Thorunna cf. australis from French Polynesia
June 20, 2006
From: Gustav Paulay
Dear Bill,
Another odd one, Thorunna perhaps, from Moorea. Do you recognize it?
Locality: Moorea, 1 m, French Polynesia, Pacific, 14 June 2006, fringing reef slope, under rock. Length: ~8 mm. Photographer: Gustav Paulay.
Thanks!
Gustav
paulay@flmnh.ufl.edu
Paulay, G., 2006 (Jun 20) Thorunna cf. australis from French Polynesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16912Dear Gustav,
This is another example of the 'peculiar things happening in French Polynesia' which I have mentioned before. If you look at Thorunna australis you will see it has many similarities in colour pattern but there are obvious differences, in particular the colour of the gills and rhinophores. In these animals they are all orange but in typical T. australis both the gills and rhinophores have an orange band. I just find it strange that a number of widespread species with relatively stable colour patterns throughout their ranges, don't appear to occur in French Polynesia, but have a fairly close 'look alike'.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
