Pleurobranchaea cf. japonica - mating behavior [1]
April 26, 2005
From: Dong Bum Koh
Dear Bill,
Concerning the mating behavior of Pleurobranchaea cf. japonica.
Here are a series of photos for your Forum, showing mating behaviour. Mating behavior was very active and spectacular.
Locality: Sasu Harbour, nth coast of Jeju Island, Sth Korea. Depth: 5 m. Length: about 65 mm. 27 June 2004. Sandy bottom with Rock. Photographer: Byung Ro Youn
Best regards,
Dong Bum Koh
drkoh@seasee.co.kr
D. B. Koh, 2005 (Apr 26) Pleurobranchaea cf. japonica - mating behavior [1]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13642
Dear Koh,
Thanks for these wonderful photos. I have split them into 3 messages [see #13643, #13638 ] so I can display them at a larger size than normal. The two photos in this message show 2 animals, each with their large plate-like penis fully extended. The actual penial papilla is the small conical structure at the outer corner. You can also see the seminal duct as a whitish line running diagonally through the almost transparent tissue of the penis. Like all opisthobranchs, these animals are hermaphrodites. The female opening is at the base of the penis just alongside the anterior edge of the large gill which can be easily seen in both these photos.
I have no idea why the penis is so large.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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