IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Science News

Biological gems from the Philippines

/ 8 PHOTOS

A slug of new species

Scientists say they have identified more than 300 species that may be new to science, thanks to the California Academy of Sciences' 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. One of the probable new species is this type of Nembrotha nudibranch, also known as sea slug. These brightly colored mollusks don’t need shells for protection. Instead, they produce powerful toxins to keep potential predators at bay.

Terry Gosliner
A likely new species of Carcinoplax crab from the deep sea.

A leggy crab

Researchers found this Carcinoplax crab in the deep sea during the 2011 Philippines Biodiversity Expedition, and they believe that it's a new species.

This colony of Umbellulifera has a different growth form than Umbellulifera 1, and may represent another new species. Only by investigation in the laboratory of the microscopic skeletal elements called sclerites, and possibly by DNA sequencing of the tissues, can a taxonomic determination be made.

Coral beauty

Researchers found multiple colonies of Umbellulifera coral, including this apparently new species. To determine where this coral fits in the species classification system, scientists will have to study microscopic skeletal elements called sclerites and perhaps even sequence its DNA.

Gary Williams
A new species of swell shark from the deep sea. It can inflate its stomach with water to bulk up and scare off other predators.

Inflatable shark

This new species of deep-sea swell shark can inflate its stomach with water to bulk up and scare off predators.

Stephanie Stone

Going naked

This new species of Armina nudibranch, or sea slug, was discovered during the California Academy of Sciences’ 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. The word "nudibranch" derives from the Latin and Greek words for "naked gills." The shell-less mollusks breathe through bushy extremities in their backs rather than using gills.

Credit: Terry Gosliner
A colorful new species of the sea pen genus Veretillum. The animal is only seen at night, when it emerges from the sand and extends the star-like polyps to feed on microscopic plankton in the water.

Star of the sea

This colorful new species is a member of the sea pen genus Veretillum. The animal is only seen at night, when it emerges from the sand and extends its starlike polyps to feed on microscopic plankton in the water.

Gary Williams
A potential new species of the urchin Echinothrix, with a distinctive red color that differentiates it from the more brownish, white-banded Echinothrix calamaris.

Urchin of a different color

This potentially new urchin species is a member of the genus Echinothrix. It has a distinctive red color that differentiates it from the brownish, white-banded Echinothrix calamaris.

This worm, a likely new species of the genus Myrianida, was found in coral rubble during the California Academy of Sciences' 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition.

The worm turns

This worm, a likely new species of the genus Myrianida, was found in coral rubble during the California Academy of Sciences' 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition.

Chrissy Piotrowski
1/8