NudiIDF3

FAQs about Nudibranch Identification 3

Related Articles: Nudibranchs, Sea Slugs,

Nudibranch ID: Bornella sp. -- 1/28/08 Can you ID this type of Nudi? <I sure hope so! Please see follow-up email for reply. --Lynn>

Re: Nudibranch ID: Bornella sp. -- 1/28/08 Hey there at WWM... <Hey there, Mitch!> I sent a picture email from my cell phone earlier..... <Yes, thanks, I saw it. Terrific photo considering it's from a cell phone!> It was of a Nudi/sea slug that I have no clue on.... didn't know if you could tell me or even take a guess on the genus? <I believe it's Bornella stellifer, and according to Bill Rudman of SeaSlugForum.net, is a common Indo-West Pacific species that feeds on hydroids. Please see this link for more information: http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=bornstel .> Thanks a lot Mitch
<You're very welcome! Take care --Lynn>

Re: New marine tank with surprise critter - Nudibranch? Update: 1/18/08 Hi Lynn, <Hi Richard! How's my friend from 'Down Under' doing?> Thanks very much for the helpful links! <You're very welcome!> I finally managed to get a (halfway) decent picture, only he seems to have lost the markings on his back now! I guess they were just bits of 'rubbish'. <Heeeee! No more smiley face, huh? Alright, well this is going to sound a little odd, but the next time you see this little critter, gently poke at it and try to determine if it's entirely fleshy/soft, or if it feels like there's something hard right under the surface tissue. I just want to rule out something like a cowry. When they pull their mantle completely up around their shell, they can look somewhat like a sea slug. That would account for the teardrop shape and even the white 'smiley' spots. I just can't tell in the photo if/how much your little critter is domed along the back. Naturally, I've got some links for you to check out! The first species isn't from Australia, but there are others from this genus in your area (that look very similar). Check out the mantle and spots beneath. If the mantle on your critter wasn't completely together at the top (the first time you saw it), you could have seen some spots. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cowries/comma.htm http://www.divegallery.com/cowry_cribraria.htm Here's one of the species from Australia that's a little darker, has fewer spots, and isn't all that highly domed. It doesn't show the mantle -- just wanted you to see the profile. http://www.gastropods.com/4/Shell_39544.html If we rule these possibilities out, and it is indeed a slug of some sort, then your best chance for an ID is going to require a detailed, close-up photo. If you're able to get this, I'd be glad to take a look at it and see if I can figure out what it is. Even better, though, would be to send the photo(s) on to Bill Rudman at the Sea Slug Forum. Here's the link to an instruction page for sending inquiries: http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=sendmess By the way, if you contact the SSF and find out what this little creature is, please send us a follow-up and let us know! Thanks!> Cheers again, <Cheers to you too! Take care --Lynn>

Tiny Sea Slug ID? Aeolid Nudibranch, Possibly Phyllodesmium briareum 12/28/2007 Hello WWM, <Hello Jesse, Mich here apologizing for the very delayed response.> I have a tiny sea slug (3mm) <Really 3mm? Do you mean 3cm?> that came off of live rock I guess. <Perhaps or maybe a recently introduced coral.> I have not seen it eat. <I'm not surprised, perhaps if you had some Pachyclavularia or Briareum...> I would like it to grow. <This will likely be difficult if not impossible. They are typical obligate corallivorous> Do you have any idea what type? <Looks like an Aeolid Nudibranch to me, possibly Phyllodesmium briareum. More here: http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=phylbria http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudispt3.htm What it eats? <Generally soft corals, in this case I would guess perhaps GSP/Briarium.> Attached is a picture of it, belly side on glass. <Thank you for the pictures. Most always helpful.> Thank you,
<Welcome! Mich>
Jesse

Re: Tiny Sea Slug ID? Aeolid Nudibranch, Possibly Phyllodesmium briareum... maybe Berghia? 12/30/2007 Thanks for the reply Mich, <Welcome Jesse!> Yes it is tiny, 3mm. <Wow! Barely measurable! Your pictures are quite good, especially considering how small your subject is!> Here is a pick next to what I think is a green Acro coral. My coral ID is also not very good. <This small size reminds me of a Berghia... Do you have any Aiptasia in your tank? You might want to see if this Nudi has any interest in them... or perhaps a friend with some Aiptasia? Nudis can be quite difficult to ID, and this small size makes it harder... Something to consider here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/aiptasia_impressions/aiptaisia_impressions.htm Mich>

Possible Nudibranch Eggs... Elysia Spp. Eggs 11/26/07 Hello once again crew. <Hello Chris, Mich with you again.> Chris here looking for a little education. <Mich here seeking the same.> I am attaching a picture of what I think may be Lettuce Nudibranch eggs. <It sure does look like it!> I looked through the site, read a lot of descriptions and saw a few pictures, but I am not totally sure at this point. <Yes, this is what you have. You can see similar photos and find more info here: http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=15227 http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=11846 http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=3090 http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=3174 > If I missed something obvious I apologize. <No worries.> But in true Army fashion, I will always provide a solution to my problem when I ask a question and then look for guidance from you. <Interesting Cheers, Mich>

Please Help With ID of This Nudibranch... Glaucus atlanticus 11/26/2007 Hi there, <Hello, Mich here.> I came across this same species of Nudibranch of the coast of Kenya. <Lucky you! It is beautiful!> This isn't the picture I took, but managed to find it on the net. <OK.> I would be grateful if you could give me the common name, if possible. <Is a Glaucus atlanticus. Some common names include The Blue sea slug, Blue ocean slug, Blue dragon, Sea lizard and Butterfly Winged Sea Swallow. More here: http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=glauatla http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucus_atlanticus > Look forward to hearing from you soon, thanks in advance, Zeeyad <Welcome, Mich>

Re: Please Help With ID of This Nudibranch... Glaucus atlanticus 11/29/2007 Thanks so much for your reply... <You're welcome Zeeyad.> it finally cleared the 1 1/2yr old 'alien from outer space' comments I've been getting from people I've shown the picture to. <Heehee! Is a beauty. Does look otherworldly! Neat that you saw it. This Nudi generally feeds on "Portuguese man-of-war" (Physalia spp.) and incorporate their toxins, so if you ever see it again, don't touch it. This Nudi can deliver a powerful painful sting!> Keep up the great <Will try! Mich>

Hitchhiker on Organ Pipe Coral ID Phyllodesmium colemani 11/22/07 I have recently bought an organ pipe coral and it wasn't until I got it home that I noticed what appears to be a hitchhiker. <Sure looks that way!> I have absolutely no idea what it is and hope that someone here can let me know. <It is an Aeolid Nudibranch and likely predatory on your pipe organ coral... Doing more looking I'm fairly certain this is a Phyllodesmium colemani, which feeds exclusively on Tubipora musica. More here: http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=phylcole > I have attached a picture. You can clearly see "whatever it is" in amongst the red coral tubes. <Yes, I see.> Many thanks in advance.
<Welcome! Mich>

Nice pic and good ID. RMF.

Re: Hey Bob, its Niki. Got an anemone question here. Actually, now a predaceous Nudi. on Sarcophyton (elegans?) 11/21/07 You are the best! That site rocks. Thanks, Bob. One more question...have you ever seen/heard of a 'Yellow Fiji Umbrella' specific Nudibranch? <Mmm, have been to Fiji a few times, diving... seen yellow Nudibranchs there... Do you have a pic?> I found a few Nudis the same exact color of the coral latched onto some very unhappy Sarcos. <Bad... should be physically removed, search the soft corals for egg packets, those removed as well> They reminded me very much of smaller versions of the larger white Nudibranchs that we find on the Sinularia and such. The difference is that they mimic the yellow color of the umbrellas, much like the Nudibranchs found on P. cylindrica. I do have pics if you need to see them. Thanks, Niki <Please do send these along... have collected, and discourage the collection of the "Yellow Sarcos" from here, and Tonga... as for whatever reasons (I know naught) they don't often live for long... but have been so inobservant as to not notice these apparent predators. Be chatting, BobF>

Re: Niki here, w/ pic of our little yellow friend. Nudi feeding on Sarcos... 11/22/07 So here's the culprit. <Ah, yes. Nice pix> I found about 10 or so embedded very deep in the tissue, all hidden very cleverly within the ruffles of the Fiji Yellows. The only reason they came to my attention was the fact that I was treating all of my Alcyonaceans with Levamisole Hydrochloride due to a rampant infestation of the run-of-the-mill white Nudibranchs, mostly on my Sinularia. The little yellow guys started bailing off. I have included a pic next to the other Nudibranch so you can get a feel for the size. <Yes... reports up to 1"> The white Nudi is almost an inch long. All of the yellow ones were about the same size. Let me know what you think, thanks again, Niki <Mmm, I do think you are wise to be using a dewormer. Look for the spiral egg masses... and remove them as well. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Nudibranch? 10/12/07 Crew, <Hi Russ> First, thank you all for the wealth of knowledge and information you have provided, which has greatly helped me begin my first marine aquarium. <Terrific -- always good to hear!> Second, I have attached a pic of a critter I found in my tank today. <I see> I believe it may be a Nudibranch, but I am not certain. <Understandable> I have read through/searched your site and seaslugforum.net, but I have not been able to make a positive ID yet. <Unfortunately, you may not be able to -- can be quite a challenge (need to know place of origin, there are many species involved, coloration/pattern can vary, mimicry sometimes involved, etc).> I noticed this guy as he was balled up tumbling through the water, being carried by a current. I can only assume this may be his form of 'high-speed' travel? <Wheee!> Anyway, it is not nearly as exotic as many of the Nudibranch photos I have seen, but the lack of any shell and the presence of what I believe to be rhinophores makes me think it is a Nudibranch. <Does appear so, though some flatworms have similar.> Again, I saw him just 'riding the current', <Ha - Powerhead surfing!> so there is nothing to lead me to what his diet may consist of, or if he may be dangerous to any corals I may add in the future. <Yes, it's much better to find him surfing today, than half-way up your favorite coral tomorrow!> Please let me know what you think, as I would like to place him back in the display tank, as long as he wont eat my corals and poison everything when he dies! <Well Russ, after looking through what feels like a zillion photos, I'm not absolutely sure what it is either - but I know I'm going to be dreaming about these guys tonight! In order to narrow things down a bit more, I'd need a close up image to see the head area/apparent rhinophores, as well as the dorsal surface of the body to see the anatomy/texture, etc. From what I've seen, I think it's likely either a Dorid Nudibranch, or a Polyclad flatworm. Unfortunately, that's about as specific as I can get. What's important is that if it is indeed one of those two, both are predatory/have specific diets, and I would not put it back in the tank. It falls under the category of "When in doubt, leave it out.". Please see here for more info regarding: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudibran.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-09/rs/index.php I know you've already been to the SeaSlug forum, but here's the link to the species page: http://www.seaslugforum.net/specieslist.cfm> Thanks, Russ
<You're very welcome! Take care -Lynn>

FAQs about Nudibranch Identification 3

Related Articles: Nudibranchs, Sea Slugs,

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