Anteaeolidiella indica
(Bergh, 1888)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Aeolidiidae
PHOTO
Auckland, New Zealand, intertidal. 5 November 2003. Photo: Brian Kuan
Previously placed in the genus Aeolidiella it has recently [Miller, 2001] been placed in a monotypic genus Anteaeolidiella. This common intertidal aeolid is found throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific and occurs as far south as northern New Zealand. There are also records from the Atlantic and Mediterranean under various names. It is not clear whether it has a natural circum-tropical distribution or whether it has spread more widely with the assistance of shipping. The colour of the dorsal part of the body ranges from a dull uniform orange-brown to a pale translucent white background with a row of white patches down the dorsal midline, each outlined by an orange line. It has been known under many names, many of which were synonymised by Gosliner & Griffiths (1981) including Aeolidiella takanosimensis. Little is known of its biology but I have observed animals in Australia feeding on sea anemones and it has direct developing larvae.
References:
• Baba, K. (1979a) Brief comment on the identification of a nudibranchiate mollusk, Aeolidiella takanosimensis Baba 1930, from Amakusa, Japan (Eolidoidea: Aeolidiidae). Publications from the Amakusa Marine Biological Laboratory, Kyushu University 5(1): 1-7.
• Baba, K. (1979b) Short account of the anatomy of a nudibranchiate mollusk; Aeolidiella takanosimensis Baba, 1930 from Japan (Eolidoidea: Aeolidiidae). The Veliger, 22(1): 12-18.
•Baba, K. (1930) Studies on Japanese nudibranchs 3. A. Phyllidiidae. B. Aeolididae. Venus, The Japanese Journal of Malacology, 2(3): 117-125.
• Gosliner, T.M. & Griffiths, R.J. (1981) Description and revision of some South African aeolidacean Nudibranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Annals of the South African Museum, 84(2): 105-150.
• Miller, M.C. (2001) Aeolid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the family Aeolidiidae from New Zealand waters. Journal of Natural History, 35: 629-662.
Rudman, W.B., 2003 (November 11) Anteaeolidiella indica (Bergh, 1888). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/anteindi
Related messages
Anteaeolidiella indica from Ratnagiri, India
May 13, 2009
From: Vishal Bhave
Concerning message #11360:
Here is Anteaeolidiella indica found under rocks in rockpool at 1 foot depth and , it was kept under observation in my home in tank - Laid a mass of egg under the rock
Locality: Rocky patch, Mandavi, Ratnagiri, 1 foot, Maharashtra, India, Arabian sea, 08 February 2009, Intertidal, beneath rocks in rockpool. Length: 18 mm. Photographer: Vishal Bhave.
Vishal Bhave
vishalbhave@gmail.com
Dear Vishal,
Thanks for these photos. The orange pattern which outlines white diamond-shaped marks on the back is very characteristic, but is sometimes difficult to see. In the top right corner of your photo with the egg ribbon I can see two sea anemones, which could well be the food of your animal.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Anteaeolidiella indica from Taiwan
May 13, 2009
From: Vincent Chen
Concerning message #13083:
Dear Bill,
I found this small seaslug (~6 mm) a few days ago, and my friend help me to identify it as Anteaeolidiella indica. It reminded me another similar animal earlier when I found it on March 21. Could they both be Anteaeolidiella indica? One is the adult and the other is the young one? Thanks for your kindly help.
Locality: Makong, Taipei county, 30 cm, Taiwan, West Pacific Ocean, 9 May 2009, Intertidal. Length: 6 mm and 30 mm. Photographer: Vincent Y. Chen.
with best wish,
Vincent
teatai@ms51.hinet.net
Dear Vincent,
I am pretty sure the animal in your upper photo is Anteaeolidiella indica, but it would help if I could see the colour pattern on its back. The animal in the lower photo has a white line down the dorsal midline of the 'tail' and fine leaflets on the rhinophores which are not found in A. indica. I suspect it is Hermissenda crassicornis but someone with local knowledge may have a better idea.
Perhaps you could let us know which is the 6 mm animal and which is the 30 mm one?
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Anteaeolidiella indica from Reunion Island
February 12, 2005
From: Philibert Bidgrain
Dear Bill,
Reunion Island sea slugs.
We have only two specimens of Anteaeolidiella indica, both observed by Maurice Jay.
Locality: "Cap champagne" lagoon at Saint Paul, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean. Length: 15 mm.12 september 1988. in lagoon' Photographer: Maurice Jay
Best Regards
Philibert Bidgrain
http://vieoceane.free.fr/runseaslug/indexslug.htm
pbidgrain@yahoo.fr
Bidgrain, P., 2005 (Feb 12) Anteaeolidiella indica from Reunion Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13107Thanks Philibert,
This seems to be a form of Anteaeolidiella indica, but sometimes it is a bit difficult to be sure from a single photo.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Anteaeolidiella indica from Hawaii
February 8, 2005
From: Scott Johnson
Hi Bill,
Let me add my voice to the chorus of those happy to see the Forum back in regular operation. Like an addict, I was suffering serious withdrawal symptoms without my near daily nudi fix.
To continue the discussion on its egg masses [message #13060], here are photos of Anteaeolidiella indica from Hawaii that show egg masses. I'm quite sure these eggs came from the pictured individuals.
Locality: Oahu, Kewalo reef, Hawaii, USA. Depth: 1 meter. Length: 10mm or less. 1979. Shallow subtidal rubble reef. Photographer: Scott Johnson
They were relatively common on shallow subtidal (near intertidal) reefs around Oahu. These were just off a man-made breakwater near Kewalo Basin in Honolulu.
Scott
uwkwaj@yahoo.com
Johnson, S., 2005 (Feb 8) Anteaeolidiella indica from Hawaii. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13083
Dear Scott,
They certainly look like the egg ribbons I am familiar with. I assume the dark grey mass at the top right of the photo alongside is the trunk of a sea anemone, which I guess is the food supply of the nudibranch. I have never actually caught young hatchlings feeding, but perhaps they crawl to the nearest anemone. I assume like the adults they will eat the trunk.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: Anteaeolidiella indica from northern N.S.W.
February 5, 2005
From: Denis Riek
Dear Bill,
In regard to the egg ribbon in my picture [message #13060 ], the slug may have just been crawling over it when I took the picture. I didn't see any egg laying activity and should have mentioned this in my letter.
Regards
Denis
denisriek@hotmail.com
Riek, D.W., 2005 (Feb 5) Re: Anteaeolidiella indica from northern N.S.W.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13079Thanks Denis,
Nice to clear that up.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Anteaeolidiella indica from northern N.S.W.
February 4, 2005
From: Denis Riek
Dear Bill,
This species was fairly common in the river last autumn and winter, always under rocks in shallow water and quite often in pairs. Is it Anteaeolidiella indica?
Locality: Brunswick River, nthn New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 1-2 metres. Length: 10-12 mm. 21 June 2004. Under rocks on internal rock walls. Photographer: Denis Riek
Regards,
Denis
denisriek@hotmail.com
Riek, D.W., 2005 (Feb 4) Anteaeolidiella indica from northern N.S.W.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13060
Dear Denis,
Yes this is Anteaeolidiella indica. It has quite a range in colour, at least some of it due to the colour of the sea anemones it feeds on. I am pretty sure the egg ribbon in your photo alongside is from something else, as this species has direct larval development, the eggs being much larger and fewer in number. Then again if you have seen these animals laying this egg ribbon then it may mean there is more than one species, which would make things difficult for us taxonomists.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: Anteaeolidiella indica from NZ
December 2, 2003
From: Brian Kuan
Hi Bill,
Thank you for taking your time in identifying this nudi. The information you provided is great. I manage to take a clearer picture of it recently, so I am sending it to you.
Cheers,
Brian Kuan
bkuan@ihug.co.nz
Kuan, B., 2003 (Dec 2) Re: Anteaeolidiella indica from NZ. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11572Dear Brian,
Thanks for the excellent photo. I am always happy to provide information because, as in this case, it is usually reciprocal. This photo is the clearest I have seen of the New Zealand colour form of this species and so is an excellent addition to our knowledge. The distinct pattern of white patches and the reddish orange background colour are very typical
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Anteaeolidiella indica from NZ
November 13, 2003
From: Brian Kuan
Hi, you have a great web site here. I a amateur aquariist, living in Auckland, New Zealand. Recently I have found a nudibranch living in my aquarium. My aquarium is a New Zealand Rockpool aquarium, I got all my rocks and sand from the local beach and rockpools.
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Date: 05/11/2003
Depth: intertidal
biotope: rocky and a lot of kelp.
I have a website where I have pictures of all the inhabitants in my aquarium at:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~kuansl/MarineTOC.htm
Please can you help me identify the species of nudibranch?
Thank you in advance.
Cheers
Brian Kuan
bkuan@ihug.co.nz
Kuan, B., 2003 (Nov 13) Anteaeolidiella indica from NZ. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11360Dear Brian,
This is quite a common aeolid nudibranch in northern New Zealand but does not seem to occur south of Auckland. It has recently [Miller, 2001] been renamed Anteaeolidiella indica but has been previously identified in New Zealand as Aeolidiella indica and Aeolidiella takanosimensis. As you will see on the species Fact Sheet there are still some complications surrounding this species' identification.
Little is known of its biology in New Zealand but I have observed animals in Australia feeding on sea anemones. If you can find a second individual, and are happy to replace sea anemones as they are eaten, this is a good aquarium animal as it does not have a free-living larval stage. if you are lucky you could end up with a second generation in your tank
When I get a moment I will post a selection of photos of this species from throughout the Indo-West Pacific to show its colour variability
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
