Re: Okenia atkinsonorum - another pink species

January 31, 2008
From: Leanne & David Atkinson

Concerning message #21273:

Dear Bill,
Thankyou for naming Okenia atkinsonorum after us, it is a great honour. Here are some more photos to add to your visual record of O. atkinsonorum on the forum.

There are two photos of them mating, one taken at The Pipeline and one taken at Fly Point. Both are popular dive sites in Port Stephens. They are found all year round throughout Port Stephens and the nearby islands wherever their food bryozoan is found. We found one at Looking Glass at Broughton Island just north of Port Stephens at the weekend. We have also included a photo of the foot.

Locality: Port Stephens, 12 to 14 metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific, June 2005 and 24 December 2005, Sandy bottom with scattered bryozoans, soft corals, sponges, ascidians and gorgonians. Length: approximately 8mm. Photographer: Leanne and David Atkinson.

We hope you enjoy your holiday and have a well deserved rest.
Best wishes,
Leanne & David Atkinson

atk@hunterlink.net.au

Atkinson, L. & D., 2008 (Jan 31) Re: Okenia atkinsonorum - another pink species. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21315

Thanks Leanne and David,

I particularly like the photo of the underside showing the V-shaped mark which marks where the head and the foot have merged. The mouth is the small dark mark at the bottom of the V.

I am glad I could thasnk you in this way for your help in sorting out this little mystery. Now that I am no longer 'fooled' by this third pink species which I used to think was Okenia hallucigenia it will be interesting to see how long before O hallucigeniais found again in Port Stephens. The last definite record I know of it from there is my photo from July 1986.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Jan 31). Comment on Re: Okenia atkinsonorum - another pink species by Leanne & David Atkinson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21315

Factsheet

Okenia atkinsonorum

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