Observations on Dondice banyulensis

June 24, 2000
From: Erwin Koehler

Dear Bill,
Here are some 'action shots' of Dondice banyulensis (egg-ribbon, feeding and mating). All photos were made in Spain, Cala Joncols (Costa Brava):
•ek087302 size approx 6 cm, depth 12 m, May 05, 1998, divesite "La Caverna"
•ek108123 size 57 mm, depth 15 m, April 18, 2000, divesite "Cabo Caverna"
•ek108518 size 64 mm, depth 17 m, April 20, 2000, divesite "La Caverna"
•ek108524 size 64 mm and 55 mm, depth 17 m, April 20, 2000, divesite "La Caverna"

The animal in ek108518 followed pretty fast the track of the other one, and when they got in contact they started bristling and whipping their cerata (like a Diadem urchin does when disturbed), got in mating position (ek108524) going on with this spectacle all the time. That time I really wished I had a video, because this action cannot be recorded in a photo. It looked like a little firework.
Erwin

Medslugs.Koehler@t-online.de

Koehler, E., 2000 (Jun 24) Observations on Dondice banyulensis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2618

Thanks Erwin,
It's very interesting to hear of them 'bristling' their cerata when mating. I wonder if some of the other species that bristle their cerata, such as Moridilla brocki and Sakuraeolis nungunoides do the same?

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jun 24). Comment on Observations on Dondice banyulensis by Erwin Koehler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2618

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