Pleurobranchus hilli from Victoria, Australia
January 10, 2004
From: Harry Thorman
Hi Bill.
I wonder if you might identify a magnificent crimson sea slug. It was brought to the marine centre from a member of the public and it has obviously been collected here at Queenscliff, Victoria. Attached are some poor images revealing a palm sized mollusc. On the underside appears to be a gill structure and another opening with fibrous white tusk like protuberance. I apologise for the image, our photographer is on leave.
Harry Thorman
harry.thorman@dpi.vic.gov.au
Thorman, H., 2004 (Jan 10) Pleurobranchus hilli from Victoria, Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11852Dear Harry,
This is a large pleurobranch, which are a group of sea slugs commonly called side-gilled slugs because of the large gill they have on the right side of the body under the mantle. I have ringed it in the photo alongside. The 'tusk-like' structure you describe is the penial papillae, which often protrudes when the animal is dying.
From the size and colour I suspect your animal is Pleurobranchus hilli.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
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