Discodoris evelinae from live rock shipment?

April 22, 2008
From: Brian K. Penney

I have a cryptobranch dorid that suddenly appeared on the wall of my sump tank, right where the water input gives the best flow. I had received a live rock shipment about a month before, and my guess is that this individual ran out of its prey sponge and surfaced to lay eggs.

I have included a photo of the dorsal side. The mantle is covered with low papillae (like Geitodoris heathi I have seen) and spiculate, with some spicules protruding slightly from the papillae but not formed into caryophyllidia.The individual is about 12 mm long, oral tentacles are finger-like and has a distinct mouth, the anterior foot margin is bilabiate and notched. Unfortunately, the slug would not cooperate for a photo of the ventral side, so the quality of this photo is a bit poor!

The live rock was from a lease in Key West (from tampabaysaltwater.com), but the supplier gives no more detailed location information. The only Carribean fauna manual I have available to me is the Humann & DeLoach Reef Creature 2nd edition, and Discodoris evelinae is the best match given that source. However, this individual seems much smaller than the sizes listed on the Slug Forum.

The slug also laid an egg mass straddling the water line in the position of highest water flow: just slightly longer than one complete, counterclockwise spiral, slightly ovoid and 13 mm in the longest direction (horizontal), and approximately 10 mm in the vertical. It is cream/light yellow colored. Unfortunately, I cannot get a good picture, as it is in a very awkward place in the sump!

Any help confirming identification is appreciated!

Locality: Live rock shipment from Tampabaysaltwater.com, unknown, Florida, USA, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, 17 September 2007, Coral rubble. Length: 12mm. Photographer: B.K. Penney.

Brian K. Penney

bpenney@anselm.edu

Penney, B.K., 2008 (Apr 22) Discodoris evelinae from live rock shipment?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20822

Dear Brian,

It's quite likely it's a juvenile Discodoris evelinae. Perhaps one of our colleagues with a knowledge of the Caribbean animals alive can help.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Apr 22). Comment on Discodoris evelinae from live rock shipment? by Brian K. Penney. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20822

Factsheet

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