Dermatobranchus from Sulawesi, Indonesia

March 4, 1999
From: Lindsay Warren

Dear Bill
Many thanks for posting the last queries on the Operation Wallacea finds in the Tukang Besi, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. I have now received shots of most of the last ones found last season and will send them to you over the next few weeks, if that is all right with you. Please find attached the following picture (by Adam Powell).

Length 3.5 mm. Body is overall pale cream in colour with several small orange spots randomly located along the dorsum. There is an orange band along the anterior edge of the mantle. it was found at a depth of 6 m on sandy rubble in an exposed area.

Looking forward to your identification. Many thanks as ever.
Yours sincerely
Lindsay

100014.2112@compuserve.com

Warren, L., 1999 (Mar 4) Dermatobranchus from Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/632

Dear Lindsay,
It is almost certainly a species of the arminid genus Dermatobranchus, but I would need a better description to attempt an identification. There are many species, many of which are unnamed. Some feed on soft-corals, but many have not been found associated with any likely food. Have a look at Dermatobranchus sp. 1. for some background information on the genus.

Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Mar 4). Comment on Dermatobranchus from Sulawesi, Indonesia by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/632

Factsheet

Dermatobranchus sp. 2.