Another Spurilla chromosoma from Sydney

March 16, 2006
From: Donald Miles


This beautiful nudibranch was found in a shallow rock pool on Long Reef Rock Platform. We were wondering which species it is and what it feeds on, and any other fascinating features that this particular type might have. It was photographed in a plastic specimen container and in a rock pool, so I have included a lateral and a dorsal view of it.

Locality: Long Reef Rock Platform, Fishermans Beach, Collaroy, less than 10 cm deep, New South Wales, Eastern Australia, Pacific Ocean, 24th February 2006, Intertidal, shallow rock pool. Length: 75 mm. Photographer: Donald Miles.

Thanks,
Don

auseco@optusnet.com.au

Miles, D.W., 2006 (Mar 16) Another Spurilla chromosoma from Sydney. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15975

Dear Don,
As you will see from Maggie Mitchell's message [#15736] which I am also posting today, and a number of earlier messages [#15668; #15643], this is an interesting find. It is an animal we are identifying at present as Spurilla chromosoma, and has been reported at various places in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, suggesting it is a 'tramp' species able to travel about the world probably as a result of shipping. This is the 3rd record from Sydney in 2 months, and the 4th from New South Wales in the same period. Since it has not been reported from eastern Australia before, this suggests it is a recent arrival which is apparently flourishing.

As to what it eats. It is a member of a family of aeolids, the Aeolidiidae, which almost all feed on sea anemones. I suspect this one will do the same.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Mar 16). Comment on Another Spurilla chromosoma from Sydney by Donald Miles. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15975

Factsheet

Spurilla chromosoma

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