Nembrotha rutilans mating in Raja Ampat

June 5, 2007
From: Bob Whorton


Note added 4 March 2008: Following Pola et al (2008) the name N. rutilans has been replaced by Nembrotha purpureolineata [see message #21419].

Hey Bill, long time, hope you are well.

Here are some shots of Nembrotha rutilans mating on a black coral twig, situated on a south facing shallow sloping reef, of an Island about 30 miles North East of Sorong, Papua, (Iryan Jaya). Shot was taken last December.
My guess is that they bumped into each other on the hunt for tunicates (visible in shot) and made the most of it ...

These small tunicates were prominent, the only variety growing in the area that I noticed during the two dives here. Shots were taken with D200 fitted with a 60 mm lens and the close-up by adding an external diopter.
Conditions grossed out during this capture, current racing at around 2-3 knots. However, they hung on like champions as the twig swayed violently back & forth. Nice detail of the coiled penis visible through the skin.

Locality: Island, 12m, Indonesian Papua, Banda/Halmahera Sea, 12th December 2006, Coral on sandy slope. Length: 5 cm +/-. Photographer: Dr Bob Whorton.

Bob Whorton

drbob.whorton@btinternet.com

Whorton, R., 2007 (Jun 5) Nembrotha rutilans mating in Raja Ampat. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19411

Dear Bob,
Thanks for these shots. I suspect many nudibranchs find their mating partners through their attraction to the same food items

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jun 5). Comment on Nembrotha rutilans mating in Raja Ampat by Bob Whorton. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19411

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