Actinocyclus verrucosus on prey sponge

February 1, 2006
From: Scott Johnson


Hi Bill,
I ran across this Actinocyclus verrucosus well camouflaged on its prey sponge recently. The pattern on the body matches the sponge fairly closely and the gills, especially when retracted, resemble the sponge's oscula [second photo]. These were all captured from video, so they're a tad fuzzy.

Locality: Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. Pacific. Depth: 14 m. Length: 20 mm. 23 January 2006. Under rock in seaward reef channel. Photographer: Scott Johnson

Scott

uwkwaj@yahoo.com

Johnson, S., 2006 (Feb 1) Actinocyclus verrucosus on prey sponge. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15680

Thanks Scott,
I had always thought this was a remarkably well camouflaged species but I had never noticed the similarity between the sponge oscules and the gill pocket. I have ringed the retracted gill pocket in your photo.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Feb 1). Comment on Actinocyclus verrucosus on prey sponge by Scott Johnson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15680

Factsheet

Actinocyclus verrucosus

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