Aeolidiella alba from Sulawesi
July 20, 2000
From: Lindsay Warren
Dear Bill
I found this 5mm long specimen which I think is Aeolidiella alba at 11:00 on 3 August 1999 at a depth of 19 ft on a deep water mooring line covered in algae and small hydroids at one of the dive sites on Pulau Hoga, Tukang Besi Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Operation Wallacea]
In one shot the cerata are relaxed on the notum whereas in the other they are shown flared when disturbed. On the notum behind the rhinophores is a medium sized black spot (unfortunately not visible in the photos).
Immediately behind the rhinophores is an orange line. The rhinophores are mottled and annulate. The cerata are pale pinky brown rather than white which, I presume, the name 'alba' implies. Photos: Lindsay Warren.
Looking forward to your thoughts as ever.
All the best
Lindsay Warren
alldcl@compuserve.com
Warren, L., 2000 (Jul 20) Aeolidiella alba from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2739Dear Lindsay,
I must say I have never seen such an agitated Aeolidiella alba as the ones in your photo. I have always found it to be a rather sedate thing showing little sign of movement with its cerata neatly arranged and lying flat on its back.
Despite that, I am sure your animal is the same. The distinctive features are the the swollen sections on the rhinophores and the red line around the base of the rhinophores which sometimes forms a complete ring, and other times just a line behind them, as in your specimen.
I am afraid I had some better photos from Tanzania of the typical white form, which gives the species its name, but I am afraid they succumbed to fungus. I have attached the only photo I have which was photographed by chance in a dish and looks like a hydroid stalk has fallen on it. It does however show the typical white cerata, red ring and golden coloured rhinophores. [Photo: North Reef (on sewer pipe), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. May 1974].
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
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