Indian Nudibranch

[discdogs]

Since ya'll need a new creature, here is the Indian Nudibranch (page 177 in Hoover's book). I had never seen any of these before until about a month ago. I saw two of them at E-beach and spent about 20 minutes trying to get a pic. Then I went out last weekend and saw them all over. At least 4 spots and even one on the tower near the end of the pipe. The 1st pic is on the makaha side of the sheet pile wall and the 2nd one is the one I found on the tower.

Hoover's book says: "like many eolids, this delicate-looking species is armed with stinging cells at the tips of its cerata, obtained second hand from the common hydroid Pennaria disticha (p. 20) [the Christmas tree hydroid, see 1st pic] upon which it feeds. ...common in Hawaii... To 1 1/2 in...." Eolid nudibranches lack gills. Blue dragon nudibranch are in this category.

 

[Cacia]

very nice! (how are ya?) I want to get together...sick at the moment... "Christmas free hydroid" is that what grows inside the YO257? I think that is an invasive species...

 

[justleesa]

the other thread is ONLY for the damsel. A new critter will be introduced next month..cool nudi

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

So is the Indian Nudibranch invading Hawaii then? Or was it already here?

 

[discdogs]

the other thread is ONLY for the damsel. A new critter will be introduced next month..cool nudi

My misunderstanding. I wondered where my post had gone...????

Per Hoover's book the Indian Nudi is endemic. Although it mentions something about that being in question when it was first found. I think Catherine was saying the christmas tree hydroid is not endemic. I see tons of that on the YO. Sort of cool, sort of creepy.

Catherine, I'm sick too, after all that rain, why couldn't I have been sick then?? I do plan to dive tomorrow tho. Hopefully not make it worse.