A Lion fish and Chromodoris strigata
June 15, 2007
From: Lior Harari
Hi,
This picture was taken about a year ago.
I noticed first that there is a slug skewered on the thorn-like fin rays of the Lion fish, then I noticed the murderer has some more victims. The other slugs look quite lively on the picture but I remember they looked quite dead and motionless (even for slugs).
I wouldn't have thought to blame the Lion Fish but it seems I caught him "red handed". I haven't given it any importance at the time but after looking at the page dedicated to the subject "what eat slugs " I figured this might be interesting.
Locality: Dekel beach, about 20 meters, Israel, Red Sea, 17 june 2006. Photographer: Lior Harari.
Take care,
Lior.
hararilior@yahoo.com
Harari, L., 2007 (Jun 15) A Lion fish and Chromodoris strigata. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19314
Dear Lior,
I think the Lions Fish's reputation amongst the friends of nudibranchs can stay intact. Looking carefully at your photos I think that the one on the fin spines looks quite healthy. I don't think it is 'skewered'. I am not sure what it is doing there. Perhaps the fish was being very still for a while and the slug just crawled on to the fin. My own experiences with these fish is that they grab food items very quickly - almost sucking them into their mouth. I may be wrong but I don't think a chromodorid would be sitting there with its gills and rhinophores fully extended if it was impaled on fin spines. Similarly the 3 slugs nearby also have their gills and rhinophores fully extended, indicating to me that they are 'happy'. I am pretty sure the slug is Chromodoris strigata
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Related messages
-
Re: Chromodoris strigata from Philippines
From: Franca Wermuth, January 26, 2010 -
Chromodoris strigata from Solitary Ids, NSW
From: David & Leanne Atkinson, October 29, 2009 -
Chromodoris strigata feeding on yellow sponge
From: Marcel Tanke, March 10, 2009 -
Chromodoris strigata ? from Tofo, Mozambique
From: Natasja Vandeperre, August 23, 2007 -
Re: Chromodoris strigata from Sth Africa
From: Bruce Wilkie, August 23, 2006 -
Chromodoris strigata from Sth Africa
From: Colin Ogden, August 14, 2006 -
Chromodoris strigata in the Red Sea feeding?
From: Binyamin Koretz, October 12, 2005 -
Chromodoris strigata from northern Sulawesi
From: Bob Whorton, June 27, 2005 -
Chromodoris strigata from Philippines
From: Sylvain Le Bris, February 8, 2005 -
Chromodoris strigata from Malaysia
From: Paul Osmond, February 24, 2004 -
Chromodoris strigata from Sulawesi
From: Mary Jane Adams , December 21, 2002 -
Chromodoris strigata from North Sulawesi
From: Marli Wakeling, October 3, 2002 -
Chromodoris strigata? from the Red Sea
From: Marina Poddubetskaia , April 26, 2002 -
Chromodoris strigata from the Solomon Ids
From: Scott Johnson, May 22, 2001 -
Another Chromodoris strigata from S. Africa
From: Valda Fraser, September 26, 2000 -
Chromodoris strigata from Thailand
From: Narongpon Sittithaweepat, April 5, 2000 -
Chromodoris strigata from South Africa
From: Valda Fraser, January 27, 2000 -
Chromodoris strigata feeding
From: Neil Miller, July 22, 1999 -
Chromodoris strigata from SE Sulawesi
From: Lindsay Warren, November 29, 1998 -
Chromodoris strigata from Sulawesi
From: Lindsay Warren, November 19, 1998