Is this a species of Thuridilla

October 5, 2000
From: Nishina Masayoshi


Hello Dr.Rudman!
This is Nishina from Japan.
I've been to Loloata Island, Papua New Guinea recently and saw some beautiful nudibranchs. Is this a one of colour variation of Thuridilla hopei or Thuridilla splendens?

Nishina

nishina@hep15.wips.co.jp

Masayoshi, N., 2000 (Oct 5) Is this a species of Thuridilla. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3108

Dear Nishina,
This beautiful animal is Thuridilla splendens which was first described from an animal found in your country! The other species you mention, Thuridilla hopei, is only known from the Mediterranean region and as you will see from the photos of it on the Thuridilla hopei page, it has quite a different colour pattern.

Although these animals are brightly coloured and have no shell they are not 'nudibranchs'. They belong to a related Order of sea slugs called the Sacoglossa. Have a look at some of the species in the Species List belonging to the ORDER Sacoglossa. That will give you some idea of the diversity of the sacoglossan sea slugs. Some still retain an external shell, while others are a brightly coloured as their nudibranch cousins.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Oct 5). Comment on Is this a species of Thuridilla by Nishina Masayoshi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3108

Factsheet

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