Re: Spurilla neapolitana from Gulf of Mexico [2]

August 11, 2005
From: Brian Plankis

Bill,

Thanks for the reply [#14521 ]. First I'll address your questions, then a brief update:

"Am I right in thinking 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."

Yes you are correct you see both of them, however the picture does show their right sides together. My smaller nudibranch is in the foreground of the picture and its head is to the left, making its left side face the viewer. The considerably larger nudibranch has its head and the length of the body aimed directly at the camera. So the rhinophores of the smaller nudibranch are on the right side of the larger one and visa versa.

"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."

Well, Bill, you were right! They layed eggs in one of the most difficult spots to photograph, right below the water line. I took well over two dozen pictures and the attached one is the best I can do. Examination under a magnifying glass revealed more of a U shape than a spiral. Hopefully the next egg mass will be in a better place to photograph, they ate two more anemones last night and were snuggling again this morning!

More later,
Brian:

garagebrian@yahoo.com

Plankis, B., 2005 (Aug 11) Re: Spurilla neapolitana from Gulf of Mexico [2]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14532

Dear Brian,
Thanks for the update. The egg ribbon seems to be in a tight wave shape which is itself arranges in a coil - or circle. This is not unusual in some aeolids - including the related Aeolidia papillosa. Why I am interested is that some aeolidiids have an abbreviated larval stage in their development, and may miss out the free swiming larval veliger stage. If that was the case with your animals you might have a chance of breeding a second generation. It couls also be a way of distinguishing different species. I can't see enough from you photo to be sure, but the eggs look quite small suggesting it has a veliger stage. Anyway, I look forward to future reports.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Aug 11). Comment on Re: Spurilla neapolitana from Gulf of Mexico [2] by Brian Plankis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14532

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Spurilla neapolitana

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