Elysia sp. 2.

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: ELYSIOIDEA
Family: Elysiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Reported here from Kerama Is., nr Okinawa, Guam as well as the Marshall Islands. (see Clay Carlson message below).

PHOTO

Kerama Island, Japan. 5m depth, 15mm length, in May 1999, I observed 3 individuals. Their size were about 10 to 15mm. Inset showing orange-red spots. PHOTO: Atsushi Ono

Host algae is Tydemania expeditionis (Clay Carlson message).

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (June 24) Elysia sp. 2. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/elyssp2

Related messages


Re: Elysia diomedea-look alike from Japan

June 21, 2002
From: Kathe R. Jensen

Dear Bill, Clay & Nishina,
I am afraid I cannot be of much help here. I recognize the species because it was one of the few species I was able to collect when I visited Clay and Patty-Jo, but I am pretty sure it is unnamed. I think I only got one very small specimen, so if it is more common in Japan, I would certainly like to get a few preserved specimens. I will not have the opportunity to study its anatomy until after I return to Denmark in November this year. So, please if you can find 3-5 specimens and preserve them in 4% formaldehyde and save them for me in 80% alcohol, I will be very grateful.
Greetings,
Kathe

jensen@ait.ac.th

Jensen, K.R., 2002 (Jun 21) Re: Elysia diomedea-look alike from Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7318

Elysia diomedea-look alike from Japan

June 19, 2002
From: Nishina Masayoshi

Dear Bill,
I found this animal in Zamami Island (Kerama island group) Okinawa. I feel this animal is similar to Elysia diomedea (Bergh, 1894), especially around the parapodial edge. What I noticed is this animal has orange dots on the parapodial and parapodial edge. So I do not think this is E. diomedea but may be related species.

24 May, 2002
Zamami Island, Okinawa Japan.
Length: 10mm

Found by Atsushi Ono
Photo by N.Masayoshi

Nishina

nishina@wips.co.jp

Masayoshi, N., 2002 (Jun 19) Elysia diomedea-look alike from Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7152

Dear Nishina,
This is a fascinating animal. Its parapodia are indeed very folded, like in E. crispata and E. diomedea but it has very distinctive white spheres [glands?] arranged along the mantle edge. From the closeups we can clearly see that the finely branches digetsive gland ducts ramify throughout the parapodia and the rhinophores, suggesting this may be a 'solar powered' sacoglossan, keeping the algal chloroplasts alive and well in its own tissues.

Hopefully Kathe Jensen will recognise the species for us.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jun 19). Comment on Elysia diomedea-look alike from Japan by Nishina Masayoshi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7152

Re: Elysia diomedea-look alike from Japan

June 19, 2002
From: Clay Carlson

Bill,
I think you already have this animal as Elysia sp. 2.
Clay

ccarlson@kuentos.guam.net

Carlson, C., 2002 (Jun 19) Re: Elysia diomedea-look alike from Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7313

Thanks Clay,
Bill Rudman

Re: Elysia sp. 2. from Kerama Is

June 25, 1999
From: Clay Carlson

Bill,
    
We have no name for the beast --it does show up in Guam as well as the Marshall Islands.  Host algae is Tydemania expeditionis.
Details on the specimen in the photo are: 15mm long, Guam, Bile Bay, 2m; 15 June 1988.
    
Clay
    
Merizo, Guam

clay.carlson@kuentos.guam.net

Carlson, C. & Hoff, P.J., 1999 (Jun 25) Re: Elysia sp. 2. from Kerama Is. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/978

Thanks Clay,
From your photo it seems the white (milky-yellow?) patches along the parapodial edge of the Kerama Is. animal is not a constant character.
Bill Rudman.

Another Elysia sp from Kerama Is., Japan

June 24, 1999
From: Atsushi Ono

Dear Bill,
Could you help me with another opisthobranch from Kerama Island, near Okinawa.

I think this is an Elysia sp. 5m depth, 15mm length, in May 1999, I observed 3 individuals. Their size are about 10 to 15mm.

Sincereiy,
Atsushi Ono

ononini@cosmos.ne.jp

Ono, A., 1999 (Jun 24) Another Elysia sp from Kerama Is., Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/972

Dear Atsushi,
I'm afraid there seems to be an inexhaustible supply of Elysia-like sacoglossans. I'm afraid it is another species I don't recognise and I can't fit it to any earlier description from Japan. The white streaks and the red-orange spots should be useful external characters.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Jun 24). Comment on Another Elysia sp from Kerama Is., Japan by Atsushi Ono. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/972