Tritoniids from South Africa

January 5, 2001
From: Valda Fraser


Dear Bill
These tiny ones appeared suddenly last July. Unfortunately they are the kind that drive me mad because I still have minimal success in photographing dull whitish animals. Anyway, I hope you can see enough to hazard a guess.
Locality: Umzumbe, KwaZulu-Natal, SOUTH AFRICA - 18m
Date: July 2000
Size: 10mm
Thanks.
Regards
Valda Fraser

iti04937@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 2001 (Jan 5) Tritoniids from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2719

Dear Valda,
I suspect these may be juveniles of two different species. The fact they are small and white and appeared suddenly at the same time suggests they are the result of late winter / early spring breeding. We get a similar influx of juveniles in August here is southeastern Australia.

Juvenile tritoniids have proved tricky to identify and in Europe the juveniles of the large common Tritonia hombergi were for many years considered to be a distinct species, the animal not getting its adult colouration until quite late in its development.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jan 5). Comment on Tritoniids from South Africa by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2719

Factsheet

Unidentified - South Africa

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