Another aquaria slug-type creature

June 7, 2000
From: Michelle Catalano

Hi - Just saw this for the first time in a reef tank with Fiji and Monono live rock that has been set up since May 17. It's approximately 5cm long, give or take since it expands and contracts.I've seen no evidence of frilly gill structures on it's butt, just the 2 sets of antenna like things on it's front end.

Anyone have an idea what it is and whether or not it's harmful?

Thanks,
Michelle Catalano

michelle@albany.net

Catalano, M., 2000 (Jun 7) Another aquaria slug-type creature. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2506

Dear Michelle,
This is a Sea Hare but I am not sure from the photo which species you have. It is either Dolabrifera dolabrifera or Stylocheilus striatus.

If you have a look at the photos and descriptions on those two pages you should be able to identify it yourself. Dolabrifera dolabrifera has quite a wide foot and often moves by stretching its neck forward a bit like a leech. It is also much more muscular and rigid than the soft floppy feel of Styocheilus.

Neither of these herbivorous species will be a problem in your aquarium and on the contrary could be a help, cleaning off the algal film that grows on the glass.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jun 7). Comment on Another aquaria slug-type creature by Michelle Catalano. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2506

Factsheet

Stylocheilus striatus

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