Swimming Hexabranchus from the Red Sea

August 28, 2001
From: Luigi Montevecchi


I observed this Hexabranchus sanguineus at Sernaka Island, Egypt, (Red Sea) during a night dive, August 12th, 2001.

The animal, about 20 cm. in length, was resting on a coral at about 7 meters (max depth: 10 meters, sand). The images belong to a digital video-tape that I recorded on a 3ccd Sony digital camera. After the first photograms I gently touched the dorsum of the nudibranch, and it started to dance in the water (see attached picture).
Luigi Montevecchi

montevecchi@iol.it

Montevecchi, L., 2001 (Aug 28) Swimming Hexabranchus from the Red Sea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5153

Dear Luigi,
Thanks for these beautiful photos of Hexabranchus swimming. Your photos clearly show the complex nature of its swimming ('dancing') movement. It is a combination of a dorso-ventral flexing of the whole body and a muscular wave which runs along each side of the mantle, causing the wing-like flapping of the mantle edge. It is amazing how long they can continue to 'dance' before tiring. I have watched one swimming for over an hour. Has anyone else made any observations on how long they can swim?
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Aug 28). Comment on Swimming Hexabranchus from the Red Sea by Luigi Montevecchi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5153

Factsheet

Hexabranchus sanguineus

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