Elysia tuca with parasite

February 21, 2004
From: Marina Poddubetskaia

Dear Bill,
One of these specimens of Elysia tuca had a strange thing between its parapodia. Are these the copepod's eggs ?

Date: February 05, 2004
Location: Great Exuma, Bahamas, Western Atlantic
Site: Stocking Island, Hole n°0
Depth: 1m
Size: 7mm
Photos: Marina Poddubetskaia - Nembro website

Cordially,
Marina.

nembro@nembro.info

Poddubetskaia, M., 2004 (Feb 21) Elysia tuca with parasite. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12255

Thanks Marina,
Yes these are copepod eggs. From the relative size of them I suspect they belong to quite a large copepod which burrows into the body of the Elysia. I have seen a dorid nudibranch wit 5 or 6 copepods buried into the sac around the heart [pericardium], with the egg masses sticking out amongst the gills. From the position of these egg masses I wouldn't be surprised if the copepod was in a similar position in this animal. Erwin Koehler's photo of Risbecia tryoni, [#4959], shows a single animal in the same place.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Feb 21). Comment on Elysia tuca with parasite by Marina Poddubetskaia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12255

Factsheet

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