Sakuraeolis enosimensis - cannibalistic aeolid?

August 20, 2005
From: XiKun Song

Dear Bill,
Today I found Sakuraeolis enosimensis doing a very interesting thing. I found a larger S. enosimensis (about 2.5cm) eating a smaller one (about 1.5 cm long). All cerata of the prey dropped off, leaving only its white body. With my own eyes, I observed the predator turning over its prey using its head, eating, and eating. Most cerata of the prey were undamaged on the bottom, so maybe the predator doesn't like to eat cerata?

After 4 hours,  I found that the larger one carried its prey by using  its foot and cerata, to the bottom of the container. So can I guess cerata have a function of carrying left over food?

It's a pity that I didn't have the chance to a photo of this progress.

Thanks!
XiKun Song
Xiamen University,
China

xkosong@yanan.xmu.edu.cn

Song, X. K., 2005 (Aug 20) Sakuraeolis enosimensis - cannibalistic aeolid?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14590

Dear Song,
Thanks for this interesting observation. Firstly, quite a few glaucid aeolids are quite aggressive, feeding on a wide range of nudibranchs, including their own species. I think Hermissenda crassicornis is the species whose feeding behaviour has been most studied.

It was interesting to here that the prey animal had dropped all its cerata. As you'll see on the autotomy Fact Sheet, dropping cerata and parts of the mantle, are two well established defence mechanisms in nudibranchs.

I am surprised at the suggestion that the predator carried the apparently dead remains of its prey around the container. I wonder if the carcase was just attached to the predator by sticky mucus. Nudibranchs and many other molluscs, secrete large amounts of sticky mucus when they are badly damaged.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Factsheet

Sakuraeolis enosimensis

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