Nembrotha lineolata - finding mating partners?

July 13, 2007
From: Carlos R. Munda


Here are a couple of mating nembrothas (N. lineolata?). I first observed the specimen in the middle photo about a foot from the other one. I first noticed the strange protrusion on its side and wondered if it was some kind of injury.

When it had worked its way to the other nembrotha, I noticed the same appendage starting to grow from the second specimen and thats when i figured what was about to happen...

What i can't figure out is how the first specimen knew that other one was there. I figure the way the current was moving had something to do with it. but if that was the case, how did the second Nembrotha know when to stick its own organ out just when its mate was getting near - but not yet near enough to touch.

Locality: Samal island, Davao gulf, 40-50ft, Philippines, pacific, 23 December 2006, wall, reef face. Length: 2-3 inches. Photographer: Carlos R. Munda, jr..

Carlos R. Munda

c_munda@yahoo.com

Munda, C, 2007 (Jul 13) Nembrotha lineolata - finding mating partners?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19082

Dear Carlos,

Yes these are N. lineolata. Smell and touch are the only 'senses' these animals have. They can't talk to each other or see each other, so any communication must be through scent or touch. Clearly from their ability to find their food, their sense of smell is very well developed. Although there have been many experiments to show how nudibranchs find their food by smell, I don't know of any that have been designed to study just how well they can sense potential partners. You may remember a message I posted last year [#17419 ] about the Sea hare 'love drug' which seems to serve this function.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jul 13). Comment on Nembrotha lineolata - finding mating partners? by Carlos R. Munda. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19082

Factsheet

Nembrotha lineolata

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