Feeding Trapania sp. from Bali

March 12, 2002
From: Stuart Hutchison

Note added 12 March 2008: This species has been named Trapania palmula.  

Bill,
Here's a pair of unknown nudi's munching off a blue ascidian in Bali, Indonesia on 24 Oct 2001. You can see where they've been by the absence of 'tassles' on the eaten area. They were very small (approx 6mm long) and living at about 8m depth.
Stuart

stuart@stuarthutchison.com.au

Hutchison, S., 2002 (Mar 12) Feeding Trapania sp. from Bali. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6285

Thanks Stuart,
Another interesting find. This is almost certainly an unnamed species of Trapania. It is the only one I can think of with tubercles on its body. Of great interest are your photos of its feeding 'patch'. The 'tassles' you talk of are almost certainly a forest of entoprocts, the strange hydroid-like (though quite unrelated) animals which seem to be the sole food of species of Trapania. Entoprocts are sometimes called 'Moss Animals' which s very apropriate in this case.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Mar 12). Comment on Feeding Trapania sp. from Bali by Stuart Hutchison. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6285

Factsheet

Trapania palmula