'Trailing' behaviour in Risbecia tryoni

April 8, 1999
From: Erwin Koehler


Dear Bill,
Here are 4 photos of a pair of Risbecia tryoni which had lost and found themselves again. [The sequence starts at the top]
Do you know why the large one always goes ahead?
Locality: Philippines,
Negros Is., divesite "Sarah's Place, March 1999, 15m depth.
Erwin   

E.Koehler@deutschepost.de

Koehler, E., 1999 (Apr 8) 'Trailing' behaviour in Risbecia tryoni. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/760

Dear Erwin,
Whenever two animals of Risbecia tryoni get together they seem to play "follow the leader". Perhaps its a behaviour which has evolved amongst relatively uncommon animals to ensure they find each other for mating. In this 'trailing' behaviour, one animal appears to follow the mucous trail of the other until they actually make contact. Then the following animal, as you show, keeps contact by touching the 'tail' of the leader.

I don't think the leader is always the biggest but I've never really taken note of that. Anyone else's observations would be welcome.

Other species of Risbecia also do this and I suggested years ago that it could be used as a distinguishing character of the genus .. a bit difficult to find in preserved bottled animals however! I must find time to look out some photos of other species of Risbecia showing this trailing behaviour.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Apr 8). Comment on 'Trailing' behaviour in Risbecia tryoni by Erwin Koehler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/760

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Risbecia tryoni

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