New Nudibranch Book

Last week I had a very special delivery in the post: the second edition of Nudibranchs of Britain, Ireland and Northwest Europe by Picton and Morrow (available HERE amongst other (web)shops). I received a free copy because I contributed photos for two not so commonly encountered egg-eating seaslugs: Calma glaucoides and Calma gobioophaga. I was really chuffed with this, as apart from the authors, many real experts contributed photos (including Cornwall’s very own David ‘aphotomarine‘ Fenwick). Although sea slugs might seem ‘niche’ to some, they are among the prettiest and most diverse marine creatures and I am sure many divers, snorkelers and rockpoolers (and readers of this blog) will really enjoy this book (see also this review)!

The funny thing is that I have actually not taken many photos of nudibranchs at all…. I have only been serious about macro (and in the possession of strobes that actually work…) for a few years but moreover, I am not very good at finding them! This publication has really spurred me on to go look for nudibranchs and learn more about them though. What is also exciting is that I bought (secondhand) scuba kit a few weeks ago, so i will be able to go back to diving and see a wider range of things. Now if only the wind dies down!

Nudibranch

Two entries back I posted photos of the Goby egg-eating seaslug Calma gobioophaga. Last week I was lucky enough to spot its cousin, Calma glaucoides, who is a bit less fussy and eats different types of fish eggs, as well as cephalopod eggs. I found it by turning over a rock whilst snorkeling in a very shallow (<50 cm!) pool. Next to a depleted patch of clingfish eggs, it was circling around, busily depositing eggs of its own. A fantastic surprise, and I really need to get on with recording such findings.