. The manner is which their enveloping hood captures small crustaceans and other sea life is almost hypnotic in effect. Almost everything caught up in the sweeping action of the hood goes down the gullet!
Does it get any better?, I think not! Once again enthusiasm and curiosty come to the forefront and result in yet another new species description. Inspiration for us all! I know the following almost sounds cliche, but it seems the more one perseveres in seeking out the secrets of the ocean, there comes the realization that these secrets seem almost boundless! All we have to do is look and more importantly see!
Those of us in the sea slug community have our hats off to you Ariane and all the researchers below who made this presentation possible.
Citation :
Espinoza, Erika, Anne DuPont & Angel Valdes. 2013. A tropical Atlantic species of Melibe Rang, 1829 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Tethyiidae). ZooKeys 316: 55-66.
Michael Miller
San Diego, Calif
Jul., 2013
Send Mike email at mdmiller@cts.com
Ariane Dimitris taken at Blue Heron Bridge
West Palm Beach, Florida
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"Ariane Dimitris, a.k.a. "The Creature Queen" and "The Ultimate Nudibranch Finder" is a Citizen Scientist who explores the waters of Florida looking for rare and spectacular macro life. She is a SCUBA instructor and a dive guide whose forte is finding tiny creatures, namely nudibranchs and flatworms, that almost no one else can find. She has found many creatures that were not known to exist in these waters until she found them. Those who dive with her have an incredible, unique experience and her addiction with the search for more and more rare finds can be contagious. To hire her as a macro life dive guide, contact her at adimitrisesq@aol.com. "I LOVE finding new creatures!!! The ultimate high!" On finding the first specimen of Melibe arianae .."When I found it the first time, I thought I was imagining it. It was completely translucent and the only thing I could see were the tips of the rhinophores. Even when I got a closer look, I was not sure if I was imagining that it was a creature. It has a strange movement--I have videos on youtube . It is a very odd creature..."
Send Ariane email at adimitrisesq@aol.com |
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