Lomanotus genei with its eggs

May 23, 2006
From: Hervé Limouzin

Dear Bill,
I was diving in le Magouer-Ria d'Etel, Brittany, France recently and i'm pleased to send you this picture of the nudibranch Lomanotus genei with his egg ribbon.

Photo at 12 m, water temperature 9°C, on Nemertesia antenninafrom H. Limouzin. Nikon Coolpix 4500 with Ikelite housing. [note message #16707 correcting hydroid identification to Nemertesia ramosa ]

During this dive, we observe 3 Lomanotus from 2 cm to 7 cm (the biggest, with its eggs). There were only white specimens. Do you know about the red ones ? Are there specific conditions for this specific color ? (last year, we saw more than 20 white animals and only 2 red).

Best regards.
Hervé Limouzin

limouzin.herve@wanadoo.fr

Limouzin, H., 2006 (May 23) Lomanotus genei with its eggs. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16652

Dear Hervé,
Thanks for this photo, of a species which is rarely reported. It is useful to have another photo of the eggs of this species [see message #10591].  Picton & Morrow (1994) describe the egg string of L .genei as 'a string of eggs wound irregularly around the hydroid' and compare it with L. marmorata which they say lays its egg string 'as a tight zigzag along the stem of the hydroid'.

I am not sure if there is any information on why some are red and some are white. Mu understanding is that there has been quite a lot of confusion surrounding this species and L. marmorata and it would be good to learn more about the biology of all the European 'forms' or 'species'. Are you sure about the identity of the hydroid?  Picton & Morrow suggest that L. genei is usually found on Nemertesia ramosa while Lomanotus marmoratus is found on Nemertesia antennina

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (May 23). Comment on Lomanotus genei with its eggs by Hervé Limouzin. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16652

Factsheet

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