Re: Trapania brunnea from Bare Island, Sydney N.S.W

October 22, 2009
From: Leanne and David Atkinson

Concerning message #22687:

Dear Bill,
Re: message by Nick Missendon on Trapania brunnea. We have seen this nudibranch frequently at Port Stephens as well, mostly at the dive sites Fly Point and Halifax Sponge Gardens. We usually find it on an orange sponge that is locally called Dead Man's Fingers but we don't know the scientific name. We've sent a photo of diver and the sponge as well as some shots of the Trapania brunnea. In each of the Trapania brunnea shots we can see some kamptozoa. These nudibranchs seem to vary a bit in the shade of brown but as you noted they always have the small colourless spots.

Upper Photo: 'Deadman's Fingers' & Leanne Atkinson. Halifax Sponge Gardens, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 15 metres. Sponge Height approximately 300 mm. 03 January 2009. General locality information: Rocky and sandy bottom with scattered sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, gorgoniams and soft corals. Photographer: David Atkinson.
Middle Photos:  Trapania brunnea on sponge covered with kamptozoa. Close-up shows individual kamptozoan zooids with stomach contents showing as brown spots.  Halifax Sponge Gardens, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia. 15 metres. Specimen length: 10 mm. 08 April 2007. Photo: Leanne & David Atkinson.
Lower Photo: Showing kamptozoa & pair of Trapania brunnea. Fly Point, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia. 15 metres. Specimen length: approximately 8 mm. 23 August 2009. Photo: Leanne & David Atkinson

Hope this is of interest.
Regards,
Leanne & David Atkinson

atk@hunterlink.net.au

Atkinson, L. & D., 2009 (Oct 22) Re: Trapania brunnea from Bare Island, Sydney N.S.W. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22714

Dear Leanne and David,

Thanks for these photos, which show the kamptozoa and their brown spots so well. The brown spots are their stomach contents. In the close-up I have altered the colour balance so the zooids can be seen more clearly. The sponge is different from that in Nick's message which also illustrates that the attraction of Trapania to sponges is because of the presence of the kamptozoa rather then any particular liking for sponges. The common name "dead man's fingers" is quite an expressive common name which is used around the world for quite a lot of different finger sponges and also soft corals. Sorry I can't give you a scientific name.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Oct 22). Comment on Re: Trapania brunnea from Bare Island, Sydney N.S.W by Leanne and David Atkinson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22714

Factsheet

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