Velutinidae - are they sea slugs?

Order: Sorbeoconcha (Neotaenioglossa)
Family: Velutinidae (Lamellariidae)

PHOTO

Upper: A species of Marseniopsis? with its food, a common compound ascidian. The hole in the front of the animal is the opening of the inhalant siphon leading into the mantle cavity. Arrawarra, Coffs Harbour area, northern New South Wales, Australia. Lower left: Lamellaria australis, Eden, southern New South Wales, February 1983. Lower right: Lamellaria? sp., Solitary Islands, Coffs Harbour Region, northern New South Wales. Photos: Bill Rudman.

RELATED TOPIC

What is a slug?

Lamellariids, or as they now should be called, velutinids,(formerly Family Lamellariidae), are caenogastropod snails, closely related to the Triviidae. In most velutinids the shell is open and flattened, much like a small abalone shell (Haliotidae), and at least partially enveloped by the fleshy mantle. This gives them a fleshy shell-less appearance which often causes them to be mistaken for sea slugs. In most cases when they are crawling a pair of head tentacles will emerge from beneath the body, instantly showing that these are not opisthobranch sea slugs. Another character is the anterior siphon above the head which opens into the mantle cavity.

Velutinids all seem to feed on colonial ascidians and many, like the species illustrated, are well camouflaged by their similar colour. Some species however, including some of the large tropical species of Coriocella, are very brightly coloured. This may be a defensive response, as described for many nudibranchs.

Lower left: Lamellaria australis, Eden, southern New South Wales, February 1983. Lower right: Lamellaria? sp., Solitary Islands, Coffs Harbour Region, northern New South Wales. Photos: Bill Rudman.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (October 28) Velutinidae - are they sea slugs?. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/lamellar

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