Re: Jorunna tomentosa from Tunisia

May 27, 2003
From: Peter H. van Bragt

Note added 30 Nov. 2006:  I have today moved this species to a new Discodoris maculosa Fact Sheet. See messages associated with that Fact Sheet and the one for D. confusa, for details.

Hello Anis and Bill,
I personally have some doubts about the specimen from Tunisia being Jorunna tomentosa. At least along the Dutch coast all recent observed specimen are rather white with distinctive spots on the side. These spots are clearly a form of mimicry and look like the discharge channels of sponges on which it feeds. Also the overall velvet-like texture of the mantle is very much like the surface texture of a sponge. Also as you can see on my picture of J. tomentosa on the Forum there are only a few spots on each side. For all the mature specimen that I have seen these spots hardly ever exceed four per side. I personally do not recognise a J. tomentosa in this densely spotted specimen from Tunisia! Maybe other nudi-spotters from various other European regions may want to comment on this issue too.
Best regards
Peter H. van Bragt

vanbragt.phjm@hsbrabant.nl

van Bragt, P.H., 2003 (May 27) Re: Jorunna tomentosa from Tunisia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10032

Thanks Peter,
I agree with your comments and Alma's message and have moved it to a temporary page for Disodoris cf. lilacina from the eastern Atlantic.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (May 27). Comment on Re: Jorunna tomentosa from Tunisia by Peter H. van Bragt. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10032

Factsheet

Discodoris maculosa

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  3. Jorunna tomentosa from Tunisia
    From: Anis, May 8, 2003

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