Cerberilla sp. from Queensland
April 9, 2002
From: Nerida Wilson
Hi Bill,
This Cerberilla was found in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia in October 2001. It was found intertidally on a silty flat. Have you seen it before? The specimen was around 10mm.
Cheers
Nerida
nwilson@marine.uq.edu.au
Wilson, N., 2002 (Apr 9) Cerberilla sp. from Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6511
Thanks Nerida,
No I haven't seen this colour form before, but from its size it is most probably a juvenile colour form. Most species of Cerberilla have a dark juvemile colour form which starts to lighten up and develop the species distinctive colours when they reach about 20mm in length. Because these infaunal sand-burrowers are so seldom found, we know very little about their geographic range or colour variability. I have included a closeup of some of the cerata to show the yellow streak on the cerata. These may be as big as it gets, but it could also be the start of a yellow ring which only become complete in adults.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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