Juvenile Hexabranchus sanguineus

August 18, 2000
From: Valda Fraser

Dear Bill
This nudibranch swims like Hexabranchus sanguineus. What is it? Please help?
Locality: Sodwana, north coast KwaZulu/Natal - 10m SOUTH AFRICA
Date: August 2000
Size: 20mm

Regards
Valda Fraser

iti04937@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 2000 (Aug 18) Juvenile Hexabranchus sanguineus. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2890

Dear Valda,
It is a juvenile Hexabranchus sanguineus. I'm glad you mentioned it swimming, as I have often wondered at what size it began swimming. Have a look at Mike Miller's message and photo of an even smaller one.

You are not the first to be fooled by these juveniles. I was pretty sure it was a chromodorid some years ao when I was reviewing Chromodoris decora and similarly coloured species. The separated gills seemed a bit strange but it wasn't until I looked at the radula and couldn't find a reproductive system that I realised what it was.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Aug 18). Comment on Juvenile Hexabranchus sanguineus by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2890

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Hexabranchus sanguineus

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