Four Aphelodoris varia mating

January 28, 2006
From: Brian Ricker

Hi ...
I took this shot about 3 years down in Sydney at Bare Island. Can you help identify the nudis?

Locality: Bare Island, Botany Bay, Sydney, NSW. Australia  Depth: ~26 feet. Length: ~1in. 25 Febuary 2002. shallow rock formation. Photographer: Brian Ricker

Also, safe to assume this was spawning event?

Thanks,
Brian

bricker@nc.rr.com

Ricker, B.S., 2006 (Jan 28) Four Aphelodoris varia mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15659

Dear Brian,
This is Aphelodoris varia and it certainly looks like the four animals are mating. As you may know nudibranchs are hermaphrodite, so they act as both male and female during mating. As their reproductive apparatus is on the right side of the body they need to pair up right side to right side as you can see both pairs are doing in your photo.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jan 28). Comment on Four Aphelodoris varia mating by Brian Ricker. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15659

Factsheet

Aphelodoris varia

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