Nudibranch? from the Galapagos Ids

August 15, 2003
From: Angel Chiriboga

Dear Dr. Rudman,
This species was seen at Guy Fawkes, Santa Cruz (Galapagos Archipielago), July 2003 at 80ft on a sponge.

I hope you can help me with the ID.

Best wishes
Angel Chiriboga

achiriboga@fcdarwin.org.ec

Chiriboga, A., 2003 (Aug 15) Nudibranch? from the Galapagos Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10643

Dear Angel,
I have included an enlargement alongside to show the sponge you found this animal on. I am not sure this is a nudibranch. There seems to be a cluster of orange gills on the back, but I can't see any rhinophores or recognisable 'head' at the other end so I can't be sure. One possibility is a polycerid such as Triopha. Perhaps the 'gills' are the feeding tentacles of a Sea Cucumber?

Without a better idea of its shape I can't say much more. Hopefully someone with knowledge of the eastern Pacific fauna will recognise this from its very spectacular colour
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Aug 15). Comment on Nudibranch? from the Galapagos Ids by Angel Chiriboga. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10643

Factsheet

Paradoris cf. lopezi

Related messages

  1. Dorid from Galapagos Ids - Paradoris lopezi?
    From: Roland Brookes, February 11, 2008
  2. Unidentified dorid from the Galapagos Ids
    From: Fontaine Denton, October 9, 2007
  3. Dorid? from Galapagos Islands
    From: Joshua Feingold, July 24, 2007
  4. Re: Nudibranch? from the Galapagos Ids
    From: Angel Chiriboga, August 16, 2003

Show factsheet and all related messages