Dendrodoris? sp. 2.
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Dendrodorididae
PHOTO
Knuckle Reef, 40 nautical miles off Airlie Beach, Queensland. PHOTO: Thomas Haberkorn.
See message below.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2000 (February 3) Dendrodoris? sp. 2. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/dendrsp2
Related messages
Dendrodoris? from Queensland
February 4, 2000
From: Thomas Haberkorn
Dear Bill,
Last year I sent a message about this Dendrodoris I found off Airlie Beach in Queensland, Australia a number of years ago According to the guy I was buddied up with, and who claimed to be some kind of "Hobbyexpert" of Nudibranchs, it was unknown to anyone. I found it near Knuckle Reef, 40 nautical miles off Airlie Beach, Queensland.
Thomas Haberkorn
martom@mackay.net.au
Thomas Haberkorn, 2000 (Feb 4) Dendrodoris? from Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1844Dear Thomas,
It certainly has the look of a Dendrodoris but that could only be confirmed by dissection or by having a close look at the head. In most cryptobranch dorids the head is a distinct structure with a pair of small oral tentacles. In the dendrodorids, which are all suctorial feeders without radular teeth, the head is much reduced and there are ridges joining it to the foot. I'll try and find a good photo to post as a comparison with the 'toothed' dorids.
Now to the identity of your animal. I don't recognise it off-hand. It could be a strange colour variation of Dendrodoris fumata but I doubt it. Then first thing to find out would be whether it is a dendrodorid, and then we would need to find some more specimens to see how variable it was in colour. I can't help you with any information on its biology or distribution other than to guess it is a sponge feeder.
Sorry I can't be more informative. Keep an eye out for some more specimens.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
How do I get help?
October 27, 1999
From: Thomas Haberkorn
A number of years ago I found a Dendrodoris which, according to the guy I was buddied up with,and who claimed to be some kind of "Hobbyexpert" of Nudibranchs, was unknown to anyone. I found it near Knuckle Reef, 40 nm off Airlie Beach, Queensland.
Well, the guy I was with worked at the GBRMPA [Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority] and does not live in Airlie anymore. Since I haven't got a scanner to show you this creature, I am at a loss as to how to find out about this species!
Any suggestions??
Thomas Haberkorn
martom@tpg.com.au
Haberkorn, T., 1999 (Oct 27) How do I get help?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1460Dear Thomas,
The easiest solution, if you haven't a scanner, is to send me a photo or a slide. I will scan it here and send you back your original. The same applies to anyone else without any means of scanning their slides or photos. I can't guarantee to return them on the same day, but I have just installed a new scanner today specifically for Forum use, so as soon as I have time to open the envelope, I will scan the photos and return them to you.
My postal address is:
Dr Bill Rudman
Australian Museum
6 College St,
Sydney, NSW 2010
Australia
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
