Finding out what I see under water

February 7, 2000
From: Max O'Brien

Hi,
I live in Ventura, California. I have been diving lately and just saw something I don't know what is under water. It's an aeolid nudibranch that is a clearish white with a neon blue stripe down its back and brownish cerata. I hope this isn't too little info, but it's all I can come up with since my pictures didn't come out.

Also do you know of any other places to find common names to go with the scientific names
Thanks for all the help,
Max O'Brien

gotomax@worldnet.att.com

O'Brien, M, 2000 (Feb 7) Finding out what I see under water. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1859

Dear Max,
I can't pretend to be an expert on Californian nudibranchs but one quite common aeolid that fits your description would be Hermissenda crassicornis. Can you remember if your animal looked anything like the photo in the Forum, at the Top of this Page? Have a look at the Cerata Page to find out about the aeolid cerata.

I'm afraid most nudibranchs don't have common names. You will find what are called "common names" in some books but they are usually made up for that book and so aren't commonly used and are probably different from the common names in any other book. If you look at some of the long 'scientific' names used by gardeners for common flowers, then scientific names aren't that difficult to use. The basic rule is that your should use both names - in this case Hermissenda crassicornis. If you start talking about having found a "Hermissenda" or a "crassicornis" it's a bit like saying "George was President of the USA" - no-one will know if your are talking of George Bush or George Washington or your friend George down the street.

If you get your camera working, I'd like to see some of your finds .. and if your animal isn't Hermissenda crassicornis let me know and we will see if some of our Californian participants can help.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Feb 7). Comment on Finding out what I see under water by Max O'Brien. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1859

Factsheet

Hermissenda crassicornis

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