Nudibranches and quirks in Maumere

  Indonesia: Flores + Komodo + Bali - July 2011

I take you back to the east of Flores, Indonesia, for a special "nudibranch" sequence. In the bay of Maumerethese small sea slugs abound. I discovered species that I had never met before!

The classics

For starters, a small series of relatively common nudibranchs in the Asia Pacific area. I do not know them all by their small scientific name (I would have to take the time to look in the books of identification), but I have great pleasure to draw the portrait under water.

Here is a first bouquet, colorful, bristly or pustular, depending on the species.

Small rarities

I also had the opportunity to meet rare slugs. Not new, but they are rarities, compared to those above.

Unpublished and unknown

Finally, the height of excitement, for amateur macro divers, like me: to fall on an unknown nudibranch! Unprecedented, never seen, as far as I'm concerned. If some of you have already met these creatures and even know their name, do not hesitate to let me know.

There is this one, which, although rather big and fleshy, in the 4-5 cm long, is rather difficult to locate on the gray-brown sand, of which it is hardly detached:

The small pink and pale green thing with spots, below, should be less than 5 millimeters long. I had a hard time achieving a vaguely drinkable photo, where we can distinguish something:

Finally, the thing below. Maybe 4-5 centimeters, too. A small gelatinous and translucent heap, armed with two whips bristling with filaments on the back, which seem to serve him to move (and probably to feed?). The dark red lines of the dress can only be seen in the light of the flash. My guide explained that it was not a nudibranch, it was more like a "jelly fish", a jellyfish, so ... Sacred oddness of nature, anyway. I put you two pictures that you can better appreciate the beast ...

  Indonesia: Flores + Komodo + Bali - July 2011