Aplysiopsis formosa? from S.E. Australia

June 21, 2002
From: John Chuk


Dear Bill,
Here are two views of a specimen of what I think may be Aplysiopsis formosa. It was photographed on a dive at Flinders Pier, Victoria, Australia on 9th of April 2002. The specimen was 9mm in length and was found on the bottom beneath the pier at a depth of 3m.

I found it while closely observing a specimen of Rostanga calumus. I saw something move nearby, focussed on it, and found it was this sacoglossan. By patient searching I later found other specimens. I even photographed another specimen by accident, it just happened to be next to another slug I was photographing. I never saw it at the time, only noticed it on the slide later! I suspect it was present in large numbers but not obviously so due to the excellent camouflage. Your help with identification would be appreciated.
Best wishes,
John.

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2002 (Jun 21) Aplysiopsis formosa? from S.E. Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7191

Dear John & Bill,
The pictures look like Aplysiopsis - which I have not described (as yet) from Australia. I did make a redescription of Aplysiopsis formosa Pruvot-Fol from the Azores, and I just looked in The Southern Synthesis (p. 973), where Bob Burn claims that he found that species from central Victoria. The animals on your pictures do look very similar - though I suspect they are rather small specimens?

The reference to my paper from the Azores is:
• Jensen, K.R. 1995. Anatomy and biology of Aplysiopsis formosa Pruvot-Fol (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia, Sacoglossa) from the Azores. Acoreana, Suppl. 1995:217-230.

Greetings,
Kathe Jensen
jensen@ait.ac.th

Jensen, K.R., 2002 (Jun 21). Comment on Aplysiopsis formosa? from S.E. Australia by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7191

Factsheet

Aplysiopsis cf. formosa

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