Pleurobranchus caledonicus found in sthn Queensland

January 12, 2009
From: Gary Cobb


Hi Bill and everyone!
I see there is no entry for Pleurobranchus caledonicus. Here is a record of this rare find. The hole like dot in the center of the back is quite unique. Only one was ever found...still looking for the second one!

Locality: Old Woman Island, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 12 m, Queensland, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 08 May 2004, Subtidal. Length: 40 mm. Photographer: Gary Cobb.

Cheers
Gary

gary@www.nudibranch.com.au

Cobb, G.C., 2009 (Jan 12) Pleurobranchus caledonicus found in sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22062

Dear Gary,

Thanks for this interesting find. It certainly fits Risbec's original description, and as he has 3 specimens it would seem the central hole is a 'normal' character not some developmental aberration or damage. I presume the brownish spot in the hole is the horny colour of the exposed internal shell.

As I discuss on the Fact Sheet, it is possible that this is a species of Berthella rather than a Pleurobranchus but I guess we will have to wait until another specimen is found and can be examined by a pleurobranch expert.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Jan 12). Comment on Pleurobranchus caledonicus found in sthn Queensland by Gary Cobb. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22062

Factsheet

Pleurobranchus caledonicus

Related messages

  1. Re: Pleurobranchus caledonicus found in sthn Queens
    From: Scott Johnson, January 15, 2009
  2. Re: Pleurobranchus caledonicus found in sthn Queens
    From: Scott Johnson, January 13, 2009
  3. Okinawa Berthella cf. africana
    From: Bob Bolland, October 22, 2002
  4. Re: Berthella cf. africana from the Marshall Islands
    From: Juan Lucas Cervera, September 17, 2002
  5. Berthella cf. africana from the Marshall Islands
    From: Scott Johnson, September 13, 2002
  6. Berthella from Hawaii
    From: Scott Johnson, September 13, 2002

Show factsheet and all related messages