Aphelodoris karpa from Ningaloo Reef

February 12, 2006
From: Kristin Anderson


Bill -

Just saw the new fact sheets and thought I would these two shots of Aphelodoris karpa.

I've had them as Aphelodoris sp for a while now and wondering if one or both might be this newly added species?

They often have bright red shrimp on them, too.

Locality: Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo Reef, 18 & 22m, Western Australia, Exmouth Gulf, late 03 & January 04, silty, tidal. Length: 8-9 cm. Photographer: Kristin Anderson

Kristin Anderson

kristin@OceansByAnderson.com

Anderson, K.J., 2006 (Feb 12) Aphelodoris karpa from Ningaloo Reef. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15824

Dear Kristin,
That was a quick response. Yes I would sat they are both A. karpa. It's nice to see examples of its colour variability. It would be interesting to see more examples of A. gigas. It seems to have quite a few similarities to A. karpa in some of its colour variations.

Interesting to hear about the red shrimp. It is possibly Periclimenes imperator, which is usually associated with Hexabranchus sanguineus, but is found with quite few large opisthobranchs.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Feb 12). Comment on Aphelodoris karpa from Ningaloo Reef by Kristin Anderson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15824

Factsheet

Aphelodoris karpa

Related messages

  1. Charging slug? - Aphelodoris karpa
    From: Hans Kemps, December 14, 2006
  2. Aphelodoris karpa with shrimp from Ningaloo
    From: Kristin Anderson, February 17, 2006

Show factsheet and all related messages