Another Elysia furvacauda from S.E.Australia

July 19, 2006
From: John Chuk

Dear Bill,

The recent message from Trevor McMurrich [#17114]  has inspired me to send images of a specimen of Elysia furvacauda found in Port Campbell Harbour, Victoria, Australia on 3 March 2006. One is an in situ image and the other two are of the collected specimen.

The animal was found actively crawling over algae on a rocky reef at a depth of 3 m. The specimen measured 10mm in length when extended in motion.

Locality: Port Campbell Harbour, 3 m, Victoria, Australia, Southern Ocean, 3 March 2006, rocky reef. Length: 10 mm. Photographer: John Chuk.

This specimen is a fairly close match to Bob Burn's description of the species (Burn 1958). The specimen was observed for about 5 hours and, over that period, the blue patches faded somewhat. Bob Burn reports changes in the blue patches after 24 hours but his observations were of an increased number and size of blue spots, and an intensification of the colour of an anterior blue spot.

This was the first, and only, specimen of the species I've ever found.

  • Burn, R. (1958) Further Victorian Opisthobranchia, Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia, 1(2): 20-36

Best wishes,
John

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2006 (Jul 19) Another Elysia furvacauda from S.E.Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17169

Dear John,
It's very exciting to get another record of this species so quickly.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jul 19). Comment on Another Elysia furvacauda from S.E.Australia by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17169

Factsheet

Elysia furvacauda

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  1. Rediscovery of Elysia furvacauda from SE Australia
    From: Trevor McMurrich, July 17, 2006

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