Glossodoris pallida from American Samoa

July 23, 2001
From: Don Barclay


Dear Bill,
Larry Madrigal and I went diving last Sunday morning on the northwest side of Tutuila, in the same area where we found the brown Dendrodoris nigra last year, as well as the Chelidonura pallida and the Glossodoris atromarginata with the "African" coloration. This is the only unusual one we found there this time, and appears to be either a juvenile Glossodoris pallida or maybe the same as the "Glossodoris cf. pallida" on the Forum, if they are different species. Looking at the slug through magnification, I can't really see any yellow on the animal, but as you will see in the photos, there seems to be a trace of very pale yellow on the rhinophores, gills, and parts of the mantle edge. I took a lot of photos, thinking it was the shadows or flash making only parts of the mantle edge look pale yellow, but I finally decided that's how it actually is. I guess it's closer to being just a cream or yellowish tint to the white than actually being yellow, so maybe it is the same as Valda's. Or maybe small juveniles of G. pallida don't get the yellow markings until later?

Larry collected this one about 1100 local time on 15 July 2001, under a slab in 15m of water, three coves east of Fagamalo village, northwest Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It was tiny, only measuring about 7mm outstretched.

This one waved its gills around when it was crawling, very unlike the "vibrating" done by the little white Noumea I submitted recently. Neither Larry nor I have found this species before. Do you think it's G. pallida?
Many thanks,
Don

n5ols@samoatelco.com

Barclay, D., 2001 (Jul 23) Glossodoris pallida from American Samoa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4883

Dear Don,
This is definitely G. pallida. There is definitley a hint of yellow on the gills and around the mantle edge. At 7mm it is a wonder there is any colour showing. Most juveniles start off as translucent clear or white and only get their adult colouration as they grow. Sometimes it is not really possible to identify them unitl they reach a certain size. In this case the shape the opaque white markings on the mantle and the tinge of yellow leave little doubt that this is G. pallida. Concerning 'gill wiggling' - it definitely comes in different styles. [Note: the link to your white Noumea won't work as yes because I haven't posted that message]. In many smaller species of Noumea and Thorunna the wiggling is a very fast rhythmic display, while in many species of Glossodoris it seems to be a more relaxed, though quite regular, 'wave'.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jul 23). Comment on Glossodoris pallida from American Samoa by Don Barclay. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4883

Factsheet

Glossodoris pallida

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