Not sure about this one. I hope the image of the column is useful in ID'ing.
Opening up the 2015 Cumanotus discussion again! Is this the (an) undescribed Cumanotus being worked on by Sandra Millen (http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1923165), even though it doesn't have pink tips on the cerrata? Another thought -What do you think about a possible invasive from France - Cumanotus cuenoti? The description on Sea Slug Forum (http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/cumacuen) seems to fit, but could be fevered imagination.
I found the slugs on Tubularia/ectopleura/whatever we're calling that pink-mouthed hydroid. The large one was about 1/3" long and the smaller was about 1/4" long. Note that the speckles in these photos are from crud in the water, not the nudibranchs.
These two could also be different species of Cumanotus. The smaller one attempted to mate with the larger one, which wanted none of it. Later the larger one demolished one of these hydroids (see photos).
I did see two corkscrew-shaped egg spirals though, same as last year's observations.
Interestingly, these Cumanotus cannot "stand" or glide on the flat surface of the photo box like most nudibranchs; they fell over (!) and 'swam' in an unhappy manner until put back on the hydroids. For stability, their foot had to be wrapped around a hydroid stalk.
Found two individuals this morning at Scott Creek.
Vouchered. Fruiting in a Live Oak and Madrone forest,
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County permit
Dive site Enenue. Max depth 58ft/18m, avg depth 39ft/12m, avg temp 78F/26C.
Undescribed Doto Form A of Goddard, 1996
Origin location unknown.
Photograph and sample taken from the 2024 Fungus Fair in Santa Cruz.
INSANE purple staining! Pretty sure it's a basidiomycete. Under tanoak & redwood. Fruiting out of an exposed dirt wall next to a creek. Fruiting body exposed. Nutty smell, and no taste.
Olive tones, acute umbo. Growing near Suillus pungens and S. fuscotomentosus
on ground under Chinese Elms near CVS on Olive Street.
Only the second place in the county that this species has been found, to my knowledge.
A remarkable September record!
Found by Adam Ryszka.
Pod of at least 3 or 4, including one calf. Adults all appear to be female. Observed attacking a Common Dolphin, possibly teaching the calf to hunt.
undescribed sp first seen by @imlichentoday
found on kelp (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194171357)
but rearing when found, detached quickly
no wind, light to no surge, night, water temp 61 F, -0.8ft tide
same individual as yesterday (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193347588), still uncertain!
@jeffgoddard what do you think about this individual?
(EN) Reef Stonefish - (FR) Poisson-pierre
Synanceia verrucosa, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Does Leccinum manzanitae’s range extend this far south? These were fruiting abundantly under manzanita. ~3 weeks after tropical storm Hilary passed through.
Goniobranchus sp. 20 (CPPI II), unclear status relative to G. kuniei
Seen while snorkeling with marcpb & alexoff5
from Santa Cruz County, California.
Here we go again! I sure appreciate everyone's help on these.
Cerrata: beige, tipped with white, darker brown at the base, with both white and brown specks
BEST GUESS: A beige Catriona rickettsi (looks like this one photographed by David Behrens: invasions.si.edu/nemesis/calnemo/SpeciesSummary.jsp?TSN=7...)
EVEN MORE photos, for the truly dedicated, are on Flikr: https://flic.kr/s/aHsktBR2c1
UPDATE 2/2/2016: "Probablys" from Brenna and Jeff Goddard. ;-)
Mutant with 3 rhinophores!
27mm length. Second photo is close-up of rhinophore. Specimen at CASIZ 208937.
Dock-naturalists will appreciate the humor in this sea hare's attempt to cram itself into the minimal shelter of this curve in the dock.
Growing under redwood canopy in redwood duff, directly off of concrete path. No immediate plants. Further Nearby plants: bay laurel, coast liveoak, bracken fern, annual grasses in clearing/nearby development.
On downed branch of Quercus, hard to tell what species, but either Q. douglasii, Q. lobata or Q. wislizeni. Note how pores continue all the way down the stipe.
With an acorn germinating at the base of the stipe! Could you germinate oaks inside compatible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms and have them instantly paired?
Found under mulch
I was pretty confused by these. They sort of look like what some people call “Stropharia aeruginosa” under oak around San Diego, but the gills looked too light (reddish-brown), and they were rather clustered.
Under Bear’s Breeches (Acanthus spinosus) in woodchip mulch.
Under redwood.