Spurilla faustina? from the South Island, New Zealand

November 21, 2006
From: Kimberley Seaward

Dear Bill,

Here is another photo of a nudibranch I took on my recent trip to Moeraki. It was quite abundant, although I haven't even started to look to find out what they are.

Locality: Moeraki, Otago, South Island, New Zealand, east coast. Intertidal. 02 November 2006, Intertidal . Length:  approx 3 cm. Photographer: Kimberley Seaward.

Thanks

Kimberley

kimberley.seaward@canterbury.ac.nz

Seaward, K.J., 2006 (Nov 21) Spurilla faustina? from the South Island, New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18264

Dear Kimberley,
This animal has similarities in colour to the aeolid Jason mirabilis, but the cerata don't seem to be arranged in groups, as is found in that species, and the rhinophores seem too smooth. It looks quite like a member of the family Aeolidiidae and is possibly Aeolidiella faustina Bergh, 1900 which Michael Miller (2001) transferred to the genus Spurilla. Unfortunately our knowledge of that species is based on Bergh's preserved animals and 3 or 4 available to Miller. However in your photo the cerata seem to be arranged in transverse rows, while Miller describes them as being in shallow arches on each side. Most specimens of S. faustina are known from southern New Zealand. I'll contact Michael Miller and see what he thinks.

  • Miller, M. C. (2001) Aeolid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the family Aeolidiidae from New Zealand waters. Journal of Natural History 35: 629-662.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Nov 21). Comment on Spurilla faustina? from the South Island, New Zealand by Kimberley Seaward. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18264

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