Chromodoris heatherae feeding

February 25, 2004
From: Charles Rowe


Hi Bill,
Fairly recently you asked me to send any further shots I took of Chromodoris heatherae as you were interested in their feeding habits. I attach one taken on 14 February 2004 at Whitesands, Port Elizabeth [South Africa] in which it appears to be eating whatever it is on. Maybe I am mistaken but I am sure you will be able to sort it out.

It was taken on Saturday when the conditions were cold, 14 degrees C and only 3 metres vis. 14 degrees for our Summer is miserable especially as it was 26 on the surface! Thanks for your comments [#12225] about Hypselodoris regina which I think is a beautiful beast!
See ya.
Charles...

Charles.Rowe@delta.co.za

Rowe, C., 2004 (Feb 25) Chromodoris heatherae feeding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12305

Thanks Charles,
It certainly seems to be interested in this orange sponge but a bit hard to be sure. The little purple and orange amphipods are quite spectacular. I'm interested in the habits of all opisthobranchs, but the reason I was particularly interested in the feeding habits of this species was that C. heatherae appears to have a rather distinct colour form which lacks a yellow border. Without comparing the anatomy of animals with and without this border I thought it might be useful to see if there were consistent behavioural differences between yellow-bordered and borderless animals. Perhaps the different colour forms ate different sponges? If so, this might suggest we had two different but very similarly coloured species like the many red-spotted species in southeastern Australia
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Feb 25). Comment on Chromodoris heatherae feeding by Charles Rowe. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12305

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