A comment on giant slugs

August 5, 2003
From: Alicia Hermosillo


Dear Dr. Rudman,

I thought very interesting the message of the giant Tylodina perversa. As you correctly mention, in few occasions all of us come about true giants for the species.

This guy I am sending, besides showing a brighter coloration than usual for this species, Hypselodoris agassizii, it was a true giant, over 10 cm long. (Islas Marietas, Bahia de Banderas), June 6th, 2003.

For a specimen this big and chubby, it could be it was parasitised very young by a copepod (or something related) that damaged the gonads. So when the animal does not use any of its energy in growing gonads and reproducing, uses it to grow. I did not want to collect and dissect him and prove this since I figured he had suffered enough already.
Ali

gueri25@hotmail.com

Hermosillo, A., 2003 (Aug 5) A comment on giant slugs. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10644

Dear Ali,
Being rendered infertile by a parasite is an interesting, if unhappy, idea. I hope next time you find a giant you are feeling a little less kind, and can test your hypothesis by having a look inside. It is also interesting how the background colour of the animal can look quite different in colour in your two photos.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W,B., 2003 (Aug 5). Comment on A comment on giant slugs by Alicia Hermosillo. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10644

Factsheet

Hypselodoris agassizii

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