Glossodoris sedna from Florida

July 12, 2004
From: Jim Lyle

Dr. Rudman:
I'm sending you this picture of Glossodoris sedna that we observed on a dive in Key Largo, Florida. Although a Pacific Ocean species, this species has been reported from Biscayne Bay and the Bahamas. This was the only specimen that we observed. It was in 25 feet of seawater on Molasses Reef.
Best,
Jim Lyle

jlyle@adelphia.net

Lyle, J., 2004 (Jul 12) Glossodoris sedna from Florida. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12688

Thanks Jim,
We now have quite a few records of this species from Florida. It will be interesting to see if it appears elsewhere in the Caribbean. If its presence in Florida and the Bahamas is the result of human activity it will be, as far as I know, only the second chromodorid that has successfully established itself outside its natural range. The other one is the lessepsian migrant, Hypselodoris infucata, and Indo-West pacific species found regularly in the eastern Mediterranean. There are of course some nudibranchs, mainly polycerids, which are well-known 'tramp' species, but they feed on arborescent bryozoans which have become widely distributed on the bottom of boats. Chromodorids are specialist sponge feeders, so for a species to successfully colonise a new geographic area it would need to find a new acceptable sponge food, or its natural food would also need to be present - perhaps also by human intervention - which would be a lucky co-incidence.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Jul 12). Comment on Glossodoris sedna from Florida by Jim Lyle. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12688

Factsheet

Glossodoris sedna

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