Thuridilla sp. 3

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Family: Elysiidae

PHOTO

Eilat Bay, Israel, Red Sea. Depth: 5-25 meters, Length: 0.5 - 2.5 cm. 17 Feb 2005. Photographer: Oren Lederman

Known only from 2 records on the Forum, both from the Red Sea. The colour of the rhinophores appears quite unique although the colour pattern overall has similarities to some forms ofThuridilla indopacifica  [see message #13303].

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (March 11) Thuridilla sp. 3 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/thursp3

Related messages


Re: color variation in Thuridilla sp. 3

March 17, 2005
From: Binyamin Koretz


Hi Bill,
Further to the messages from Oren [#13208] and Marina [#13308], and your own observation [#13303 ] that Thuridilla sp. 3 may be Thuridilla indopacifica: Here are specimens from 2 more dive sites in Eilat. These have recently (and quite suddenly) become common in Eilat and can be found at many sites at various depths.

The upper photo shows rhinophore coloration similar to the previous reports. The lower photo shows another specimen with a variation of the rhinophore coloration (at least on the one he doesn't have hidden from us): it has no white band to speak of, the speckled green continues until it meets a blue band, then black/orange/black, and then again no white band, but rather just the blue tip.

Locality: Eilat, Israel, Red Sea .Depth: 36 m and 22 m. Length: up to 15 mm. 11 March 2005. corals. Photographer: Binyamin and Shulamit Koretz

Regards
Binyamin

binyamin@koretz.net

Koretz, B., 2005 (Mar 17) Re: color variation in Thuridilla sp. 3. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13336

Thanks Binyamin,
I have added a close-up alongside of your second photo to show some of the colour detail
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Mar 17). Comment on Re: color variation in Thuridilla sp. 3 by Binyamin Koretz. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13336

Re: Thuridilla from the Red Sea

March 12, 2005
From: Marina Poddubetskaia

Dear Bill,
Last week I dived in Dahab, Egyptian Red Sea and I saw there a new to me Thuridilla species. Back home it was a surprise to see that this species has just been displayed on the Forum from Israel [message #13208]. Geographically, it is very near Dahab.

Locality:  Golden Blocs, Dahab. Egypt, Red Sea. Depth: 15 m. Length: 12 mm. 01 March 2005. Corals. Photos: Marina Poddubetskaia - Nembro website

Terry Gosliner saw my photo of this animal and told me it could be a new species. So, I suggest to call it Thuridilla sp. 3on the Forum.

Best wishes,
Marina.

nembro@nembro.info

Poddubetskaia, M., 2005 (Mar 12) Re: Thuridilla from the Red Sea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13308

Dear Marina,
Quite a coincidence you both finding this species at the same time. Certainly it deserves a Fact Sheet.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Mar 12). Comment on Re: Thuridilla from the Red Sea by Marina Poddubetskaia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13308

Thuridilla from the Red Sea

March 3, 2005
From: Oren Lederman

Hi Bill,
Is this some unknown Thuridilla?

Note that these are 3 different specimans. This species was found on almost all the dive sites I visited on this weekend, and Ii have never seen it before. Must be the right season... Most of them were pretty small (~1 cm) but we also found a 2.5 - 3 cm one.

Locality: Eilat Bay, Israel, Red Sea. Depth: 5-25 meters, Length: 0.5 - 2.5 cm. 17 Feb 2005. Photographer: Oren Lederman

Oren Lederman

lederman@bigmail.co.il

Lederman, O., 2005 (Mar 3) Thuridilla from the Red Sea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13208

Dear Oren,
It certainly looks like a species of Thuridilla. The very distinctive colour pattern, especially the bands on the rhinophores, should make it recognisable, but I  don't recognise it. Perhaps Terry Gosliner or Kathe Jensen can help us out.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Mar 3). Comment on Thuridilla from the Red Sea by Oren Lederman. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13208