Large Pleurobranchus from Victoria, Australia
February 28, 2005
From: Matthew Skinner
I took this photo in Port Phillip Bay in Feb 2005 and dont know what it is, can anyone help ? It was around 40 cm long and 10 cm high. I have pics with a diver in the photo to help prove the size as the thing was the largest sea slug I have seen.
Locality: Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Depth: 4 meters.
Length: 400 mm. 24 Feb 2005. Photographer: Matthew Skinner
Matthew Skinner
skinah@optushome.com.au
Skinner, M., 2005 (Feb 28) Large Pleurobranchus from Victoria, Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13241Dear Matthew,
This is indeed a large sea slug. It is Pleurobranchus hilli, a large 'pleurobranch' slug, often called a 'side-gilled slug' because they have one large gill on the right side of the body. You can't see it in your photo because it is hidden under the flap of skin that extends out from each side of the back. Have a look at photos in some of the other messages concerning this species for a photo showing the gill. Certainly at 40 cm, your animal must be reaching a record length. Unfortunately there is no 'official list' of biggest and heaviest sea slugs.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Related messages
-
Pleurobranchus hilli from South Australia
From: Alexius Sutandio, April 9, 2007 -
Giant Slug from Coffin Bay, South Australia
From: Mark Hood, August 31, 2006 -
First Pleurobranchus hilli from Western Australia
From: Chris Cunnold, November 2, 2005 -
Pleurobranchus hilli from Victoria, Australia
From: Harry Thorman, January 10, 2004 -
Pleurobranchus hilli laying eggs
From: Leanne and David Atkinson, May 23, 2003 -
Re: Pleurobranchus hilli - feeding observation
From: Sue Newson, April 25, 2003 -
Pleurobranchus hilli - feeding observation
From: Sue Newson, April 22, 2003 -
Pleurobranchus hilli from eastern Australia
From: Sue Newson, April 16, 2003 -
Pleurobranchus hilli - mating
From: Sue Newson, April 16, 2003 -
Side gill slugs from New South Wales
From: Grey McNeil, July 17, 1999