Chelidonura varians from Bali

January 26, 2007
From: Danny Van Belle


Dear Bill,

Chelidonura varians is very common around Bali -especially Tulamben area - but I also saw many on a discovery dive near the northeast side of Bali. I observed them mating but also producing the egg mass which was left behind on the sand.

Locality: Tulamben - Bali, 15 m, Indonesia, Indian ocean, 01 aug 2006 / 18 july 2006, Sand area behind the reef. Length: 5 cm. Photographer: Danny Van Belle & Anja Flick.

Danny Van Belle

danny.van.belle@skynet.be

Danny Van Belle, 2007 (Jan 26) Chelidonura varians from Bali. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19283

Dear Danny,

Thanks for these nice photos - it is a spectacularly coloured species. -- The egg mass of species of aglajid, when complete, is a sphere of jelly anchored in the sand with a long string of mucous. The string of eggs inside the jelly sphere forms a spiral. I often wondered how they did this - clearly it didn't just pop out ready made - unitl I discovered them doing much what we can see in your lower photo. The string of eggs, with a mucus coating, is pushed out of the genital opening and then wrapped round and round the head forming the spiral. When the string is complete, the head is withdrawn, the gap where the head came out is closed and the anchor string is dragged down into the sand.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jan 26). Comment on Chelidonura varians from Bali by Danny Van Belle. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19283

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