Mysterious pink nudibranch from New South Wales

January 27, 2005
From: Eliza Middleton

I was snorkelling today in about 1m of water at Fly Point in Nelsons Bay. On the rocky bottom amongst the seaweed I found a nudibranch I have never seen before. It had a small shell on it's back similar to that of a terrestrial snail (colouring), towards the end of the snail, that is not quite centered. It was then a pale pink in colour with a white outline. It was about 6 or 8cm long, it's skirt was large and I guess kind of flowy for want of a better word. It was one of the most beautiful nudi's I have ever seen. As luck would have it, no camera in sight, but if anyone could help me identify it I would be ever so grateful.
Thanks

Locality: Fly Point, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
Depth: 1 metre. Length: 60 - 80 mm. 18 January 2005
rocky bottom with seaweed. Photographer: no photo (Damn!)

Eliza Middleton

scubadubadoo@hotmail.com

Dear Liza,
I can only guess without a photo, but your animal was probably Hydatina physis, which although a sea slug (opisthobranch) is not a nudibranch. Nudibranchs are a group of sea slugs in which the shell is completely lost except in the larval stages. Have a look at the Fact Sheet for Hydatina physis, and other attached messages, for further information.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jan 27). Comment on Mysterious pink nudibranch from New South Wales by Eliza Middleton. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12965

Factsheet

Hydatina physis

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