Dolabrifera dolabrifera mating

October 11, 2001
From: Scott Johnson


Hi Bill,
Here is a shot of a pair of Dolabrifera dolabrifera, a common species on intertidal and shallow subtidal reefs. It appears that the animals are mating. The egg mass at upper right has a bit more of a purplish tinge than I usually see. This shot was taken in Hawaii in the late 70s. I included blow ups of the eggs and mating.

Scott

johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu

Johnson, S., 2001 (Oct 11) Dolabrifera dolabrifera mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5422

Dear Scott,
Thanks for the photos of the mating animals and the egg mass which I have attached alongside my comments.

I'm sure your animals are mating. To help those not sure what is happening, in the upper photo the animal on the right has its penis extended into the mantle cavity of the other animal [which has its head at the bottom of the photo]. In Dolabrifera the mantle cavity is very reduced and the parapodia are just small flaps of skin. The genital opening is a pore at the anterior end of the mantle cavity and the anus opens on a small papilla at the posterior end. In this photo the penis has entered the mantle cavity at the posterior end (by the anus) but I assume it can reach the genital pore which is only a short distance forward.

As Scott's photo of the egg mass shows so well, Dolabrifera is, I think, unique amongst the sea hares in having its egg mass attached long one edge, rather than in a tangled mass.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Oct 11). Comment on Dolabrifera dolabrifera mating by Scott Johnson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5422

Factsheet

Dolabrifera dolabrifera

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