Divers find ‘rare' squishy sea creatures off Indonesia. It's two new species
Some use their colors to entice mates, while others have them as a sign of warning against potential predators.
Off the coast of Bunaken Island, Indonesia, two creatures' vibrant bodies made them stand out against their rocky reef environment as divers swam past, leading to their discovery as two species new to science.
Phyllidia ovata and Phyllidia fontjei were collected by scuba divers during expeditions between 2015 and 2017 in the North Sulawesi region of Indonesia, according to a study published July 14 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
Both were 'distinctive and can be easily recognized by their coloration,' as well as belonging to a 'rare' family of nudibranchs, or sea slugs, researchers said.
Phyllidia fontjei was identified by its rings of orange, white and black, according to the study.
The outer ring of the animal is orange, followed by a thick white band, then a black band, another white band and a central orange oval-shaped color, photos show.
'Minute' specks are scattered across the white section of the creature's body, researchers said. There are also 'yellow/orange rhinophores,' or protruding sensory organs near, the front end of the animal.
The bottom side, or foot, of the animal is white with 'yellow-tipped' oral tentacles, according to the study.
It is also partially transparent, allowing researchers to see a 'reddish gut content that perhaps comes from the dark orange sponge on which the animal was probably feeding,' according to the study.
The species was named after the late Fontje Kaligis, a professor at Sam Ratulangi University who 'initiated our Indonesian co-operation,' researchers said.
The second new species, Phyllidia ovata, was named for its egg-like appearance.
The animal is white along its mantle, or the fringe, and black down the center, photos show.
But down the center of the animal are 'large white conical' protrusions with bright yellow tips, giving the illusion of a bright white outside and yellowy interior, according to the study.
Researchers said photos of the species have been posted online in various formats and on different platforms, but they were either incorrectly identified or not identified at all.
Now, because genetic testing confirmed the unique species, photos can be properly attributed, including an image recorded of P. ovata more than 20 years ago, according to the study.
Both animals come from a region called the 'Coral Triangle,' a span of ocean between Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The zone includes about 2.2 million square miles of sea with some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, according to NOAA. Some evidence suggests this is where coral reefs originated before spreading to the rest of the world's tropical regions.
Bunaken Island is off the northern tip of North Sulawesi in north-central Indonesia.
The research team includes Heike Wägele, Lina Marie Raubold, Adelfia Papu, Nani Undap and Nathalie Yonow.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
20 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Sharks might be spending less time in Florida. That's actually not good.
Fishermen sometimes complain that they munch their catch before they can get it into their boat, and every so often, one might bite a swimmer or surfer. But as far as the health of our oceans go, sharks are vital – and seeing fewer of them, as new research projects, might have 'catastrophic' consequences. 'We've noticed that with ocean warming, sharks are leaving these regions later on in the year because they're very temperature driven,' said Maria Manz, the lead author of a new study that tracked the migratory behavior of six shark species within the Mid-Atlantic Bight, a coastal region stretching from Massachusetts to North Carolina. Manz, a doctoral candidate at Stony Brook University in New York, and colleagues from seven other U.S. institutions used National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data to create a model to project how their observations would play out on a grander scale. If the ocean surface temperature warms by 2.01 degrees Celsius, for example, species like the sandbar shark would arrive in Florida almost a month later than they used to. Under current projections, that could become reality within the next five to 25 years if fossil fuel usage is unabated, the path we're on under current US policies. If that happens, sharks also might not stay as long or not swim as far south as Florida at all. Local coastal waters would turn too hot for them, while the beaches of the Carolinas, for example, might feel just right. Already, Florida Atlantic University documented that Florida's blacktip shark numbers decreased by almost 60 percent between 2011 and 2019, from a peak of 12,128 individuals to 4,955. What could a shift in shark migration of population mean for the marine ecosystem? Mahmood Shivji, director of Nova Southeastern University's Guy Harvey Research Institute and a leader in shark research, cautioned that he was unaware of studies that detailed the exact effect a decline of sharks would have. But he had no doubt that a limited presence of these major predators would have wide-ranging, potentially catastrophic ramifications on the entire foodweb. Sandbar, dusky and blacktip sharks, for example, are among larger shark species whose preferred prey include groupers and snappers, whose numbers might increase. While that might initially sound like good news to fishermen 'it's not just about enabling you to catch more fish so you can take it home,' Shivji said. An excess of larger, predatory fish would decrease the numbers of the smaller fish, crustaceans, and mollusks they eat. If there's few of those smaller fish, others down the food web might thrive — a cascading effect that might be felt all the way to the bottom of the chain. 'The entire normal balance, the way things have been, sort of historically, evolutionarily, all that changes, and what impact that is going to have downstream – of course, nobody really knows,' Shivji said. At the bottom of the food chain, for example, a decline in species that eat blue-green algae could, theoretically, increase the chances of toxic algae blooms, Shivji said. Major blooms in 2019 already prompted Gov. Ron DeSantis to create a task force, sicken around 80,000 Americans a year, and are linked to a range of diseases, including Alzheimer's and liver damage. Removing top predators like shark will have a cascading effect, Shivji said. 'There's no doubt about this.' There's also no doubt that these changes to migratory behavior of sharks, as well as countless other species across the planet, are happening quickly. Ecosystems don't have enough time to adapt, he said. 'These are definitely big changes and when changes happen quickly, they tend to be catastrophic.' This climate report is funded by Florida International University, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all content.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Divers find ‘rare' squishy sea creatures off Indonesia. It's two new species
From the birds of paradise in the forests of Papua New Guinea to the monarch butterflies of Mexico, some creatures around the world are covered in vibrant colors. Some use their colors to entice mates, while others have them as a sign of warning against potential predators. Off the coast of Bunaken Island, Indonesia, two creatures' vibrant bodies made them stand out against their rocky reef environment as divers swam past, leading to their discovery as two species new to science. Phyllidia ovata and Phyllidia fontjei were collected by scuba divers during expeditions between 2015 and 2017 in the North Sulawesi region of Indonesia, according to a study published July 14 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. Both were 'distinctive and can be easily recognized by their coloration,' as well as belonging to a 'rare' family of nudibranchs, or sea slugs, researchers said. Phyllidia fontjei was identified by its rings of orange, white and black, according to the study. The outer ring of the animal is orange, followed by a thick white band, then a black band, another white band and a central orange oval-shaped color, photos show. 'Minute' specks are scattered across the white section of the creature's body, researchers said. There are also 'yellow/orange rhinophores,' or protruding sensory organs near, the front end of the animal. The bottom side, or foot, of the animal is white with 'yellow-tipped' oral tentacles, according to the study. It is also partially transparent, allowing researchers to see a 'reddish gut content that perhaps comes from the dark orange sponge on which the animal was probably feeding,' according to the study. The species was named after the late Fontje Kaligis, a professor at Sam Ratulangi University who 'initiated our Indonesian co-operation,' researchers said. The second new species, Phyllidia ovata, was named for its egg-like appearance. The animal is white along its mantle, or the fringe, and black down the center, photos show. But down the center of the animal are 'large white conical' protrusions with bright yellow tips, giving the illusion of a bright white outside and yellowy interior, according to the study. Researchers said photos of the species have been posted online in various formats and on different platforms, but they were either incorrectly identified or not identified at all. Now, because genetic testing confirmed the unique species, photos can be properly attributed, including an image recorded of P. ovata more than 20 years ago, according to the study. Both animals come from a region called the 'Coral Triangle,' a span of ocean between Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The zone includes about 2.2 million square miles of sea with some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, according to NOAA. Some evidence suggests this is where coral reefs originated before spreading to the rest of the world's tropical regions. Bunaken Island is off the northern tip of North Sulawesi in north-central Indonesia. The research team includes Heike Wägele, Lina Marie Raubold, Adelfia Papu, Nani Undap and Nathalie Yonow.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
California weather forecasts could soon become less accurate when this data source goes offline
Storm and surf forecasts in California will become less accurate this year when federal funding for a network of ocean buoys disappears in September. Federal support for the Coastal Data Information Program, operated by UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, was drastically cut by nearly 70%. The drop in funding, set to take effect Sept. 1, will force some ocean buoys offline, scientists say, making weather forecasts less reliable, compromise public safety and hamper ship operations. 'If you lined up a hundred meteorologists and asked them, 'Are buoy observations important to the forecast process and important to the mission of saving lives?' every one of them will say, 'Yes, absolutely,'' said Troy Nicolini, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service Eureka office. The Coastal Data Information Program network comprises about 90 buoys, not just along the West Coast, but also off the Gulf and East coasts and in the Pacific Islands. The buoys measure ocean waves, providing data used by scientists, meteorologists, boat captains, surfers and more. 'It's a very valuable resource across the entire spectrum of coastal users in the United States,' said Chuck Mesa, chief of coastal engineering for the Army Corps of Engineers' Los Angeles District. The Army Corps is the main funder of the buoy program, with the California Department of Parks and Recreation contributing additional funds. In 2024, the network received a five-year, $40 million award from the Army Corps. 'The impact on California will be severe, with buoys removed from service, a reduction in processing and reporting capabilities, and the potential loss of uniquely trained technical staff,' said Mark Merrifield, a Scripps professor of oceanography and a co-principal investigator of the Coastal Data Information Program, during a California Ocean Protection Council meeting. The cuts come as the Trump administration has aimed to significantly reduce support for science, including coastal and ocean research. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed slashing its budget by almost 30%. The loss of the buoy data could have wide-ranging impacts. 'CDIP really supports essential ocean condition data that's used for weather forecasting, it's used for public health and safety planning and real-time operational decision-making across California.' said Nick Da Silva, a senior environmental scientist with the state parks department and staff lead for the oceanography program. While thousands of land-based weather stations provide data that informs short-term forecasts, there isn't a comparable bounty of information from the Pacific, explained the weather service's Nicolini: 'Wave buoys are kind of our only observation out there.' The network's buoys, in particular, provide more detailed wave information than general-purpose buoys operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'They catch really subtle wave differences that we know can impact things like sneaker waves or coastal erosion or rip currents,' Nicolini said. The Scripps buoys are also situated closer to the coast than NOAA's, providing information in the near-shore environment that Nicolini said is 'the most dangerous part of the ocean.' The Coastal Data Information Program buoys protect local communities ahead of extreme weather events too: 'We've been working with various coastal cities to improve coastal flooding alert systems,' Merrifield said. Those benefits would go away if nearby buoys are no longer in operation. The Coastal Data Information Program is also key for ship operations. The buoys and forecasts help determine whether charter fishing and whale watch boats can safely operate and whether oil tankers can safely enter the Port of Long Beach, said Capt. Kip Louttit, executive director of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, by email. The forecasts and data are 'critical for (the) public and private sector, and commercial and pleasure vessels,' Louttit said. 'From a Jet Ski to the largest ships in the world.' Army Corps engineers use historical wave data from the buoys to design beaches and structures within harbors, like jetties and breakwaters, said Mesa. Merrifield said the Scripps scientists are looking for funding from other sources and also developing strategies for dealing with the cuts. The researchers hope that there could still be a turnaround with the federal funding, if not this year, then in the future. 'We're hoping that next year is better,' Merrifield said.
