Risbecia godeffroyana from the Solomons

January 10, 2001
From: Mary Jane Adams

Hi Bill,
Here is another Risbecia godeffroyana from Morovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, November, 2000. Are those translucent oval patches behind the rhinophores the eyes?

Thanks!
Mary Jane

divepng@yahoo.com

Adams, M.J., 2001 (Jan 10) Risbecia godeffroyana from the Solomons. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3487

Thanks Mary Jane,
The translucent oval patch behind the rhinophores can be seen in many chromodorids. It coincides with the position of the eyes which are sitting below the body wall on the cerebral ganglia. Sometimes you can see them through the body wall as two tiny black spots. Have a look at the page on the dorid head.

The eyes in these animals can't form an image and basically can sense light and dark, passiing shadows etc. I suspect the translucent patch, devoid of pigment, enables at least some light to pass through the body wall to reach the eyes.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jan 10). Comment on Risbecia godeffroyana from the Solomons by Mary Jane Adams. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3487

Factsheet

Risbecia godeffroyana

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