Stylocheilus longicauda and eggs(?)

June 16, 2005
From: Mike Greenemeier

Here are a few pics of the two Stylocheilus longicauda I collected on a peice of floating plastic in Lanikai, O'ahu. When I first found them they seemed to be mating, and within a day and a half the larger one produced this string of what I believe are eggs on the underside of a powerhead nozzle. Later that day they mated again and the larger one produced another, smaller of these strings on the underside of a rock.

Also, I've made a few observations on some subjects you've mentioned in previous threads on this species.

I believe you mentioned that the long tail may be lost as the slug matures. I realize size may not be a good indicator of age or maturity, but the smaller of the two (about 1/3 the size of the large one)seems to have a much shorter tail in relation to body size. As you can tell from the picture, the tail on the larger one is about the length of the rest of the body.

You also mentioned that the tail is probably used to anchor the slug to the seaweed. I've noticed that the slug will attach the tail and the entire back half of the foot to the substrate, leaving the front half of the body unattached to swing in an arc. It will even fold in half and feed directly next to its own tail.

Mike Greenemeier

greenm3@auburn.edu

Greenemeier, M., 2005 (Jun 16) Stylocheilus longicauda and eggs(?). [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14066

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