Hancockia californica from Mexico

December 1, 2009
From: Kevin Lee


Here are some Hancockia californica specimens, found by Alicia Hermosillo, at Isla Marieta and Los Arcos, respectively.

Locality: Puerto Vallarta, 25fsw, Mexico, East Pacific, 05 July 2009, Rocky, sandy reef, with UW flora. Length: 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch . Photographer: Kevin Lee.

Kevin Lee

diverkevin@gmail.com

Lee, Kevin, 2009 (Dec 1) Hancockia californica from Mexico. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22900

Dear Kevin,

Thanks for these photos. Perhaps Alicia could explain the peculiar shape of the cerata in the upper photos. I can't see any sign of the 'fingers' which are usually a characteristic part of the cerata of Hancockia. In the closeup I can see branches of the digestive gland going out to the edge but no sign of the 'fingers' they should extend into. Have the 'fingers' been bitten off or have they all merged to form large solid cerata, or are the 'fingers' just contracted?

Also in the second animal [lower photo] the 'fingers' are branched. Is this perhaps a Dendronotus?

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Dec 1). Comment on Hancockia californica from Mexico by Kevin Lee. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22900

Factsheet

Hancockia californica

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