Kaloplocamus peludo

on aborescent bryozoan
Image courtesy of Phil Woodhead
Milne Bay, PNG

Photo courtesy of Phil Woodhead

Kaloplocamus peludo Valles & Gosliner, 2006

This group of Triophid nudibranchs is one of the hardest to find and hardest to photograph because of their cryptic nature on their food substrate. This species name, "peludo" meaning hairy in Spanish (thanks Yvonne), refers to the hairy appearance of the dorsal appendages, resembling the zooids of the arborescent bryozoan on which it lives.

The animal is translucent brown in color, with opaque white patches, and scattered irregularly shaped brown spots on the notum. It has a series of long ramified appendages along the edges of the notum.

The swollen tips of the larger appendages likely function as light producing organs as seen in other species of this group. We are forunate that Phil was able to photograph what is believed to be the egg mass of Kaloplocamus peludo .

See BOW week 988 for another, closely related species.

Reference:

Valles, Y. & T. Gosliner. 2006. Shedding Light onto the Genera (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) Kaloplocamus and Plocamopherus with Description of New Species Belonging to These Unique Bioluminescent Dorids. The Veliger 48(3): 178-205.

Dave Behrens
Sammamish, WA 98074
Dec., 2016
Send Dave email at davidwbehrens@gmail.com

WEBMASTER'S NOTES: Phil's reputation as an underwater photographer preceeded him when we first met a couple of years ago at Club Ocellaris, Anilao, Philippines. Am hoping we will see more of Phil's images on the Site. As a note of encouragement, why not drop Phil a line? In the meantime, you may want to check out Phil's Wet Image Website !



Phil Woodhead on location in the Philippines

Phil has been diving for just over 30 years and taking underwater images for most of those. Born in England and now living in Cairns/Australia for the 20 years which has made the Great Barrier

Reef, PNG, Indonesia, and the Philippines accessible.

Favourite Nudibranch spots are Anilao diving with Club 'O', and Milne Bay diving with MV Chertan

Send Phil email at pawphoto@bigpond.net.au


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

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