Elysia bennettae? from Indonesia

November 22, 2002
From: Felix Villares


Dear Bill,
I found this specimen in my tank. I think it belongs to genera Elysia, may be species E. ornata or Elysia sp.11. I tried to find out the origin of this organism by asking the provider but he only knows the place of the samples came from (Lombok, Indonesia). It feeds on Hymedesmia and Derbessia algae. If somebody can give me any clues about this sea slug I would much appreciate it.
Felix Villares

elbuzo@guay.com

Villares, F., 2002 (Nov 22) Elysia bennettae? from Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8388

Dear Felix,
Are you sure of the locality? This looks very like Elysia bennettae, which is another species I had not, until now, posted on the Forum. Elysia bennettae is quite easily recognisable from the small red specks all over the body and parapodia, the white spots, and the red edge to the parapodia and rhinophores. However the 'typical' colour form of this species has only previously been reported from eastern Australia and nearby waters. I have added some messages showing similarly coloured animals from east Africa and subtropical eastern Australia. Your animal also has similarities to the one I describe from nothern New South Wales. I don't know if this means the species is more variable than we thought or whether there are a number of similarly coloured species. Your photos are quite interesting, though it would be good to get confirmation of where your animal is from.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Nov 22). Comment on Elysia bennettae? from Indonesia by Felix Villares. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8388

Factsheet

Elysia bennettae

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