Ercolania coerulea from Spain

September 26, 2007
From: Miquel Pontes

Dear Bill,

I have seen in the species description for Ercolania coerulea that this species is cited in the Western Mediterranean Sea, but there is no such picture in the Forum. I have submitted two pictures from my friend photographer Enric Madrenas, to illustrate the local variation of this slug.

Locality: Cala Aiguafreda, Begur, Costa Brava, 6-7 meters, Spain, Mediterranean Sea, 15 april 2005, Rocky bottom covered with algae. Length: 10 mm. aprox.. Photographer: Enric Madrenas.

Subjective picture analysis shows that maybe the Western Mediterranean species shows a darker color pattern than the specimens from other places of the world, I guess this is probably related to its feeding.

By looking at our pictures, I can understand better the etymology of the species name "coerulea" which refers to the blue stains on this species' cerata.

Best regards,
Miquel Pontes

miquelpontes@gmail.com

Pontes, M., 2007 (Sep 26) Ercolania coerulea from Spain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20786

Thanks Miquel,
This is a useful addition to the Forum

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Sep 26). Comment on Ercolania coerulea from Spain by Miquel Pontes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20786

Factsheet

Ercolania coerulea

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