Elysia cf. tomentosa. from Okinawa

November 29, 2001
From: Bob Bolland


Hi Bill,
Enclosed are two images of a curious Elysia sp. (E. tomentosa?) found on Okinawa.

Data: RFB # 3320 TL: 37mm., 20ft Crawling on the surface of mixed sand / coral rubble (not found associated with any alga). Seragaki, Okinawa, 18 Nov 1994.

This is the only one I've found here. I'd appreciate any ideas as to what it may be.
Cheers,
Bob

bollandr@rapid-link.ne.jp

Bolland, R.F., 2001 (Nov 29) Elysia cf. tomentosa. from Okinawa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5251

Dear Bob,
I agree this has similarities to E. tomentosa Jensen, 1997 but I would like an opinion from her. In the original description, the three pairs of distinctive parapodial folds seen in your photos, are not mentioned, but two large ones are suggested in the accompanying line drawing. One very distinctive feature is that the body is "extremely papillose, and many papillae ... are branched .."

The colour is described as "olive green ... more or less covered by tiny white specks which may form larger white spots, especially on the head .... The parapodial margins are orange or light red .. Small orange-brown dots are scattered on the body surface, as are numerous small back dots, some of which are ocellate... The papillae are mostly white, those along the parapodial margins are transparent ..."

Your animal also seems to have a white patch on the pericardium. There is no mention of that in the description of E. tomentosa.

• Jensen, K.R. (1997) Sacoglossa (Mollusca,Opisthobranchia) from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and central Western Australia. In: The Marine Flora and Fauna of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. (Ed: Wells,FE) Western Australian Museum, Perth, 307-333.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Nov 29). Comment on Elysia cf. tomentosa. from Okinawa by Bob Bolland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5251

Factsheet

Elysia cf. tomentosa

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