A juvenile Ilbia mariana ?
April 3, 2006
From: Yukari Tani
Hafa Adai Dr.Bill,
I've found five very cute animals at the same place. Could you tell me if they are juvenile Ilbia mariana?
Locality: Shikatsuno-sango, 2m, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean, 02 April 2006, in the seaweeds. Length: 1mm. Photographer: Yukari Tani.
Si Yu'us Ma'ase !
Gon
dswith@isletwind.com
Yukari Tani, 2006 (Apr 3) A juvenile Ilbia mariana ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16226
Dear Gon,
Thanks for these photos of your very small animals. They are Ilbia mariana, and from their size they may be juveniles, but some of these species mature and mate at quite a small size so you can't really judge if they are 'juvenile' - in the sense of being 'immature' - just through size. I am also pretty sure this is not a juvenile colour pattern as Hoff & Carlson (1990), in their description of this species, describe 4 specimens from Guam which had a colour pattern almost identical to yours. Their animals had more black on the 'tail' but they also had the large black patch on the back. It must be the time for this species in the Nthn Marianas.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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