Can you identify this Sea Slug?

August 31, 2001
From: Jay Rundle

I have a salt water aquarium and just noticed a type of sea slug I cannot identify moving along a rock. It is about 1 inch long, flat and oval in shape, two short stubby antenae, black in color.

Questions: (1) is this a danger to the other animals in the tank, (2) what is the name of this wonderful little creature?
Jay Rundle

jay.p.rundle@xo.com

Rundle, J., 2001 (Aug 31) Can you identify this Sea Slug?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5169

Dear Jay,
You give me no idea where the animal came from. If, as I suspect, it hitched a ride into your aquarium on some 'live rock' then it is probably Scutus, which if you have a look at the top of this page and also at the messages below yours, you will see is not a slug at all but a snail which hides its shell under two flaps of skin. If it is Scutus then it will be eating an algal film in your tank and so is a useful little addition to your artificial ecosystem.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Aug 31). Comment on Can you identify this Sea Slug? by Jay Rundle. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5169

Factsheet

Elephant Slug, Shield Slug, Ducksbill Limpet (Scutus sp.)

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