Pleurobranchus forskalii, P. peroni

April 29, 1999
From: K. Koyanagi

ID: Pleurobranchus forskali, Pleurobranchus peroni
Location: Hawaii(North Shore of Oahu)

I am interested in more background information on these two organisms. Where else can they be found? What do they eat? How can you tell what sex thay are? Are they toxic? Any information
Any help ASSP would be much appreciated.

K. Koyanagi

KYLE@AOL.COM

Koyanagi, K., 1999 (Apr 29) Pleurobranchus forskalii, P. peroni. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/811

Dear K. Koyanagi,
I'm afraid we don't know much about the biology of any species of Pleurobranchus. The two species your are interested in, Pleurobranchus forskalii and Pleurobranchus peroni are found throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific and are sometimes found in large numbers on shallow reef flats.

All Sea Slugs are hermaphrodite, with a full complement of male and female organs. In Pleurobranchus they open on the right side of the body just in front of the gill. You can see the partly extended penis in the photo at the Top of this Page.

It is thought that all species of Pleurobranchus feed on ascidians (Sea Squirts), eating both solitary and compound species. However the European species, P. membranaceous, is the only species we have direct observations on.

Concerning their toxicity. Many Sea Slugs, including pleurobranchs, have secretory glands in their skin which are used for defence. The milky secretions of pleurobranchs are said to be quite acidic.

Any information you can collect on the basic natural history of these two species would be of interest. For example, What do they actually feed on? What do their egg masses look like? etc.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Apr 29). Comment on Pleurobranchus forskalii, P. peroni by K. Koyanagi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/811

Factsheet

Pleurobranchus forskalii

Related messages

  1. Pleurobranchus forskalii from Singapore
    From: Ron Yeo, March 28, 2008
  2. Pleurobranchus forskalii from Indonesia
    From: Mirjam Broos, February 15, 2007
  3. Swimming Pleurobranchus
    From: Mark Schaer, June 20, 2006
  4. A pleurobranch from Saipan
    From: Takao Urasawa, August 19, 2005
  5. Re: Mystery slug from Malaysia
    From: Jimmy Goh, May 10, 2005
  6. Large pleurobranch from Malaysia
    From: Alphonsus Jude Joseph, April 28, 2005
  7. Is this a sea slug?
    From: Dominic Rutherford, February 2, 2005
  8. Pleurobranchus forskalii from Lizard Is
    From: Nils Anthes, January 10, 2004
  9. Pleurobranchus forskalii from Sabah
    From: Asther M. Lau, July 23, 2003
  10. Pleurobranchus forskalii from South China Sea
    From: Audrey Koh, May 9, 2003
  11. Re: Mystery slug from Malaysia
    From: Michael Smith , March 27, 2003
  12. Mystery slug from Malaysia
    From: Michael Smith, March 26, 2003
  13. Pleurobranchus forskalii from Lord Howe Island
    From: W.B. Rudman, January 28, 2003
  14. Pleurobranchus forskalii from Solomons
    From: Bruce Potter, July 14, 2002
  15. Pleurobranchus forskalii from South Africa
    From: Valda Fraser, January 3, 2001
  16. Pleurobranchus synonyms in South Africa
    From: Ernest C.J. Seamark, June 17, 2000
  17. Spanish Dancer with white eggs?
    From: Jan Reyniers, April 6, 2000
  18. Re: Notaspidean defensive secretions
    From: Bill Rudman, May 14, 1999
  19. Pleurobranch acid secretions
    From: Rhanor Gillette, May 6, 1999
  20. Skin secretions in Pleurobranchus forskalii
    From: Clay Bryce, April 30, 1999
  21. Pleurobranchus forskalii in South Africa
    From: Ernest C.J. Seamark, April 17, 1999
  22. Opisthobranchs from Durban, South Africa
    From: Ernest Seamark, March 13, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages