Pink nudibranch from Victoria, Australia
March 27, 2001
From: Terry Swanson
I would very much appreciate some advice on the following nudibranch I found under Portsea Pier [Victoria, Australia]. The specimen was about 50mm(2inches)long, light-medium pink, white globules on the end of a number of appendages on its body and from closer inspection of the slide its body has a texture similar to the pink prickly sponge we have over here.
Terry Swanson
terry.swanson@dtf.vic.gov.au
Swanson, T., 2001 (Mar 27) Pink nudibranch from Victoria, Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3987Dear Terry,
Your animal is Verconia verconis, a species found only in southern Australia, from Victoria to Western Australia. It is a chromodorid nudibranch with unique papillae along the mantle edge which help it to mimic the shape of the sponge it is usually found on. As you have noticed, the papillae have white glandular structures at their tips which store defensive chemicals which they have obtained from their sponge food.
Have a look at the top of this page, and at the other messages below yours on this page for more information. Also have a look at the page on Nudibranch Defence.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Related messages
-
Verconia verconis? from Western Australia
From: Wendy Hutchison, March 23, 2006 -
Verconia verconis from Jervis Bay, eastern Australia
From: Sue Newson, October 27, 2005 -
Verconia verconis from Sydney
From: Akos Lumnitzer, April 15, 2001 -
Egg-laying Verconia verconis
From: John Chuk, April 1, 2001 -
Variation in Verconia verconis
From: Stuart Hutchison, February 8, 2000 -
Juvenile Verconia? from South Australia
From: Stuart Hutchison, January 30, 2000 -
Orange Verconia verconis
From: Stuart Hutchison, January 28, 2000 -
Verconia verconis from southern Australia
From: Bill Rudman, August 30, 1999