Rostanga calumus from S.E. Australia
April 24, 2002
From: John Chuk
Dear Bill,
I read your message regarding Rostanga calumus and its egg-ribbon only hours after receiving slides of a specimen I photographed at Flinders Pier, Victoria, Australia, on April 9th, 2002.
I found several egg-ribbons on pylons and looked in vain for the nudibranch responsible. Then I found these egg-ribbons on a red sponge and close inspection revealed a well-disguised specimen of R. calumus. It measured 18mm in length and was found at a depth of 3m on a pier pylon.
The upper photo shows the two egg-ribbons on the sponge with the specimen of R. calumus between them. The second shot is a close up of the egg-ribbon on the right in the first shot.
I found six specimens of R. calumus at the site and many egg-ribbons but failed to observe the ribbon being laid. I did see a mating couple on a small red sponge and when I returned the next day the nudibranchs were not to be found but a half-spiral of a similar egg-ribbon had been laid on the sponge. No doubt circumstantial evidence but it does mount up.
Best wishes,
John.
jchuk@giant.net.au
Chuk, J., 2002 (Apr 24) Rostanga calumus from S.E. Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6803Thanks John,
I wish all scientific discovery was as quick as this! I agree that we can be pretty confident that the egg ribbons are those of
Cheers,
Bill Rudman
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