Is this Eubranchus misakiensis?

Dear Nishina & Chikako,
As you will see from the other messages I have posted today, the identity of E. misakiensis is not altogether clear. Some species are quite variable in colour and when they are described and named from only a few specimens, we often have no idea just how variable they are in colour. That is why I welcome photos even of species we already have photos of, because it gives us an opportunity to see just how variable some species can be. Of course no conclusions can be reached until anatomical studies are carried out but at least it helps us to know which species, or groups of species, are problematical, and which are not.

I am pretty sure your animal is not E. horii, because that species was described as having regularly shaped cerata, without swellings, rounded anterior foot corners, and no spots. The colour pattern consists of brown bands that runs across the head from the oral tentacles to the inside base of the rhinophores. There is also a brown streak in the dorsal midline between the first and second groups of cerata.

I am sorry that some of these animals are proving difficult to identify, but all the photos you and our other friends in Japan are sending to the Forum are very valuable in helping us to better understand the fauna, and hopefully will help us to resolve these identification problems.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman