Postcard from the Reef – Unidentified Flatworm

It was small, but I was looking for small, scouring a reef wall at Kua Bay. At first glance I hoped I had found a nudibranch, a closer look revealed a flatworm. A pretty little creature moving quickly across a sponge covered surface. I did not recognize the species, not one of the usual flatworms we see by day. Certainly not another fuchsia flatworm, I had lost count of those early in the dive.

I am not alone in not being able to identify the species. It was not in the book, I had to search the websites before I found any reference to a matching species. The reference on Hoover’s website came without an identification, merely a genus name and a description that perfectly matched the flatworm I had found. Active by day on a shaded wall… Check. Found at 15-20ft… Check, more or less, found at 30ft. Reported from Maui by a known expert in the field Cory Pittman.

The worm does resemble a species known in Indonesia, the Philippines and the Mariana Islands, Pseudoceros bimarginatus. There are some differences in the photos as well. No clear answer, best leave this ID to experts. I have forwarded my photograph.

Thus my identification remains… Pseudoceros sp?

Unidentified Flatworm
An unidentified flatworm (Pseudoceros sp?) found at 30ft on a wall at Kua Bay

Apehelion

Today the Earth is furthest from the Sun, a point called apehelion. We will be about 152,096,000km (94,508,000miles) from the Sun. Compare this to the 147,099,000km (91,403,000miles) we were be at perihelion on January 1st, a difference of about 4,996,000km (3,104,000miles) occurring throughout one orbit.

It may seem odd that we are actually at the furthest for the middle of northern summer, you just have to remember that proximity to the Sun is not the cause of the seasons. The seasons are caused by the axial tilt of the Earth, creating short and long days throughout the year, with a resulting change in the angle and intensity of the sunlight.

2013 Solstices and Equinoxes
  UT HST
Perihelion Jan 2 00:59UT Jan 1 14:59HST
Spring Equinox Mar 20 11:02UT Mar 20 01:02HST
Summer Solstice Jun 21 05:04UT Jun 20 19:04HST
Apehelion Jul 5 18:59UT Jul 5 08:59HST
Fall Equinox Sep 22 20:44UT Sep 22 10:44HST
Winter Solstice Dec 21 17:11UT Dec 21 07:11HST
 
Source: NASA Sky Calendar

 

The Moon, Mars and Jupiter

Tomorow morning, July 6th, will see a nice 5-7° triangle made up of a slim crescent Moon, Mars and Jupiter. Look for the trio to start rising about 04:30 HST with Mars rising first, followed by a 2.5% illuminated Moon. Last up will be Jupiter, rising about 04:55 HST. The Sun will not rise until 05:48 giving plenty of time to enjoy this conjunction.