Hermaea bifida from France

February 7, 2001
From: Jean Pierre Bielecki


Dear Bill
Thank you for the identification of the blue chromodorid, it is what we were thinking it was. And now I have two other species without identification, please could you help me again?
The first was found in Mediterranean Sea (December 2000, dive site : Etang de Thau, Sète, South of France, Depth 3m, Size 15mm completely mimetic with algae of the same colour).

I will send the second species in a separate message

Best wishes
Jean Pierre Bielecki

bielecki.jeanpierre@free.fr

Bielecki, J.P., 2001 (Feb 7) Hermaea bifida from France. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3722

Dear Jean Pierre
This is probably Hermaea bifida. If you have a look at Lucas Cervera's earlier message, there is another similar species, H. boucheti which has been described which is differs in having a white patch over the pericardium, just behind the head. I can't see any sign of a white patch in your animal.

Species of Hermaea, as you note are extremely well camouflaged on the algae they live and feed on. The reason their colour is identical is that they take the algal plastids, which contain the plant pigments, and keep them alive in their own bodies.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Feb 7). Comment on Hermaea bifida from France by Jean Pierre Bielecki. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3722

Factsheet

Hermaea bifida

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