Unknown phyllidiid with one rhinophore

August 13, 2000
From: Stuart Hutchison

Dear Bill,
This phyllidiid was located by Melinda in about 6m on a coral bommie at Flinders Reef (Great Barrier Reef - Australia). It was about 50mm long.

I have looked pretty hard and I can't find any real sign of the second rhinophore. I have included a zoomed shot to make the check easier. Perhaps this is unusual?


Regards,
Stuart.

hutchco@tpg.com.au

Hutchison, S., 2000 (Aug 13) Unknown phyllidiid with one rhinophore. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2865

Dear Stuart,
Yes, one rhinphore is unusual. I am building up a page of abnormalities, such as this. Some are caused by developmental abnormalities and others are the result of damage and regrowth. I am not just what category your animal falls into. I first thought that the lack of colour on its left side was due to regrowth after an 'accident', but it looks like quite a bit of the body lacks the yellow background colour.

Paired sensory organs, like rhinophores, are important to the animal because they allow the slug to balance the intensity of 'smells' on both rhinophores and so detect the direction from which the smell has arisen. Clearly they can survive with only one rhinophore, but it may be quite difficult for these essentially sightless animals to function adequately when their main sensory system is damaged so funadmentally.

And before I forget, this is Phyllidia ocellata. Perhaps you could give me some idea of its size.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, 2000 (Aug 13). Comment on Unknown phyllidiid with one rhinophore by Stuart Hutchison. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2865

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Phyllidia ocellata

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