Re: Andrew Green's Janolus cf. novozealandicus

June 10, 2001
From: Richard Willan

Dear Bill,
Andrew Green's animal animal from New Zealand which you tentatively associated with Janolus novozealandicus is what Michael Miller and I (1986) identified as Janolus hyalinus. J. hyalinus is a European species, that we believe has been introduced by shipping into both temperate Australia and New Zealand. It is essentially a golden or brown species (no white patches on the body, or blue or gold rings on the cerata). The cerata of J. hyalinus are very pustulose, and it will cast them off at the slightest touch. J. hyalinus seems to be commoner in Victoria than New Zealand, so it is a case of “Murphy’s Law” that Andrew Green’s records of adults from New Zealand made it onto the Forum first; the name used there for it “Janolus cf. novozealandicus” needs to be changed to J. hyalinus.

References:
• Willan, R.C. & Coleman, N. (1984) Nudibranchs of Australasia. Australasian Marine Photographic Index, Caringbah, Sydney, 56 pp.
• Miller, M.C. & Willan, R.C. (1986) A review of the New Zealand arminacean nudibranchs (Opisthobranchia: Arminacea). New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 13: 377-408.

Richard Willan

Richard.Willan@nt.gov.au

Willan, R.C., 2001 (Jun 10) Re: Andrew Green's Janolus cf. novozealandicus. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4542

Dear Richard,
I have a bit of a problem with your identification of this animal with the European Janolus hyalinus. I have discussed this with Michael Miller and must admit I am in the minority, with him in total agrement with you. What I find difficult is that you, and European workers characterise J. hyalinus as having the digestive gland duct running only halfway up the cerata while in Andrew Green's photos the NZ one defintiely has a digestive gland which runs to the ceratal tip. The European species is also a uniform golden brown whereas the NZ one has quite a colouful pattern.
I may be quite wrong, but its taken me hours to untangle the Janolus cf. novozealandicus messages on the Forum so I think it is prudent, for editorial reasons, to leave this animal on a separate page as Janolus cf. hyalinus until we are quite sure.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jun 10). Comment on Re: Andrew Green's Janolus cf. novozealandicus by Richard Willan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4542

Factsheet

Janolus sp. 6

Related messages

  1. Janolus cf. novozealandicus from New Zealand
    From: Andrew Green , May 23, 2001
  2. Janolus hyalinus? from Victoria, Australia
    From: John Chuk, April 30, 2001

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