Pteraeolidia from Sydney

August 8, 1999
From: Betsey Hansen


Bill,
I've search you're entire slug site and can't find this one.  Don't feel bad that I went through the entire slug site without finding it, though.  I thoroughly enjoy going through all the slug sites and I even learn something on occasion.  I promise not to call every sea slug a nudibranch anymore.  I don't know if this habit is from scuba divers or Americans, but I will try to correct my friends.

This sea slug is from your part of the world.  It was taken in October 1996 on the twin anchors wreck in Manly. [Sydney, New South Wales, Australia]  The depth was about 30 meters and I found it crawling across the top of the wreck.  It is quite beautiful, but you don't seem to have anything close to it.

Best wishes.
Betsey

Elizabeth.P.Hansen@chase.com

Hansen, E.P., 1999 (Aug 8) Pteraeolidia from Sydney. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1152

Dear Betsey,
It is a colour form of Pteraeolidia ianthina. Local divers call it the 'Blue Dragon' because of its likeness to the sinuous shape of tradiitonal Chinese dragons.

Pteraeolidia inathina is either quite variable in shape and colour or there are a number of similar species. Your photos are of a form which I felt was a distinct species, but after looking at the anatomy and radula of about 100 specimens from around the Indo-West Pacific, I can find no distinguishing anatomical features. It differs externally in the manner in which it holds the cerata in flattened hand-like clusters and the large whitish crescent shape mark on the base of each ceratal cluster.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Aug 8). Comment on Pteraeolidia from Sydney by Betsey Hansen. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1152

Factsheet

Pteraeolidia ianthina

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