Nembrotha rutilans mating

May 5, 2005
From: Roberto Sozzani

Note added 4 March 2008: Following Pola et al (2008) the name N. rutilans has been replaced by Nembrotha purpureolineata [see message #21419].

Dear Bill,
Following my previous message [#13678], I add this photo with penis details of Nembrotha rutilans. As you can see, there are some differences, compared to Nembrotha purpureolineolata.

Locality: Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Depth: 12 metres. Length: 7 cm. February 2002. Corals and sand. Photographer: Roberto Sozzani

About the opening for laying eggs, I'll check all my photos to find some clues...

Best regards
Roberto Sozzani
www.robertosozzani.it

roberto.sozzani@fastwebnet.it

Sozzani, R., 2005 (May 5) Nembrotha rutilans mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13711

Dear Roberto,
Thanks again. In this case the vaginal opening is in the centre and the penis is off to the side. In insects, differences in the shape of the genitalia are very useful characters in distinguishing species, because they are chitinous structures with a permanent shape even after preservation. In nudibranchs, all these differences usually disappear when the animal is preserved. Good luck in looking through your photos. It would be interesting to see if the shape of the everted genitalia were different in all species of Nembrotha.

This is a good example. I have difficulty deciding the difference between N. rutilans and some similarly coloured species such as N. chamberlaini. Your animal is rather differently coloured than say the ones in Dave Harasti's message [#9767] but the genitalia are identical. I know it is possible that similarly coloured species may have the same genital morphology, but it looks as though it could be useful - if difficult - character.

Marta Pola, who is studying these animals at present may have some thoughts ...

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (May 5). Comment on Nembrotha rutilans mating by Roberto Sozzani. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13711

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Nembrotha purpureolineata

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