Re: Miquel Pontes' Tritonia lineata?

October 3, 2001
From: Jean-Pierre Bielecki

Hi Bill
We think the species found by Miquel Pontes is not Tritonia lineata but a juvenile Marionia blainvillea. We are almost sure about this because we found ourselves many Marionia blainvillea in their juvenile or intermediate stage in the Gorgonian Leptogorgia sarmentosa (easy to find in night dive). Gery Parent kept one juvenile on its gorgonian in acquarium and saw the transformation in some weeks. Nevertheless, the adult species are more difficult to find (because they hide under rocks during the day) and they probably change their habitat (change their food?). In France, they are common in particular places in shallow (9 m) and murky water (visibility < 5 m) near the Rhone delta where the fixed marine life is very rich. In such places, they are so common that it is the attraction for the beginners because of their dance-like swimming when they are disturbed.

Here are 3 pictures of Marionia blainvillea showing the different stages:
UPPER RIGHT: Adult - 04 November 2000, size: 5cm, Depth: 9m, La Grande Motte; south of France, near the Rhone Delta, Mediterranean coast of France. LOWER LEFT: Intermediate - 19 July 2001, size: 2cm, Depth: 16m, Cerbère; France-Spain border (night dive). LOWER RIGHT: Juvenile - 19 July 2001, size: 5mm, Depth: 12m, Cerbère; France-Spain border (night dive). Photos: Jean-Pierre Bielecki

The gorgonian prey in lower two photos has been identified as Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Esper, 1789). See message from Helmut Zibrowius: 23 Oct 2001.

Best wishes,
Jean-Pierre Bielecki

bielecki.jeanpierre@free.fr

Bielecki, J-P., 2001 (Oct 3) Re: Miquel Pontes' Tritonia lineata?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5381

Dear Jean-Pierre,
This is indeed an interesting observation. It reminds me of Tritonia hombergi which also starts life as a white individual. It certainly shows the importance of studying populations, wherever possible, when naming or identifying species. Any chance of some approximate sizes for these animals please?
Best wishes & Thanks,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Oct 3). Comment on Re: Miquel Pontes' Tritonia lineata? by Jean-Pierre Bielecki. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5381

Factsheet

Marionia blainvillea

Related messages

  1. Re: Food of Marionia blainvillea
    From: Dominique Horst, October 2, 2009
  2. Juvenile Marionia blainvillea from France
    From: Marina Poddubetskaia, July 21, 2002
  3. Gluttonous Marionia blainvillea
    From: Jean-Pierre Bielecki, December 12, 2001
  4. Re: Food of Marionia blainvillea
    From: Helmut Zibrowius, October 24, 2001
  5. Marionia blainvillea food (2)
    From: Baki Yokes, October 22, 2001
  6. Re: Food of Marionia blainvillea
    From: Baki Yokes, October 22, 2001
  7. Food of Marionia blainvillea
    From: Bernard Picton , October 17, 2001
  8. Marionia blainvillea from Turkey
    From: Baki Yokes, October 11, 2001
  9. Re: Photos of Marionia blainvillea
    From: Jean-Pierre Bielecki, October 6, 2001
  10. Re: Possible Tritonia lineata? from Spain
    From: Miquel Pontes, October 3, 2001
  11. Possible Tritonia lineata? from Spain
    From: Miquel Pontes, September 29, 2001

Show factsheet and all related messages