California Academy of Sciences biologist Dr. Terry Gosliner discovered this new species of nudibranch during the museum's 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. This brightly colored mollusk doesn’t need a shell for protection -- instead it produces powerful toxins to keep potential predators at bay. (Credit: Terry Gosliner, California Academy of Sciences)
Science Daily (June 24, 2011) — This spring, scientists from the California Academy of Sciences braved leeches, lionfish, whip-scorpions and a wide variety of other biting and stinging creatures to lead the most comprehensive scientific survey effort ever conducted in the Philippines, documenting both terrestrial and marine life forms from the tops of the highest mountains to the depths of the sea. They were joined on this unprecedented, multi-disciplinary undertaking by more than two dozen colleagues from the Philippines, as well as by a team of Academy educators who worked to share the expedition’s findings with local community and conservation groups. Read the full article