Janolus sp. 6
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: ARMININA
Family: Zephyrinidae
DISTRIBUTION
New Zealand & southern Australia
PHOTO
Poor Knights Ids, [NE New Zealand] about 200 metres north of entrance to Riko Riko, 19 May 1999. Approx 7-10 metres. Length about 8-10mm. Photos: Andrew Green
RELATED TOPIC
Miller & Willan (1986) identify this species with the North Atlantic species Janolus hyalinus, suggesting it arrived in Australian and NZ waters artificially. As I discuss below I find it difficult to reconcile the differences in colour and the fact that the digestive gland of the Australasian species runs to the ceratal tip, with the 'typical' Atlantic form. In the Forum this species has a confused history having been previously named Janolus cf. novozealandicus and Janolus cf. hyalinus. See discussion by Rudman and Willan below. See also Bernard Picton's message. See also Richard Willan's message agreeing that this is not J. hyalinus.
Reference:
• Miller, M.C. & Willan, R.C. (1986) A review of the New Zealand arminacean nudibranchs (Opisthobranchia: Arminacea). New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 13: 377-408.
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (June 8) Janolus sp. 6 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/janosp6
Related messages
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Re: Andrew Green's Janolus cf. novozealandicus
From: Richard Willan, June 10, 2001 -
Janolus cf. novozealandicus from New Zealand
From: Andrew Green , May 23, 2001 -
Janolus hyalinus? from Victoria, Australia
From: John Chuk, April 30, 2001