What is this 'red thing' on Halgerda?

November 26, 1999
From: Valda Fraser


Dear Bill
What is the "red thing" on this Halgerda ? I hope you will be able to help.

Locality: South Coast KwaZulu-Natal, SOUTH AFRICA. Scottburgh - Rocky reef - 20m. November 1999. Size of Halgerda: 50mm

Regards
Valda Fraser

iti04937@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 1999 (Nov 26) What is this 'red thing' on Halgerda?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1585

Dear Valda,
Your 'red thing' looks quite like a flatworm but I don't think it is.

I think it is a benthic, or bottom-dwelling ctenophore. Have a look at the page I have just prepared on these strange animals - I don't often have an excuse to show my photo of these animals. There are two reasons why I think it is a ctenophore, not a flatworm. See the two white eye-like rings? I think they are the pores through which the feeding tentacles are shot out. Secondly you can clearly see a network of tubes throughout the tissue. If you look at my photo of Coeloplana sp? you will see an identical network of tubes.

Any other views, agreeing or disagreeing are welcome.

Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Nov 26). Comment on What is this 'red thing' on Halgerda? by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1585

Factsheet

Benthic ctenophores

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