Sakuraeolis nungunoides from northern N.S.W.

December 28, 2004
From: Denis Riek


Dear Bill,
Here are some shots of what appears to my untrained eye to be Sakuraeolis nungunoides. Apart from the more intense colour, the only differences I can see are the lack of red tips on the oral tentacles and some orange colour at the base of the rhinophores.The foot is a translucent white and the animal behaved in the way you describe when "annoyed".
I observed at least half a dozen others over a couple of months but all were only approx 8-10mm, while this one,  the first I saw, was 30mm. What do you think?

Locality: Brunswick River, nthn New South Wales, Australia
Depth: 4 metres, Length: 30mm. 30 August 2004
On sea wall on algae covered rock
Photographer: Denis Riek

Regards,
Denis.

denisriek@hotmail.com

Riek, D.W., 2004 (Dec 28) Sakuraeolis nungunoides from northern N.S.W.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12840

Dear Denis,
Thanks for this interesting find. As you say, apart from the lack of orange on the oral tentacles this animal certainly looks like Sakuraeolis nungunoides. Although described from east Africa, I have since found it in New Caledonia and there are records on the Forum of specimens from Malaysia, so it's not surprising that it occurs as a tropical straggler in nthn New South Wales, though it would be best to have a look at its anatomy to confirm the identification.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Dec 28). Comment on Sakuraeolis nungunoides from northern N.S.W. by Denis Riek. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12840

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