Unidentified sea slug from South Africa

March 3, 2010
From: Neil Wiltshire

Dear Mr Rudman,

Further to my previous message, here is the second specimen of the unidentified sea slugs (pleurobranch's) I photographed recently.

As mentioned, I am not sure if this is a second species or a variant of the first species. [see message #23283]

Locality: Unnamed reef near Aliwal Shoal, off Umkomaas, south of Durban, 25 metres, KwaZulu-Natal south coast, South Africa, Indian Ocean, 24 January 2010, Flat sandy bottom, next to reef. Length: 150 mm. Photographer: Neil Wiltshire.

Thanks very much!

Best regards,
Neil

neilw@fcraft.co.za

Wiltshire, N.I., 2010 (Mar 3) Unidentified sea slug from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23284

Dear Neil,

It certainly looks similar to the pleurobranch in your last message, but I have some doubts. One of the difficulties with identifying from photos is that I can't just turn the animal over and see if it is a pleurobranch or not. It has definite similarities to some dorid nudibranchs such as species of Hoplodoris, but in that group the bases of the tubercles are usually separated. If it is a pleurobranch then there is the possibility it is a large specimen of P. albiguttatus. One distinguishing feature of that species are the scattered tubercles it has, each with a triangular white mark on them. I have ringed two such white marks in the close-up alongside.

Unless you have another photo which shows the head tentacles I'm afraid I will have to leave this as an 'unknown'

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (Mar 3). Comment on Unidentified sea slug from South Africa by Neil Wiltshire. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23284

Factsheet

Unidentified - South Africa

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