Janolus ignis from New Zealand
January 25, 2005
From: Ian Skipworth
Hi Bill
This one's Janolus ignis I think, although it looks a little different from the pics on your fact sheet.
Locality: Poor Knights Islands, NE New Zealand.
Depth: 8m. Length: 45 mm.12 January 2005, Rocky reef
Photographer: Ian Skipworth
Cheers
Ian
ian@ianskipworth.com
Skipworth, I., 2005 (Jan 25) Janolus ignis from New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12960
Dear Ian,
This is definitely Janolus ignis. The name ignis refers to its fiery appearance, and in your photo it certainly looks like a ball of flame. I have included a close-up to show the characteristic colour markings on the head, including the bluish Y shape around the rhinophores. I hae also included a close-up to show the arborescent bryozoans in which it is living. It feeds on the reddish Orthoscuticella aff. margaritacea. I am not sure if there are two species of bryozoan in your photo. Some branches are reddish and others are bluish. It may be two species are colour variation in one.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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