Re: Aplysiopsis oliviae from British Columbia

June 16, 2000
From: Kathe R. Jensen

Dear Marli (& Bill),

My copy of Behrens' book (2nd edition, p. 42) does have a photo of this species, and also a comment that the radula indicates that this species is a Hermaea. As I have said in many previous messages, I am away from the well-stocked mollusc library in Copenhagen, so I have not been able to consult the original description. But the colouration in this latest photo of the species clearly suggests a red algal diet, which is also indicative of the genus Hermaea. Also the fact that it was found on a piece of kelp - presumably with epiphytes - is an indication of this.

To be sure you would have to look at radular teeth. Aplysiopsis has very distinctive teeth ("sabot-shaped" with denticles on cutting edges). Hermaea have more "typical" teeth (blade-shaped, with or without minute lateral denticles).

Regards,
Kathe

jensen@ait.ac.th

Jensen, K.R., 2000 (Jun 16) Re: Aplysiopsis oliviae from British Columbia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2582

Dear Kathe,
Thanks again for your comments. I should have used Dave Behren's 1991 edition. My only excuse is that, as you may have noticed, I have been trying to clear a large backlog of messages, and I couldn't find it. I have now found it so I will also note that both Cuthona punicea and Catriona columbiana are in the 1991 edition.

I have scanned MacFarland's illustrations of the teeth of what he calls Hermaeina oliviae (Pl 10, figs 6-11). From your comments I guess the shape suggests that this is a species of Hermaea.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jun 16). Comment on Re: Aplysiopsis oliviae from British Columbia by Kathe R. Jensen. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2582

Factsheet

Hermaea oliviae

Related messages

  1. Re: Aplysiopsis oliviae from British Columbia
    From: Kathe R. Jensen, November 8, 2001
  2. Re: Aplysiopsis oliviae from British Columbia
    From: Cynthia Trowbridge, June 28, 2000
  3. Aplysiopsis oliviae from British Columbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, June 14, 2000

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