Stiliger ornatus from Heron Island

July 11, 1999
From: Julie Marshall

Hi Bill,

Attached are dorsal and ventral photographs of Stiliger ornatus which was illustrated and named by Ehrenberg in 1828 (with the description of the species appearing in 1831) from the Red Sea. It has also been recorded from Mozambique (Macnae & Kalk 1960) and from Japan (Baba & Hamatani 1970) although the Japanese specimens had slight differences from the original description. The specimens found at Heron Island closely resemble Ehrenberg's original description. I am sure you will get reports of other records once these pictures appear on your page! The pictured animal was 10 mm and was found at the reef crest at low tide on the green alga, Codium spongiosum in November 1997. Since finding this animal I have found three others in December 1997 and December 1998 - all on, or beside the same species of Codium. I have also found Placida dendritica and Elysia maoria on Codium spongiosum at Heron Island.

Best wishes

Julie Marshall

j.marshall@latrobe.edu.au

Marshall, J., 1999 (Jul 11) Stiliger ornatus from Heron Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1031

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