Bornella anguilla from Fiji

July 18, 2001
From: Ken Tucker

I'm having trouble identifying these nudibranch, shot in Fiji this March. Perhaps you can help. It was between 1.0 - 1.5 inches long and found while diving at North Save-a-Tack Passage on the Northeast stretch of the Namena Barrier Reef, 30 miles SSW of Savu Savu on Vanua Levu

Thanks much,
Ken

ken@kilili.com

Tucker, K., 2001 (Jul 18) Bornella anguilla from Fiji. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4824

Dear Ken,
This is Bornella anguilla. As well as having a spectacular 'mosaic tile' colour pattern, this species swims with an eel-like wriggle caused by a muscle wave travelling along the body. Its name 'anguilla' from 'eel' comes from this behaviour. Most species of Bornella can swim but other species have a much more clumsy non-directional flapping movement created by a simple lateral flexion of the body from side to side.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jul 18). Comment on Bornella anguilla from Fiji by Ken Tucker. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4824

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