Noumea subnivalis? from Japan
November 7, 2001
From: Nishina Masayoshi
Dear Dr.Rudman,
This animal maybe a kind of Noumea. Perhaps it is a juvenile because of the length (about 2 or 3mm). I think from that discussion we held before about the difference between Noumea nivalis and Noumea subnivalis, it may not be possible to identify these photos.
The color of rhinophore clubs in this animal is deep red with white edging. But the colour band around the mantle margin is single band of yellow or orange color. And the body, perhaps because it is a very small juvenile is not pure white (snow white) with scattered pointed papillae. is it possible for characteristics to appear in juveniles?
If so, there is a high probability that this is the juvenile of Noumea subnivalis.
Location: Hachijo Island Japan, 21 Oct, 2001, Depth: 7m, Length: 2 or 3mm.
Best Regards,
Nishina Masayoshi
nishina@wips.co.jp
Nishina, M., 2001 (Nov 7) Noumea subnivalis? from Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5562
Dear Nishina,
At this size, identification is very difficult. Even if I were to look at their radular teeth I would be unlikely to solve the problem because ther radular of juvenile chromodorids can look quite like the teeth of adult species of Noumea. it is one of the reasons I have suggested in the past that the genus Noumea may have evolved by a process we call neotony. [Neotony is where a juvenile animal becomes sexually mature while still retaining many of its juvenile features].
Another possibility is that your animal is a juvenile Mexichromis [see earlier message]. But basically, I can't disagree with your suggestion that it is probably impossible to identify such small specimens.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Related messages
-
Mating Mexichromis mariei in Bali, Indonesia
From: Paul Osmond, August 13, 2007 -
Mexichromis mariei? From Izu Hanto, Japan
From: Jon Ellis, April 13, 2007 -
Variations in Mexichromis mariei
From: Francis and Pirjo Pellet, February 20, 2004 -
Mexichromis mariei? from Japan
From: Kunihiro Takahashi, February 11, 2004 -
Mexichromis from Sth Korea
From: Dong Bum, Koh, March 26, 2003 -
Re: Noumea subnivalis? from Japan
From: Nishina Masayoshi, November 16, 2002 -
Mexichromis from Sulawesi
From: Mary Jane Adams, July 16, 2002 -
Mexichromis mariei? from Japan
From: Nishina Masayoshi, April 24, 2002 -
Mexichromis mariei from Bali
From: Stuart Hutchison, February 24, 2002 -
Re: Noumea subnivalis? from Hachijo Id
From: Nishina Masayoshi, November 13, 2001 -
Re: Mexichromis from Sagami Bay, Japan
From: Nishina Masayoshi , August 11, 2001 -
Re: Mexichromis from Sagami Bay, Japan
From: Bernard Picton, August 11, 2001 -
Mexichromis from Sagami Bay, Japan
From: Nishina Masayoshi, August 8, 2001 -
Chromodoris? or Mexichromis sp from Okinawa
From: Kazuko Matsuda, August 4, 2000 -
An unspotted Mexichromis? from Kerama Is
From: Atsushi Ono , July 22, 2000 -
Mexichromis sp. from Okinawa
From: Robert F. Bolland, December 23, 1999 -
Re: The Mexichromis mariei story
From: Mike Miller, January 20, 1999