 |
Goniobranchus tinctoria (formerly Chromodoris tinctoria)
Image courtesy of Jim Black
Blairgowrie marina, Mornington Pennisula, Victoria, South Australia
Goniobranchus tinctoria (Courtesy of Bill Rudman's Sea Slug Forum)certainly seems to be a master of many disguises none of which is supported by examination of internal anatomy according to Bill Rudman. Peter Eyre was able to photograph our subject (Bill Rudman's Sea Slug Forum) back in 2009 at the same location so I guess we're on the right track identification wise! In time, molecular genetics (DNA) will probably come to the rescue and remove the cloak of indecision as to what species belong or don't belong to the "tinctoria" complex. In the meantime, it certainly is fun finding and photographing them!
I want to thank Jim Black for once again preserving and continuing that morning dive back in March to find g. tinctoria in the sea grass. A very elusive hunt indeed!
San Diego, Calif
July, 2014
Send Mike email at mdmiller@cts.com
Image below also courtesy of Jim Black
 |
|
 |
Jim Black is retired from US Airways after 27 years as a pilot..., flying Captain on an Airbus 330 Internationally. Diving since 1970...with over 7000 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
|
|
