Haminoea vesicula from Puget Sound, Washington
August 31, 2006
From: Wallace Davis
I recently came across large numbers of the nudibranch in the attached photo. They were living on eel grass, probably eating hydroids which were abundant, and laying lots of eggs. Can anyone identify it.
Locality: Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island, 1" - 1' (minus tide with 1' water, Washington, North Puget Sound, 9 August 2006, Muddy bay. Length: estimate 1 1/2 inch. Photographer: .
Thanks
Wallace Davis
wdavis@verizon.net
Davis, W., 2006 (Aug 31) Haminoea vesicula from Puget Sound, Washington. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17553
Hi Wally,
Yes, this is the time of year we see many Haminoea out laying eggs. I am observing huge numbers of the sister species, Haminoea japonica, on the green algae Ulva, in Gig Harbor at the southern end of Puget Sound.
I would have to ID your specimen as Haminoea vesicula (Gould, 1855) because of the specks on the mantle tissue we can see through the transparent shell, although yours might be H. japonica also. Can you send us a photo of the eggs?; The two species differ internally, but H. japonica has both planktonic and direct development larval strategies depending upon food availability.
Haminoea japonica from your area was originally thought to be a new species, and was named Haminoea callidegenita. We look forward to some egg photos.
Thanks,
Dave Behrens
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