Cuthona speciosa from South Africa

July 26, 2002
From: Lindsay Warren


Dear Bill,
Just thought you might like these shots of Cuthona speciosa (Macnae, 1954) for the Sea Slug Forum since there doesn't appear to be a posting for it yet.

This specimen was found at a depth of 50cm by Kevin Reed on 15 February 2002 in the early afternoon while snorkelling in the deeper intertidal pools at Marsh Strand, near Haga-Haga, Eastern Cape. L: 9 mm.
Photos: Lindsay Warren.

On looking at the rhinophores they appear to be hollow 'tubes' - is this an optical illusion or are they in fact 'tubes'? According to Gosliner, (1987), it is endemic to South Africa.
All the best
Lindsay

alldcl@compuserve.com

Warren, L., 2002 (Jul 26) Cuthona speciosa from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7630

Thanks Lindsay,
Yes this does appear to be a South African endemic. Concerning the apparently tubular rhinophores - as far as I know it is an optical illusion. Neither C. speciosa, not any other aeolid has been been reported to have hollow, tubular rhinophores.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jul 26). Comment on Cuthona speciosa from South Africa by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7630

Factsheet

Cuthona speciosa

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