Stiliger sp.. A new species of sea slug
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2015
- Stiliger sp.. A new species of sea slug?
I was in the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia recently, shooting macro video of tiny skeleton shrimps on a green algae stalk, when my dive guide Mamang and I noticed a small sea slug next to them.
This is a sacoglossan, a herbivorous animal commonly known as a sap-sucking slug. It pierces the algae and sucks out the sap from the cells.
Those large, clear appendages on the back are called the cerata, or kerata, and the green ducts are branches of its digestive gland. If you look closely you can see material traveling up and down those green ducts.
It's possible this is a solar-powered slug. Some sacoglossans keep chloroplasts from the algae alive in their body, where they continue to photosynthesize the sun's energy into sugars, a phenomenon known as kleptoplasty.
On the head you can see two black primitive eye spots, and a long pair of sensory stalks known as rhinophores. It looks like it's lost part of one of them. You can even see branches of the digestive gland in the head.
At first I expected this would be a known species of sea slug, but I've been unable to find any match, and I'm now told that it's probably a new species in the Stiliger genus. There are a few other species of Stiliger that have been observed in the field but not described and named.
It wouldn't be possible for scientists to officially designate this as a new species without examining samples. The form of the radular teeth for example is important in differentiating between species, and DNA testing is becoming increasingly important.
This specimen was at the dive site Jahir at a depth of 10 metres. It was just a few millimetres long. I'd love to hear from you if you believe this is a known species.
I shot this footage at while diving with YOS Dive Lembeh - Eco Beach Resort (yosdivelembeh.com/). Thanks to my dive guide and critter spotter Mamang.
Viewers can now contribute subtitles for this video in many languages. Click the "gear" icon at the bottom right of the video, then "Subtitles/CC" then "Add subtitles or CC". Find out more at support.google.com/youtube/an.... Any additional languages would be most welcome. Even if you only contribute a translation of a small part of the narration, it all helps.
The video was shot by Nick Hope with a Panasonic GH4 in a Nauticam NA-GH4 housing. I used an Olympus M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 macro lens and a Nauticam CMC.
I have more scuba diving videos and underwater footage on my website at:
www.bubblevision.com
I post updates about my videos here:
/ bubblevision
google.com/+bubblevision
/ nicholashope
/ bubblevision
Your work is stunning, we are so blessed to be able to see your videos on CZcams. It really feels like I'm in the ocean, too. Thank you very much for sharing!
It is incredible seeing life forms like this!
stunning footage as usual!
Your macro camera work is top notch.
It's beautiful, thank you for the quality footage of delicate and wonderous marine life.
You deserve more views. This stuff is incredible
cudowny swiat....mozna ogladac z zapartym tchem,podziwiac dla nas niedostepne piekno przyrody.....
really cool !!! i love sacoglossans they are so interesting, with their ability for kleptoplasty... theyre also just really cute lol :)
Really amazing content
Great Nick! Excellent in all aspects, Shooting and explanation as well. One more time...The Best!
I saw the same species on my very recent trip to Lembeh Strait, but it was seen further up in Hairball 1 dive site instead of Jahir at similar depth. I couldn't get a good shot due to the strong surge when I dived there. Also, it was Mamang, a dive guide from Yos Dive Lembeh that showed me. He also told me that it was his first time seeing that slug when diving with Nick Hope :)
Welcome to the family! :)
wonderful footage as usual and lots of interesting explanations. thanks for sharing
Fascinating! Thank you for sharing.
very nice
Viewers can now contribute subtitles (closed captions) for this video in many languages. Click the "gear" icon at the bottom right of the video, then "Subtitles/CC > Add subtitles or CC". Find out more at support.google.com/youtube/answer/6054623. Any additional languages would be most welcome. Even if you only contribute a translation of a small part of the narration, it all helps. Thank you.
Wow how exciting!!:)
Amazing!
Nick 4 president! :-)
So Pretty 😊
gorgeous!
Your work is amazing and incredible. Thanks for sharing to us
Cool looking
Wow.. Absolutely FASCINATING!! Especially that "kleptoplasty" ability! Wonder if we human can incorporate that into us? Probably not since we would have to have regions that are transparent..
gracias y compartido
I love!
nice find
Maybe when they describe it, have it named "Stiliger hopei"
good video, thanks
Sh
very cool :) how interesting .... let us know what it is when you know it :)
Looks a bit like mutagen man from tmnt
really hope it is new🍁
Wow 5 months
What was the term for the slugs that use photosynthesis?
Count Nomis Solar-powered?
by "new" do you mean previously unknown, or do you mean this is new as in, it just fell out of the evolution tree? lol I'm pretty sure its the first, right? okay
ShockTroop :) Yes the first, but who's to know?
Bubble Vision
lol yeah no was making sure cuz it would definitely shatter the world if it really were. :) ... :( well now I'm just disappointed.
I want to be maroon biological what subjects should I take in year 9
Allal Allah