Mystery Nudi - Need assistance ID'ing the thing

[Mo2vation]

Mark Vlahos, HBDiveGoddess and I were doing a night dive this weekend in Avalon. And we came across several of these mystery Nudis.

They were always either on large Kelp leaves or literally free swimming in the water column... kinda blowing in the breeze. They're quite small - that's Claudette's diminutive gloved hand in pic #3.

We ran across about 10 - 11 of these things. I snapped a few pics in hoping to ID them with the NudiCard. Nope. Got home and fired open my Behrens 2nd Edition and took a look. Nope. Fuzzy originals can be found here.

Any of you SoCal Nudi experts, I'd appreciate a little assistance.

Thanks

---
Ken

 

[drbill]

Looks a bit like Laila cockerelli although I haven't seen one in years. The 2nd edition of Behrens states that they are tipped in red, but if I remember correctly there is a color variant in soCal. The ones I saw decades ago were tipped in red and blue. Don't have the latest edition of Behrens which might help.

 

[divinman]

Santa Barbarbera janolus

Got home and fired open my Behrens 2nd Edition and took a look. Nope.

Page 81 item 160

In his new book they look totally diffferent but he assures me it is the same species.

Terry

 

[drbill]

Interesting... would never have ID'ed it based on the image alone (at least in the second edition) but the description sounds like a possibility. Too bad Behrens isn't on Board (or is he?).

 

[Mo2vation]

Santa Barbarbera janolus



Page 81 item 160

In his new book they look totally diffferent but he assures me it is the same species.

Terry

That was my first choice. Pointy back thingys with orange bands.

Me so smart.

Still not 100% convinced. Maybe the shot in HBDG's 3rd edition will sell me.

Thanks!

---
Ken

 

[DennisW]

Pretty. Someone posted one that looked similar somewhere.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

I don't think it's Janolus Barbarensis. Here's another picture of one:
http://www.ncups.org/beach.html

Note that the OPs pictures don't have the horns like the example I posted.

And I don't think it's laelia cockereli either -- which has very short spikes, almost just bumps.


Chuck

 

[PaulChristenson]

Page 150 in Nudibranch Behavior 1st Edition by DWB...

 

[MaxBottomtime]

They vary in color greatly, but it is definately Janolus Barbarensis. I found this one at Marineland.

 

[MissyP]

Janolus Barbarensis.... I found this one at LJ Shores.