Flabellina albomarginata
(Miller, 1971)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Flabellinidae
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout New Zealand. more commonly intertidal in the South Island.
PHOTO
found this tiny nudibranch while diving at the Poor Knights Ids [East coast, northern New Zealand], 22 August, 2000. Less than 10 mm long. Photo: Gareth Jones.
Ceratal digestive gland ranges in colour from orange to carmine red with a white tip. Body translucent white, with distinctive opaque white margin to the foot. Upper half of rhinophores and oral tentacles also marked with opaque white. The posterior side of the rhinophores bear tubercles. In previous descriptions the upper half of the rhinophores and oral tentacles are described as being white except for the tip. However in these photos from Poor Knights Ids, the white forms a distinctive line down the dorsal side of the oral tentacles and the upper half of the rhinophores. It grows to about 25 mm.
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Miller, M.C. (1971) Aeolid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the families Flabellinidae and Eubranchidae from New Zealand waters. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 50(4): 311-337.
Rudman, W.B., 2000 (August 26) Flabellina albomarginata (Miller, 1971). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/flabalbo
Related messages
Flabellina albomarginata from New Zealand
September 12, 2007
From: Ian Skipworth
Hi Bill
These are a couple of recent photos of Flabellina albomarginata from the Poor Knights they are particluarly abundant at the moment. They appear to feed on a variety of hydroids and on several occasions I've seen them seen them munching on Tubularia.
Locality: Poor Knights Islands, 12 m, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean, 01 September 2007, Rocky reef. Length: 7 mm. Photographer: Ian Skipworth.
Cheers
Ian
ianskip@xtra.co.nz
Dear Ian,
Thanks for these photos. They certainly show one animal eating the Tubularia polyp, and the characteristic white line along the edge of the foot.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina albomarginata from New Zealand
January 25, 2005
From: Ian Skipworth
Hi Bill
Not too much mystery about this one but it's the first time I've found it and I thought you might be interested. I presume it's Flabellina albomarginata.
Locality: Poor Knights Islands, NE New Zealand. Depth: 12m
Length: 15mm, 12 January 2005, Rocky reef.
Photographer: Ian Skipworth
Cheers
Ian
ian@ianskipworth.com
Skipworth, I., 2005 (Jan 25) Flabellina albomarginata from New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12959
Dear Ian,
Yes this is Flabellina albomarginata. I have included a close-up alongside to show the structure of the rhinophores
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Tiny aeolid from Poor Knights Ids, New Zealand
August 27, 2000
From: R. & D. Armstrong
Hi Bill
Our friend Gareth Jones found this tiny nudibranch while diving at the Poor Knights Ids [East coast, northern New Zealand] on Tuesday 22 August, 2000. It is less than 10mm in length and we have not seen anything like it before. Any ideas on what it is?
thanks,
Ross & Diane Armstrong
ross@oceanwildlife.com
Dear Ross & Diane Armstrong,
This is a nice little find. It is an aeolid, Flabellina albomarginata which has only been found in New Zealand. The name albomarginata means 'white margins or edges' which is a very appropriate name for this pretty little species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
