Re: Spurilla neapolitana from Gulf of Mexico [1]

August 9, 2005
From: Brian Plankis

Bill,
Thanks for the response [#14503] and I am going to do a variety of experiments on what foods it will eat and the resulting color changes. Up next is an Aiptasia species.

The last two days my nudibranchs have been inseparable, I have frequently seen them together with their heads tucked into just behind the rhinophores of the other nudibranch. Would this be mating activity?

I also have found red masses near the animals every morning. According to what I have read so far this looks more like waste than eggs, would you concur? Here is a picture:
I also included this picture as it gives a better picture of the rhinophores detail which is quite jagged.

Thanks,
Brian

garagebrian@yahoo.com

Plankis, B., 2005 (Aug 9) Re: Spurilla neapolitana from Gulf of Mexico [1]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14521

Dear Brian,
Am I right in thinkin I can see both animals in your photo. I think I can see two extra rhinophores to the left of the obvious ones. If this is the way they are nestling it isn't mating. Their reproductive openings are on the right side of the body, just behind the rhinophores, so they need to have their right sides together. As you say the red mucousy mess in your photo is not eggs. Sometimes animals extrude such material from the reproductive system, but it could just be mucous that is secreted from the foot overnight. If the animals nestle together and stay in one spot overnight - 'sleeping'?- then this could just be an accumulation of the mucus they normally produce from glands in their foot as they crawl along.

I look forward to hearing about your experiments. It may take a few days or weeks for any colour chnage to occur so don't change their food too quickly. If they do lay eggs I would appreciate a photo if possible - but they probably will lay them in the most difficult place in your aquarium for a photo.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Aug 9). Comment on Re: Spurilla neapolitana from Gulf of Mexico [1] by Brian Plankis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14521

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Spurilla neapolitana

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