Aglajid sp. 7
Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
Superfamily: PHILINOIDEA
Family: Aglajidae
DISTRIBUTION
Seems to have a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution
PHOTO
Locality: Eilat, Village Beach, Israel. Red Sea (Gulf of Eilat). Depth: 4 m. Length: ca. 2.5 cm. 06 June 2005. sand and rubble slope. Photographer: Binyamin and Shulamit Koretz
This species has a characteristic purple colour pattern with low whitish pustules usually tipped with yellow. The underside is also coloured [see message #14014]. There is also a cone-shaped posterior horn which seems to be formed by the merging of posterior flaps usually found in aglajids.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2005 (June 29) Aglajid sp. 7 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/aglajidsp7
Related messages
Battle between Aglajid sp. 7 and flatworm
June 29, 2005
From: Binyamin Koretz
Hi Bill,
Here are some photos of what appears to be a colorful species of Philinopsis battling (and taking a bite of) some kind of worm. Ultimately the worm escaped with just the one bite missing from its left side.
Locality: Eilat, Village Beach, Israel. Red Sea (Gulf of Eilat). Depth: 4 m. Length: ca. 2.5 cm. 06 June 2005. sand and rubble slope. Photographer: Binyamin and Shulamit Koretz
I'm sending additional photos [message #14015 ] of just the aglajid slug in a separate message.
Regards
Binyamin
binyamin@koretz.net
Koretz, B., 2005 (Jun 29) Battle between Aglajid sp. 7 and flatworm. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14014
Dear Binyamin,
Thanks for these photos. I must admit I am not 100% sure what is happening. Aglajids, other than Odontoglaja, are toothless and feed by either suction or a combination of suction and enveloping of the prey by the extensible buccal bulb. This animal does not seem to be everting its buccal bulb, and the damage on the flatworm suggests the slug may have bitten the worm with teeth. I guess I'll need to look at the anatomy of my specimen [message #14015] to be sure.
Very interesting.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Aglajid sp. 7 from the Red Sea
June 29, 2005
From: Binyamin Koretz
Hi Bill,
Following up my previous message [#14014 ], here are some additional photos of the colorful aglajid slug which we saw recently for the first time, following the escape of the worm.
It looks to us most like a species of Philinopsis - what appears to be a pointed tail seems in the 3rd photo to be the double tail flaps curled up.
Locality: Eilat, Village Beach, Israel. Red Sea (Gulf of Eilat). Depth: 4 m. Length: ca. 2.5 cm. 06 June 2005. sand and rubble slope. Photographer: Binyamin and Shulamit Koretz
Regards
Binyamin
binyamin@koretz.net
Koretz, B., 2005 (Jun 29) Aglajid sp. 7 from the Red Sea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14015
Dear Binyamin,
Thanks for these photos. I have delayed posting your essage for a while because I knew I had seen this animal before and was trying to find a reference. I have just realised there is no reference as it was an animal I saw in New Caledonia some time ago. I will post my photos when I get a chance.
It is definitely an aglajid but I think I would need to know something of its anatomy before deciding what genus to place it in. The distinctive cone-shaped pointed tail you mention, may be developed from the upper flaps of the posterior shield, but it is now a solid structure, quite unlike other aglajids. We'll call it Aglajid sp 7 for the time being.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
