Dermatobranchus gonatophora? from South Africa
March 30, 2000
From: Valda Fraser
Dear Bill
I have not had too much luck trying to identify this nudibranch. It looks like Dermatobranchus gonatophora to me, but the location is a problem. In the winter months these nudibranchs are plentiful in certain areas. I have also noticed quite a colour variation. I was lucky with this photo .... note the fish!
Locality: South coast KwaZulu-Natal SOUTH AFRICA. Park Rynie - 25m
Date: June 1999
Size: 27mm
Regards
Valda Fraser
iti04937@mweb.co.za
Fraser, V., 2000 (Mar 30) Dermatobranchus gonatophora? from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2146Dear Valda,
I guess you got the name from the book by Debelius. I'm afraid I don't know who advised him on that name but it is a bit of a jump from van Hasselt's problematic description from Indonesia.
I suppose it is a nudibranch? I can't see the head region very clearly so can't make out the nature of the rhinophores. There is a possibility that it is a flatworm. If you have a photo of the head region showing the rhinophores it would be a help. It would also be quite good to see some of the colour variation you mention.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
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