Melanochlamys sp.? from Japan.

August 13, 2002
From: Jun Imamoto


Dear Bill,
I have looked at your web-site and many Sea Slug Illustrated books, but, I can't find information about this sea slug. I would be very happy with any help you could give me.

Wakasa Bay, Echizen-coast, Japan, 11 July 2002., size approx: 5mm. Depth: 3 m. Temperature: 23 C

Best Regards,
Jun Imamoto

imamoto@wips.co.jp

Imamoto, J., 2002 (Aug 13) Melanochlamys sp.? from Japan.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7690

Dear Jun,
It is a bit hard to be sure, because at 5mm long, your animal could be a juvenile, without its characteristic adult shape. If we accept that its shape is 'adult', then it looks to me like an aglajid of the genus Melanochlamys. I think all the known species are from temperate rather than tropical waters. Externally they differ from Philinopsis in having a more compact body, with smaller parapodia, and with the posterior flap of the headshield being simply rounded and not developed into a raised pointed crest. There foregut is different from Philinopsis, the buccal buld being a large muscular bulb which is used to catch polychaete worms, by rapidly sucking them in, like eating a noodle or piece of spaghetti.

One species, M. ezoensis (Baba, 1957), has been described from Akkeshi in northern Japan. It is possibly that species but I can't be sure from the photo.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Aug 13). Comment on Melanochlamys sp.? from Japan. by Jun Imamoto. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7690

Factsheet

Melanochlamys ezoensis

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