Cuthona speciosa? from False Bay, Sth Africa
June 11, 2007
From: Georgina Jones
Dear Bill
I saw three of these little guys on a deep wreck in Smitswinkel bay on Saturday .. the photos aren't great, but do you think they could be Moridilla brockii? It will be a significant range extension if yes though, because the reference books say so far they've only been found off South Africa at Sodwana Bay which is on our east coast.
Locality: Smitswinkel Bay, 28m, Western Cape, South Africa, False Bay, 19 May 2007, hydroid encrusted wreck bollard. Length: 10-12mm. Photographer: georgina jones.
best regards
Georgina
gjones@icon.co.za
Jones, G.J., 2007 (Jun 11) Cuthona speciosa? from False Bay, Sth Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19962
Dear Georgina,
Although quite similar in colour, this can't be Moridilla brockii because that species has papillae on the rhinophores and in your animal the rhinophores are smooth and tapering.
I may be wrong but my guess is that it is Cuthona speciosa. I haven't heard of one with such dark grey cerata, but we don't seem to have much information on colour variation at present.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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