Moridilla brockii from NW Australia

July 26, 2002
From: Steven Tuften


Dear Bill,
I took this photo at Bundegi Marine sanctuary, Exmouth Cape, northwestern coast of Western Australia, on 7 May 2002 in the early afternoon in about 7 metres. Water temperature ~28C. Size was 5-6cm
Cheers,
Steve

stuften@optushome.com.au

Tuften, S., 2002 (Jul 26) Moridilla brockii from NW Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7631

Thanks Steve,
This is the aeolid Moridilla brockii. I guess it is feeding on the feathery hydroid it is coiled around. growing to about 4cm, this is quite a large aeolid, and as you will see in the Fact Sheet, and in the other messages on this page, it has a spectacular habit of waving its largest cerata round vigorously when disturbed, presumably to startle away potential predators. This pale blue and brownish orange colour pattern is more typical of the species, the white and bright red form I have photographed in Darwin, being much less common.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jul 26). Comment on Moridilla brockii from NW Australia by Steven Tuften. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7631

Factsheet

Moridilla brockii

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