Eubranchus misakiensis? from British Columbia

May 25, 2002
From: Marli Wakeling


Hi Bill,
Here are some photos from August 2001 from the Port Hardy area of British Columbia. Dave Behrens thinks they may be Eubranchus misakiensis, found in Japan and until now, San Francisco Bay, thought to be brought in the ballast of a freighter. I also found more in Campbell River in October, again on feather hydroids, with small comma shaped egg masses. The other possibility is Eubranchus rustya, but they don't resemble the photo reference I have for that animal.
Location: Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada.
Date: August, 2001
Depth: 40 feet
Length: 4 to 6 mm
Photographs: Marli Wakeling

Marli

scubamarli@excite.com

Wakeling,M., 2002 (May 25) Eubranchus misakiensis? from British Columbia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5597

Thanks Marli,
I'm afraid this message has been languishing in the Forum backlog, but since the arrival today of a second report from you of this animal in Canada, I have declared today Eubranchus misakiensis Day and am posting all the messages I have on the species. What will need further research is whether all these 'forms' are a single species or a group of species. If they are a group of species which one id E. misakiensis? I am afraid the original description does not suggest there is much colour variation, but in the photos we know have on the Forum, the brown spots vary from a few small scattered pale spots to a dense pattern of pale spots, or a sparse scattering of larger dark spots. Apart from colour, Baba mentions the shape of the cerata with a 'boss' in the middle of the digestive gland duct. He also mentions the angulate, almost tentacular, anterior corners to the foot. Unfortunately I can't see the shape of the anterior foot in any of the photos on the Forum. I also don't know whether the brown patches, which are clearly visible on the body of the animal in these photos, are significant or not. Thanks for the photos, and sorry they have been a while in the queue.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman,W.B., 2002 (May 25). Comment on Eubranchus misakiensis? from British Columbia by Marli Wakeling. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5597

Factsheet

Eubranchus misakiensis

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