Sustainable Shores Rare Nudibranch Published! A Win for Citizen Science

I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with all of you - a photograph I took of the rare nudibranch, Aeolidiella sanguinea, is being used in a scientific publication!

Rare nudibranch found in Kilkee Pollock Holes by project lead, Éabha Hughes

For those who aren't familiar, nudibranchs are a type of sea slug, and they come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Aeolidiella sanguinea is particularly special, as it is not often seen and recorded around the Irish coast and is considered a rare find.

Although I came across the special slug over the summer, I remember the day I came across this beautiful creature as if it were yesterday. I was sifting through seaweed in one of the Pollock Holes of Kilkee, Co. Clare. This is one of my favourite places to go searching for critters, as it's easily accessibly and a popular holiday spot for many.

As I was turning over small rocks in search of weird and wonderful encrusting creatures, I spotted a flash of bright red glued to a flat stone. With its vibrant crimson body and delicate, translucent cerata (the little tentacles covering its body), I knew I had found something wonderful! Having never seen anything like it before, I scooped it up gently into my collection tray and frantically began snapping photos.

The true size of Aeolidiella sanguinea in my collection tray!

To identify my new flashy friend I began trawling through online resources and an old copy of "A field guide to the nudibranchs of the British Isles" by Bernard Picton & Christine C. Morrow, on loan from Dr. John Breen of the University of Limerick. I couldn't find anyone similar to the little red slug, so I reached out to anyone I could. On advice of Dr. Joe Fitzgibbon, I shared my find with a social media group dedicated to the identification of North Atlantic nudibranchs and viola! An identification as made.

Now, months later, I am thrilled to learn that one of those photographs will be used in a publication by Ian Frank Smith, an amateur marine biologist who creates illustrated species accounts of barnacles and marine molluscs. It's incredibly exciting to know that others will be able to appreciate the beauty of this rare nudibranch and learn more about its unique characteristics.

For me, this experience is a reminder of why I'm so passionate about citizen science and marine conservation. There are so many incredible creatures living in our oceans, and so much to discover and learn. I'm grateful for every opportunity I have to explore and document the wonders of the underwater world, and I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can inspire others to appreciate and protect our precious marine life.

You can read Ian's publication and find more information about Aeolidiella sanguinea here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366186525_Aeolidiella_sanguinea_Norman_1877_Identification_and_Biology

Aeolidiella sanguinea (Norman, 1877) Identification and Biology DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.22344.80643