Dolabrifera brazieri from eastern Victoria

February 7, 2007
From: John Eichler

Dear Bill

I thought this photograph of a dark brown coloured Dolabrifera brazieri might be of interest since the other images on the Forum show mottled animals. It was one of three specimens (the other two were mottled) observed at Cape Conran in February 2006, and follows the discovery of a single specimen there a year earlier (see message #13766 ). Egg ribbons were also observed in February 2006. Is it reasonable to assume that the species is established at Cape Conran? These records appear to represent a range extension from southern NSW - based on advice from Museum Victoria and local expert, Bob Burn and the lack of any posted responses to your 2005 request for other Victorian observations.

Locality: East Cape, Cape Conran, intertidal, Victoria, Australia, Bass Strait, 26 February 2006, Rocky intertidal (mudstone). Length: About 130 mm. Photographer: John Eichler.

Regards
John Eichler

john.eichler@frankston.vic.gov.au

Eichler, J.G., 2007 (Feb 7) Dolabrifera brazieri from eastern Victoria. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19381

Dear John,

The brown colour of your animals certainly makes me wonder if in this species colour pigments from their algal food is being incorporated in their skin. As this species seems to survive quite well in aquaria it would be a nice little project for someone - but the first step would be to find out which algae it does eat.

Concerning your question about whether this species is established at Cape Conran. I suspect this is the southern extreme of its range and its occurrence is dependent on planktonic larvae arriving from further north at an appropriate time. In Sydney we sometimes have great populations of the tropical Chelidonura inornata and C. fulvipunctata, but they are there for a few months and then disappear. I wouldn't describe them as 'established species'. The concept of 'established species' is more appropriate for terrestrial species and marine species in which the offspring and parent populations are found together. In marine species with free-swimming larvae, the parent population is often far away from the juveniles.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Feb 7). Comment on Dolabrifera brazieri from eastern Victoria by John Eichler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19381

Factsheet

Dolabrifera brazieri

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