Eubranchus sp. from British Columbia

January 25, 2006
From: Marli Wakeling

Hi Bill,
May is the time of year again in B.C. when the Eubranchus that confuses everyone is abundant.

Locality: Plumper Rock, Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada
Pacific. Depth: 45 feet. Length: 5 mm. 21 May 2005. Rocky wall. Photographer: Marli Wakeling

This time I have a much sharper photo, and it is the same animal that Paul Sim sent in in 2003 [#11225], and he wondered if it was E. rustyus. It is the same animal that inspired the E. misakiensis debate (and we don't wish to go down that road again!) It really doesn't match the description in Behrens very well, with its yellow spots and brown markings on the body. Can anyone really confirm that it is E. rustyus, or could it be something else? It's really common around BC every spring: I can't imagine it hasn't been described.
Cheers,
Marli Wakeling

scubamarli@excite.com

Wakeling, M., 2006 (Jan 25) Eubranchus sp. from British Columbia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13924

Dear Marli,
Well, you test us again. I wish this species was easier to identify from photos, but it simply isn't. We need to look at this guy under a dissecting microscope. If I had to roll the dice based on your improved photo here, I would have to go with Eubranchus rustyus.
Best wishes,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2006 (Jan 25). Comment on Eubranchus sp. from British Columbia by Marli Wakeling. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13924

Factsheet

Eubranchus rustyus

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