Aplysia extraordinaria ? from Korea
February 27, 2006
From: Dong Bum Koh
Dear Bill,
On my first day of diving for 2006 in Jeju, we found this swimming seahare which I think is Aplysia extraordinaria. However I'm not sure as its the first time in my life I have seen it. Could you let me know the correct identification?
Locality: Hwa Soon. Jeju, -4m, Korea, Pacific, 19 Feb. 2006, --. Length: estimated 20 - 30 cm. Photographer: Sang Yul Shin.
Best regards,
Dong Bum Koh
drkoh@seasee.co.kr
D. B. Koh, 2006 (Feb 27) Aplysia extraordinaria ? from Korea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15900
Dear Koh,
Thanks for these spectacular photos. It certainly looks quite similar to A. extraordinaria, and as I have said before, its possible that there is one large swimming Aplysia throughout the Indo-West Pacific. However at present A. extraordinaria is only known from Australia.
It is possible that this is a colour form of Aplysia kurodai. The white patches on the inside edge of the parapodia, and the white patches on the mantle covering the shell, are identical to those in a painting in Baba, 1949 (Opisthobranchia of Sagami Bay). Do you know if A. kurodai swims? I'm afraid this is one of those times when I have to say we just don't know enough about about these animals to be sure. I am almost certain that the animal from Japan in Jun Imamoto's earlier message [#9129], which is sitting uncomfortably with A. californica, is the same as your species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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