Polycera hummi from North Carolina

Dear Tony,
It's good to get another record of this species. It is apparently more common than the few records suggest. Every new record gives us a bit more information. For example, your photos show an interesting colour pattern at the posterior tip of the foot - and suggests there is a split or notch at the posterior tip. Is there really a notch there or is there a colourless crest - I can't see in the photos? Either way it is an interesting and unusual anatomical feature. I have added a close-up of the gill to show the secondary and tertiary branching.

I can't think offhand of any vital observations you would need to make, but what could be useful, since we know so little of this species, is to preserve the specimen as a voucher specimen in a natural history museum so that anyone revising the polycerids in the future can use it for comparative research. If you can do that it would be valuable to accompany the specimen with a set of your photos so that future researchers know exactly what colour their preserved animal had when it was alive. have a look at the preservation Fact Sheet.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman