Anemone-feeding nudibranchs in South Australia

February 5, 2005
From: Dennis Hutson

Dear Bill,
Thank you for your assistance. I keep a temperate aquarium with all manner of life. I have an abundance of anemones. Which nudibranchs and where would I be able to find them locally in South Australian waters that would eat the anemones?
Dennis Hutson

dghutson@ozemail.com.au

Hutson, D.G., 2005 (Feb 5) Anemone-feeding nudibranchs in South Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13076

Dear Dennis,
The most likely anemone eaters would be certain species of aeolid of the family Aeolidiidae. Some semm to have quite specific preferences but others seem to be more catholic in their tastes. One relatively common one would be Anteaeolidiella indica. In South Australia they tend to look like those in Denis Riek's recent message. Another possibility is Spurilla macleayi. If you look at the Fact Sheet and other messages I have posted on S. macleayi, it should give you enough background information to recognise one or two if you find them.  These species both range from the intertidal to about 5 m and are found under stones. Unfortunately there is no guarantee you will find them but it's worth keeping an eye out for them. There are other aeolids you will run across but most of them feed on hydroids or soft corals.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Feb 5). Comment on Anemone-feeding nudibranchs in South Australia by Dennis Hutson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13076

Factsheet

Spurilla macleayi

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