Gymnodoris aurita from sthn Queensland

May 2, 2006
From: Bruce Wilkie


Hi Bill,
Have been reading Greg`s message #16449 concerning keeping Gymnodoris aurita in captivity and Dave`s message #16478 about what these animals have been recorded eating. By coincidence I found a pair of G. aurita the same day as Dave`s message was posted. I have included some photo`s for your records. Would it be a fair asumption, you would expect to find a species of Marionia in this area for these animals to feed on, or is it possible they may be feeding on something different? Looks like this is something else to put on my list of "things to look for"

Locality: Shag Rock, Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island., 12 metres, Queensland Australia, Pacific ocean, 29 April 2006, rocky reef with sponges, hard & soft corals . Length: 80mm. Photographer: Bruce Wilkie.

Many Thanks,
Bruce Wilkie.

brucedwilkie@yahoo.com.au

Wilkie, B., 2006 (May 2) Gymnodoris aurita from sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16487

Dear Bruce,
Tritoniids - which G. aurita feeds on - eat soft corals, and are often found close to their food. So the large colony of a soft coral [perhaps Xenia] as in your photo suggests this is just the place a large tritoniid would be found. It is therefore not unexpected to find G. aurita lurking around. I think it would be a very good idea to add this Gymnodoris and large tritoniids, and their association with soft corals, to your 'to do' list.

The upper animal in your photos shows a swelling on the right side of the body, just behind the head, which is where the reproductive openings are, suggesting that the two animals are either about to or have recently mated.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (May 2). Comment on Gymnodoris aurita from sthn Queensland by Bruce Wilkie. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16487

Factsheet

Gymnodoris aurita

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