Re: Ceratosoma moloch from southern Queensland, Australia [2]

September 1, 2006
From: Bruce Wilkie

Concerning message #17694:

Hi Bill,
Here is some more feeding info for you on Ceratosoma moloch. This animal is a different colour from the animal in my original message (no purple spots). It is similar to Bob Bolland`s animal from Okinawa [#5042 ].
You will see Hypselodoris infucata crawling over it`s tail.

I have come across these animals several times now, and they always seen to be on or near by these brown sponges.

Locality: Flat Rock North Stradbroke Island, 12mts, Queensland Australia, Pacific Ocean, 8th July 2006, Rocky reef with hard & soft corals & sponges. Length: approx 125mm. Photographer: Bruce Wilkie.

Many Thanks,
Bruce Wilkie.

brucedwilkie@yahoo.com.au

Wilkie, B.D., 2006 (Sep 1) Re: Ceratosoma moloch from southern Queensland, Australia [2]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17682

Dear Bruce,
Thanks for this second record of it feeding sponge. In photo A there are signs of the brown sponge all down the right side and in the upper half of the left side. In your high resolution files I can see that this appears to be a single colony with parts of it overgrown with other growths or covered in detritus. In photo C what appears ro be signs of damage can be seen in the bottom left corner with only the white fibrous skeleton remaining. This is definitely a dysideid.

I've added a close-up of the 'tail' [photo D ] to show the lack of purple spots in this colour form, and the small Hypselodoris infucata you mentioned.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Sep 1). Comment on Re: Ceratosoma moloch from southern Queensland, Australia [2] by Bruce Wilkie. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17682

Factsheet

Ceratosoma moloch

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    From: David Mullins, June 2, 2008
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    From: Bruce Wilkie, September 1, 2006
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