Pteraeolidia ianthina: looks like something everted

August 13, 2008
From: Roland Bircher

Dear Bill,

Recently on a dive at Bare Island I photographed what I think is a Pteraeolidia ianthina. Between the upper and lower photos it looks like the nudibranch is everting something. Is this the oral tube as you mention in an earlier answer or am I completely wrong?

Locality: Bare Island, La Perouse, Sydney, 10 m, Australia, Botany Bay, 19 July 2008, Bay, overgrown rock. Length: 10 cm. Photographer: Roland Bircher.

Kind regards,
Roland

roland.bircher@gmx.net

Bircher, R., 2008 (Aug 13) Pteraeolidia ianthina: looks like something everted. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21777

Dear Roland,

As you will see from the species Fact Sheet, Pteraeolidia is a solar powered species relying on the energy produced by the microscopic plants it 'farms' in its body. The brown spotting and branching you can see in the two close-ups of the head, are clusters of these plants [zooxanthellae] in branches of the digestive system. For some reason, your animal lacks these branches of the digestive system on the left side of its face and foot, and in its left rhinophore. This could be a developmental fault or it could be that this part of the body has been damaged - perhaps bitten off - and has regrown without the digestive gland ducts.

Now that I have 'set the scene' I hope I can answer your anatomical question. The mouth is situated between the two large oral tentacles. It is a bit further back than the m I have added to the photo but if the oral tube was everted it would be over the top of the 'm'.  I have put an 'f ' where something seems to be being everted. This is in fact the left side of the anterior foot. Because it is bright white, it seems to be sticking out more than on the other side, which still has the brown of the digestive system. I hope that makes sense.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Aug 13). Comment on Pteraeolidia ianthina: looks like something everted by Roland Bircher. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21777

Factsheet

Pteraeolidia ianthina

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