Haminoea virescens from Puget Sound

September 19, 2005
From: Jan Kocian

Hello Mr, Rudman
Enclosed couple of photos of what I think is Melanochlamys diomedea I found on floating dock while changing zincs on friend's boat.

Locality: Lagoon Point,Whidbey Island.Washington, USA. Eastern Pacific Ocean. Depth: 6 inches. Length: 1 inch. 9 June 2005. floating dock. Photographer: Jan Kocian

Egg ribbon I assume belongs to it as well, since I did not see any other nudibranch in the vicinity. However, one cannot be sure, it was during daylight and the bottom of the dock is covered with sealife. Could you confirm my guess? I don't see any other photos of this slug on the Forum. Thank you,
Jan Kocian.

honkoc@hotmail.com

Kocian J., 2005 (Sep 19) Haminoea virescens from Puget Sound. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14793

Dear Jan,
There are some photos of Melanochamys diomedea on the Forum but they are all from the NW Pacific. Have a look at the Related Messages attached to the species Fact Sheet. There is usually a lot of information on each species hidden in these messages. I have got a photo on the actual Fact Sheet as I would like to include a photo from the Nth American west coast, where it was first described, but I haven't got one yet. 

Now to your animal. Although it looks quite like Melanochlamys diomedea it is another bubble shell, Haminoea virescens. Species of Haminoea are herbivores feeding on green algae and diatoms. Their shells often wash up in large bumbers and the glassy, bubble-shaped appearance have given the group they belong to the name of  'bubble shells' [see shells of Haminoea zelandiae]

It is possible the egg mass is that of H. virescens, but I would need some confirmation from Nth American experts. The species of Haminoea I am familar with have more sausage-shape egg ribbons but it is possible this species is different. [In the lower left photo I have kept the egg ribbon and animal at the same magnification].

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Sep 19). Comment on Haminoea virescens from Puget Sound by Jan Kocian. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14793

Factsheet

Haminoea virescens

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