Found a new species (for me) at Vets: Aplysiopsis enteromorphae

[Mo2vation]

So last night was an interesting night at Vets.

I'll have a report on the dive later. Suffice to say, sometimes the ocean hands you stuff you didn't expect... but chance favors the prepared mind, and anyone who dives the sea knows you have no friggen clue what to expect day after day, night after night.

Last night I found another new Nudi (to me) at Vets: Aplysiopsis enteromorphae

This is kind of a big deal - for a lot of reasons:

• Photographically everything was going to sheit for me (wrong lens for this little guy, one strobe dead, second strobe intermittent, no focus light, etc..)
• I can't find where one of these has been seen or shot at Vets before.
• I got a nice note from David Behrens (Dr Sluggo) himself this AM on the find.
• I was feeling pretty old and feeble last night - not thinking I was going to spot anything to shoot... then BAM - there it was.
• Claudette was with me, which is always a treat, to wrangle this thing and get him ready for his close up.

And lots more stuff I can get into later.

Here's my note to David last night:


HI David I hate to do this to you, but I'm stumped. Claudette (professional Nudi wrangler) and I were diving tonight in Redondo Beach, CA. We found this teeny guy. I'm getting so blind - at first I thought it was a baby Hiltons... then I realized it was something else.

As we usually do with a new Nudi, we 'fly it' so I can get all angles, and get a very dark background. I only had a 60mm lens on (we were looking for bigger stuff) so the shots are a bit grainy - but we should be able to make a positive ID.

We've narrowed it down to either #69 (Aplysiopsis enteromorphae) or #70 (Hermaea oliviae) in the Third Edition. It has the face and rolled Rhinos of #69, but the paddle Cerata of #70.

If you could please assist, we'd really appreciate it. I've attached 5 shots for your reference. I have more.

This guy was so animated. We found him on a blade of grass. When he fell off, Claudette brought over another blade, and he jumped immediately onto it... pretty rare for nudis in our part of the world.

Claudette said she loved his "decorated under-carriage..." I agree.

Thanks so much.

I hope this correspondence finds you well.

Warmly,

-Kenneth Kopp


Here is his response this morning:


Hi Ken:


Yes good catch. Definitely A. enteromorphae. Saco's are really hard to ID. You did a great job.

Be well,

Dave



So without further delay - here is my first sighting of A enteromorphae

• 

[LCF]

How cool is that! How you guys even spot these tiny nudis amazes me, and what an interestingly marked fellow!

[gsk3]

Nice find Ken! And lovely pics as always.

[hindmost]

Holy crap you found the mystery purply brownish nudi !!!!!!!!

[HBDiveGirl]

...it's a Sapsucker!

And it's official!

Branch of the Week for September 10, 2012!!

http://slugsite.us/bow2007/nudwk798.htm



What a cool find, with great information from Opistobranch guru, Dave Behrens.

A sapsucker!
Who knew?

In our little mudhole.... :-)

Beautiful work, best buddy!

~~~~~
Claudette

[LCF]

Congratulations, Ken!

[Ross-O]

Finds new species. 2 minutes later makes it fly!