Melibe mirifica from Indoneisa

March 19, 2004
From: Patricia Danna


Note added 22 October 2008: This animal, previously identified on the Forum as Melibe mirifica, is almost certainly not that species, which I now consider to be a synonym of M. japonica. See message [#21985].
Note added 24 October 2008: It is most probably a colour form of M. viridis - see message [#21988]

Dear Bill
I'd be most grateful if you could help me identify the species of this Melibe.

Could these eggs be from the Melibe?

Photos: Bali, Indonesia. Depth 7m. Length:15 to 20 cm. November 2003. [#c28]

Patricia Danna

tdmpat@chez.com

Danna, P., 2004 (Mar 19) Melibe mirifica from Indoneisa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12461

Dear Patricia,
From the shape and colour of the cerata I would say this is Melibe mirifica. I am not sure whether the oral veil is damaged, but it certainly looks a bit peculiar. Concerning the possible egg ribbon. It certainly looks like it could be the egg ribbon of a Melibe if you compare it with an earlier message on the egg ribbon of Melibe engeli [#9356] In that message I suggested that the spiral was a second example of a species of Melibe with dextral spiralling of the egg ribbon [clockwise from the centre]. Your egg ribbon certainly coils the same way as M. engeli but I am not sure whether this can be considered clockwise [dextral] or anticlockwise [sinistral] as I don't know where the ribbon starts and ends. Did the animal produce the anchoring thread first and then produced the coil, or did it first produce the long coil abd then anchor it in the sand? If the anchor came first then the spiral is anticlockwise, but if the anchor was produced last then the coiling is clockwise. It is interesting that Hydatina physis another sand-dwelling opisthobranch appears to produce its egg ribbon and carry it around until its is all laid before anchoring it in the sand [see message #12032]. This suggests that the idea of Melibe producing the long ribbon before anchoring it is a reasonable suggestion. It will be interesting to see if anyone has any photos or observations to clarify the situation.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Mar 19). Comment on Melibe mirifica from Indoneisa by Patricia Danna. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12461

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