Re: Melibe japonica from sthn Queensland

October 23, 2008
From: Kathy Townsend

Concerning message #21984:

Hi Bill,
Thank you for this. I am interested to hear what forum members have to say. I have also attached a photo of the animal that had been washed up in front of the research station here in Dunwich, Moreton Bay, sthn Queensland, on 17 August 2008 which we made our original Melibe japonica identification with.

PHOTOS: Upper: ventral view of oral hood, and body on its side; Middle Left: inside view of part of oral head showing tactile papillae around the edge; Middle Right: close-up of back showing dense covering of whitish gills. Note also red dots, and pustules covered in white dots. Lower: dorsal view of body and oral hood [- oral hood apparently torn in dorsal midline]. 

Although it is missing its cerata, it might be of some use for the Forum members as it is clearer than the photo from the trawler.
Cheers,
Kathy

kathy.townsend@uq.edu.au

Townsend, K., 2008 (Oct 23) Re: Melibe japonica from sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21986

Dear Kathy,

Thanks for these photos. It ceratinly puts the 'bits' in the earlier photo into context. In Dong Bum Koh's photo from Korea [message #17605] you can  see the white gills covering the back of the animal. Even though the animal in your photo is in bad shape, the same gills are clearly visible. It certainly strengthens my belief that this is M. japonica.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Oct 23). Comment on Re: Melibe japonica from sthn Queensland by Kathy Townsend. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21986

Factsheet

Melibe japonica

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