A Lion fish and Chromodoris strigata

June 15, 2007
From: Lior Harari

Hi,

This picture was taken about a year ago.
I noticed first that there is a slug skewered on the thorn-like fin rays of the Lion fish, then I noticed the murderer has some more victims. The other slugs look quite lively on the picture but I remember they looked quite dead and motionless (even for slugs).

I wouldn't have thought to blame the Lion Fish but it seems I caught him "red handed". I haven't given it any importance at the time but after looking at the page dedicated to the subject "what eat slugs " I figured this might be interesting.

Locality: Dekel beach, about 20 meters, Israel, Red Sea, 17 june 2006. Photographer: Lior Harari.

Take care,
Lior.

hararilior@yahoo.com

Harari, L., 2007 (Jun 15) A Lion fish and Chromodoris strigata. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19314

Dear Lior,
I think the  Lions Fish's reputation amongst the friends of  nudibranchs can stay intact. Looking carefully at your photos I think that the one on the fin spines looks quite healthy. I don't think it is 'skewered'. I am not sure what it is doing there. Perhaps the fish was being very still for a while and the slug just crawled on to the fin. My own experiences with these fish is that they grab food items very quickly - almost sucking them into their mouth. I may be wrong but I don't think a chromodorid would be sitting there with its gills and rhinophores fully extended if it was impaled on fin spines. Similarly the 3 slugs nearby also have their gills and rhinophores fully extended, indicating to me that they are 'happy'. I am pretty sure the slug is Chromodoris strigata

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jun 15). Comment on A Lion fish and Chromodoris strigata by Lior Harari. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19314

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