Dermatobranchus sp. 1.
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: ARMININA
Family: Arminidae
PHOTO
UPPER: Unidentified species of Dermatobranchus from Fly Point, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia, December 1986.
LOWER: Same species feeding on a colony of the soft coral Dendronephthya, at Fly Point, October 1986.
PHOTOS: Bill Rudman.
RELATED TOPIC
Species of Dermatobranchus seldom grow larger than 10mm. There appear to be many undescribed species. Although a few are commonly found clustering on large soft coral colonies, there are also others which are often found on reef flats, in algal turf, or under coral rubble, with no clear association with any food.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 1998 (August 10) Dermatobranchus sp. 1. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/dermsp1
Related messages
Dermatobranchus? on Sea Pens from Port Stephens, N.S.W [3].
March 17, 2010
From: Leanne and David Atkinson
Concerning message #23329:
Hi Bill,
We are sending photos of what we have been calling Dermatobranchus sp. feeding on a White Sea Pen. It shows some of the polyps out and some closed. We also find it feeding on pink Sea Pens and pink Soft Corals [see #23351, #23352].
Locality: Fly Point, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Port Stephens , 8 to 10 metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 06 July 2008 ; 22 November 08, Sandy bottom sponges, bryozoans, soft corals, hydroids, ascidians and kelp. Length: approximately 20 mm. Photographer: Leanne and David Atkinson.
Hope this is of interest.
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Dear Leanne and David,
This is definitely of interest. It shows that Dermatobranchus sp. 1 feeds on at least 2 species of Sea Pen as well as soft corals.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Dermatobranchus? on Sea Pens from Port Stephens, N.S.W [2].
March 17, 2010
From: Leanne and David Atkinson
Concerning message #23329:
Hi Bill,
We are sending photos of what we have been calling Dermatobranchus sp. feeding on a pink soft coral. It shows some of the polyps out and some closed. We also find it feeding on pink Sea Pens and White Sea Pens. It was early evening just after sunset.
Locality: Fly Point, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Port Stephens , 10 metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 22 September 2007, Sandy bottom sponges, bryozoans, soft corals, hydroids, ascidians and seaweed. Length: approximately 20 mm. Photographer: Leanne and David Atkinson.
Hope this is of interest.
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Dear Leanne and David,
This seems to be a retracted colony of Dendronephthya which I noted this species of Dermatobranchus feeds on [see feeding on Dendronephthya]. It is good to get further records of Dermatobranchus feeding on the soft coral as well as your messages showing it feeding on Sea Pens [#23351, #23353].
The very narrow mantle 'skirt' and lack of lateral ridges along the side of the body are a pretty good external indication that this is a species of Dermatobranchus rather than Armina.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Dermatobranchus? on Sea Pens from Port Stephens, N.S.W [1].
March 17, 2010
From: Leanne and David Atkinson
Concerning message #23329:
Hi Bill,
We also find a pink Sea Pen here at Port Stephens. We have sent a photo of the back and of the front. It is the type favoured by Armina sp. 10. Both of these show the Sea Pen only partly extended and with the polyps closed. It was early morning just after sunrise so perhaps they were withdrawing for the day. We have also sent a photo of what we have been calling Dermatobranchus feeding on it the picture shows some of the polyps out and some closed. This Dermatobranchus feeds on this pink Sea Pen the pink Soft Coral and white Sea Pen. We will send messages to support these observations [messages #23352, #23353]. We have been identifying it as the same Dermatobranchus.
Locality: The Pipeline, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, 8 metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 13 March 2010; 05 September 2009, Sandy silty bottom with sea pens, sponges, ascidians, gorgonias, soft corals, hydroids and seaweed. Length: Pink Sea Pen approximately 100 mm, Dermatobranchus approximately 20 mm. Photographer: Leanne and David Atkinson.
What do you think?
Thanks for you help.
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Dear Leanne and David,
Thanks for these observations. This is the animal I identified for you many years ago as Dermatobranchus sp. 1 and as the photos in this and your other two messages confirm, it is indeed a species of that genus. It certainly means that at least this species eats Sea pens as well as soft corals. I also agree with your suggestion that the little animal in your earlier message is this Dermatobranchus rather than a juvenile Armina.
These biology of these arminids certainly looks like an interesting field for someone to investigate.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Dermatobranchus from Port Stephens
July 11, 1999
From: Grey McNeil
Dear Bill,
Could you identify this photo please. The details are:
PIPELINE, NELSON BAY, Port Stephens, NSW, eastern Australia, 8m, September 1997, 1cm long.
Thanks,
Grey McNeil.
GREYMACIND@bigpond.com.au
McNeil, G., 1999 (Jul 11) Dermatobranchus from Port Stephens. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1004Dear Grey,
This is an unnamed species of Dermatobranchus found quite commonly in Port Stephens. Have a look at the Top of this Page and the other messages on the page. It looks like you have photographed a cluster of animals which are in the process of eating a soft coral colony to destruction.
Bill Rudman.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Jul 11). Comment on Dermatobranchus from Port Stephens by Grey McNeil. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1004Dermatobranchus from Port Stephens
October 14, 1998
From: David Atkinson
16 September 1998
Hi,
I am having trouble identifying the attached armina (2 pics). It was found eating soft coral just off the Fishermans Co Op at Nelson Bay Pt. Stephens on the 6/9/98 in 6M. of water. It is only 9mm long.
David Atkinson
atkin@hunterlink.net.au
Atkinson, D., 1998 (Oct 14) Dermatobranchus from Port Stephens. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/261Sorry its taken a while to reply David. This is clearly the unidentified species of Dermatobranchus pictured above. Species of Dermatobranchus are 'supposed' to eat soft corals like this, not the fascinating Armina cygnea which as a species of Armina 'should' have been feeding on sea pens. .. Bill Rudman.
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (Oct 14). Comment on Dermatobranchus from Port Stephens by David Atkinson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/261On Dermatobranchus
August 10, 1998
From: Bill Rudman
Here is a note on Dermatobranchus to go with Kevin Strychar's question on Dendronephthya feeders . .. Bill Rudman.
