Flabellina rubrolineata
(O'Donoghue, 1929)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Flabellinidae
DISTRIBUTION
Tropical and subtropical Indian and Pacific Oceans.
PHOTO
A: Continuous red lines, Watson's Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, April 1982. B: Red Lines absent, Heron Is, Great Barrier Reef, May 1981. C: Broken red lines, Heron Is., Great Barrier Reef, May 1981. Photos: Bill Rudman.
Reference:
• Gosliner,T.M. & Willan,R.C. (1991) Review of the Flabellinidae (Nudibranchia: Aeolidacea) from the tropical Indo-Pacific, with the descriptions of five new species. The Veliger, 34(2): 97-133.
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (January 9) Flabellina rubrolineata (O'Donoghue, 1929). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/flabrub
Related messages
Flabellina rubrolineata from the Mediterranean
October 24, 2008
From: Joseph Elayani
Hi Bill,
I encounterd this Flabellina rubrolineata in Achziv canyon (Nahariya) Mediterranean sea, Israel .
Locality: Achziv canyon (Nahariya), 20, Israel, Mediterranean , 9 DEC 2006 13:20. Photographer: Joseph Elayani.
Thanks,
Joseph
elayani@gmail.com
Elayani, J., 2008 (Oct 24) Flabellina rubrolineata from the Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19042Dear Yossi,
It's good to get another record of this migrant into the Mediterranean from the Indian Ocean.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey coast
October 14, 2008
From: Evert Beijes
Concerning message #21175:
Here is another record from Turkey
Locality: Fethiye, 18 Meters, Mugla, Mediterranean Sea , 01 october 2008, typical turkish west coast. Length: 1,5 cm. Photographer: Evert Beijes.
Evert Beijes
evertbeijes@gmail.com
Beijes, E, 2008 (Oct 14) Re: Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey coast. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21938Thanks Evert,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina with eggs from East Timor
July 4, 2008
From: Brian Francisco
Hi Bill
I came across this flabellinid in my photo archive and am wondering if those are eggs inside the individual's body.
Locality: Tasi Tolu, 10 meters, East Timor, Banda Sea, 30 Jan 2007, sandy slope. Length: 1 cm. Photographer: Brian Francisco.
Had I realized the potential at the time I would have hung around to snap a few more photos.
Thanks
Brian
www.uwet.net
francisco.brian@gmail.com
Francisco, B., 2008 (Jul 4) Flabellina with eggs from East Timor. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21668
Dear Brian,
In most aeolids the eggs and sperm producing structures (gonads) of the reproductive system consist of small spherical sac-like structures (acinus, acini) which sit in the body cavity above the viscera. Usually there are separate male and female acini. If I look carefully at you photo I think I can see developing eggs in the acini in the left of your photo. Each acinus has a fine duct connecting it to the rest of the reproductive system.
I suspect the animal is Flabellina rubrolineata.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata egg laying
April 19, 2008
From: Leanne & David Atkinson
Hi Bill,
When we looked at these photos on the computer we noticed that this Flabellina rubrolineata was laying eggs and you can actually see them being extruded from the body. We also noticed what may be a much smaller nudibranch in two of the photos but we are not sure whether it is a tiny Flabellina rubrolineata that hasn't developed its colours yet. Thought this may be of interest since it is a different colour form to the one we have previously sent in laying eggs.
Locality: Halifax Sponge Gardens, Nelson Head, Port Stephens, 18 metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific, 30 September 2007, Sandy bottom covered in sponges, soft corals, ascidians, bryozoans and hydroids. Length: approximately 20 mm. Photographer: Leanne & David Atkinson.
Regards,
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Dear Leanne & David,
Thanks very much for these photos. I haven't included a close-up of the egg being extruded because I couldn't get the photo to come out clear enough. I have however included close-ups of the egg ribbon, the characteristic papillate rhinophores, and the mystery second aeolid. I am pretty sure it is Flabellina poenicia. If you look at the photos on the Fact Sheet you will see it quite similarly coloured. The ceratal colour is variable however and the most distinctive feature is the purple jaw plates which show through the head wall as two bright purple patches.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey coast
November 26, 2007
From: Tom Turk
Dear Bill,
I am sending you two photos of what is in my opinion Flabellina rubrolineata, a lessepsian immigrant to the Mediterranean sea.
Locality: Kas, 10, Turkey, Mediterranean, end of October 2007, on the hydrozoan colony. Length: 4 cm. Photographer: Borut Furlan.
Best regards,
Tom Turk
tom.turk@bf.uni-lj.si
Turk, T., 2007 (Nov 26) Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey coast. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21175
Dear Tom,
Yes this is correctly identified. It looks like a lot of the cerata on the right side of the body are regrowing. Apparently quite a few have been bitten off or autotomised and are in the process of being replaced
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: Flabellina rubrolineata? from Turkey
November 26, 2007
From: Carol Cox
Concerning message #5152:
I think I have photographed Flabellina rubrolineata at a couple of locations along the Turkish coast this summer. The first photo is from Kas, Turkey, Aug 2007. It was in about 50 ft of water on a boulder with another Flabellina species. The second photo was taken along the Turkish coastline just west of Bogsak, which is west of Silifke, Turkey. It was in 15 ft of water right under our boat. The last photo, a mating pair I think, is from Dana Island, west of Bogsak. They were on a rock bommie in 85 ft of water with a fair current. I see these almost as often as I see Flabellina affinis here, but not as much as Favorinidae which seems to be very prolific in some areas I dive.
Locality: Kas and Bogzak, 15 ft to 85 ft, Turkey, Mediterranean, Aug, Sep, and Oct 2007, On hydroids in rocky areas. Length: 0.75 inch. Photographer: Carol Cox.
Carol Cox
ccox@mchsi.com
Cox, C., 2007 (Nov 26) Re: Flabellina rubrolineata? from Turkey. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20974
Thanks Carol,
Yes these are F. rubrolineata. This species certainly seems to have becomes a permanent resident of the Mediterranean.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Sulawesi
June 7, 2007
From: Bruce Wight
Dear Bill,
The first of a series of feeding and egg laying shots for the Forum.
Locality: Lembeh Strait, 30-65 Feet, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Celebes Sea, November 2006, Found on reef and sand. Length: 3/8 to 5 inches. Photographer: Bruce Wight .
Bruce Wight
bruce.c.wight@boeing.com
Wight, B.C., 2007 (Jun 7) Flabellina rubrolineata from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19340Dear Bruce,
Thanks for this photo of Flabellina rubrolineata. Although it appears to be feeding on the grey coral colony in the foreground it is a hydroid feeder so it is either just finished eating a hydroid colony or is our looking for one.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata mating
August 4, 2006
From: Leanne & David Atkinson
Hi Bill,
We found Flabellina rubrolineata mating at the weekend. Couldn't see any records of them mating on the forum list so thought this might be of interest. Again because they curl up so much it is diificult to get a clear shot of it all happening.
Locality: Fly Point Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, 12metres, NSW, Pacific, 29 July 2006, Sandy bottom, sponges, soft corals ascidians, gorgonians and hydroids. Length: approximately 20mm. Photographer: Leanne & David Atkinson.
Regards,
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Atkinson, L. & D., 2006 (Aug 4) Flabellina rubrolineata mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17294
Dear Leanne & David,
Thanks for the photo. Apart for the useful breeding record, the photo has good shots of the rhinophores. In this species the rhinophore club is papillate, but there are papillae only on the posterior side of the rhinophores, as your photo nicely shows..
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Gold Coast, Queensland
July 29, 2006
From: Ian Banks
Bill,
Is this a Cuthona? Observed in a sheltered section at the eastern end of the Narrow Neck Artificial Reef. I have tried to be more observant as previously I had only seen one nudibranch on this reef and today I also counted 3 Hypselodris obscura, so obviously it was lack of effort on previous dives.
Locality: Narrow Neck Reef, Gold Coast, 9 metres, Queensland. Australia, Pacific Ocean, 13 July 2006, Artificial Reef . Length: 2.5cm. Photographer: Ian Banks.
Regards
Ian
ianbanks@bigpond.com
Banks, I.W., 2006 (Jul 29) Flabellina rubrolineata from Gold Coast, Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17132
Dear Ian,
This is the 'typical' colour form of Flabellina rubrolineata, in the sense that it has the red lines that give it is name. Some animals have no red lines and in others they appear as a series of red spots.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata laying eggs
June 27, 2006
From: Leanne & David Atkinson
Hi Bill,
We found this Flabellina rubrolineata laying eggs at the weekend. We often see them laying eggs during winter but it is difficult to get a decent photo showing what's happening because they tend to curl up and the growth that we find them on is so light that any water movement makes the whole thing sway like mad.
Locality: Halifax Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, 18 metres, NSW, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 18 June 2006, Sandy bottom covered in sponges, soft corals, bryozoans and hydroids. Length: 25mm. Photographer: Leanne & David Atkinson.
Regards,
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Dear Leanne & David,
This is an nice illustration of the life cycle of these animals which are so tied to their hydroid food. The branching object they are laying eggs on is the dead skeleton of a hydroid colony - perhaps the one they have been feeding on - and now that their food supply is gone, they can make one last move to continue the species, by laying the eggs which contain the next generation.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina from East Timor
April 7, 2006
From: Brian Francisco
Hi Bill
It may not be scientifically relevant, but I think this photo is very cool! This species of Flabellina is common in the shallow reef areas here in Timor and we found this individual just beginning to lay eggs. It seemed that it was using its posterior foot to direct the eggs onto a hydroid branch.
Locality: Beach - K41, 2 meters, East Timor, Banda Sea, 25 March 2006, Coral Reef. Length: 2-2.5 cm. Photographer: Brian Francisco.
Cheers
Brian
www.uwet.net
francisco.brian@gmail.com
Francisco, B., 2006 (Apr 7) Flabellina from East Timor. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16264
Dear Brian,
If it's interesting it's definitely relevant. I can't say I have ever seen an eolid using its foot like this but it is certainly a trick that many dorids use.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Unlined Flabellina rubrolineata?
February 14, 2006
From: Nicholas Missenden
Hello Bill,
I was wondering if you could confirm the identity of this nudibranch for me please. Is it a Flabellina rubrolineata? There were a number of these on the one bryozoan. This is the same bryozoan, Pleurotoichus clathratus that I normally find the Okenia hallucigenia on so at first I thought that it was another form of Okenia. After some research and looking at the numerous colour variations for the Flabellina rubrolineata shown on your site I think that it may well be one. I realise that they feed on hydroids and that it is possibly just a coincidence that its on the same bryozoan food source for the Okenia.
Locality: Bare Island, West Reef, Botany Bay, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Depth: 17 m. Length: 10 mm. 05 February 2006. Broken reef, sandy bottom
Photographer: Nicholas Missenden
Kindest regards
Nick
njmpm@iinet.net.au
Missenden, N.J., 2006 (Feb 14) Unlined Flabellina rubrolineata?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15762
Dear Nick,
Yes this is the unlined form of Flabellina rubrolineata. If I hadn't found lined and unlined animals together I would have had my doubts but anatomically they are the same. The bryozoan Pleurotoichus often has other colonial animals growing over it including hydroids of various kinds. I have added a close-up of your photo showing some hydroid polyps, which could be the reason the Flabellina is on the bryozoan.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina from South Africa
February 1, 2006
From: Colin Ogden
Hi Bill,
I think this might be a Flabellina. Please can you help with the ID
Locality: Sodwana bay, South Africa, Indian Ocean coast. Depth: 13 m. Length: 15 mm. 19 January 2006. Coral reef. Photographer: Colin Ogden
regards
Colin
scubaco@iafrica.com
Ogden C. M., 2006 (Feb 1) Flabellina from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15621Dear Colin,
Although the yellow band below the purple band on the cerata is unusual, I am pretty sure this is Flabellina rubrolineata
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from China
October 19, 2005
From: Xi Kun Song
Dear Bill,
Attached is a nudibranch from Xiamen, China. I am wondering whether it is Flabellina rubrolineata?
Locality: Xiamen, Fujian, China. Taiwai Strait. Depth: 1 m. Length: 10 mm+
11 June 2005. Intertidal. Photographer: Qinji
Thank you!
Xi Kun Song
xksong@yanan.xmu.edu.cn
Song, X.K., 2005 (Oct 19) Flabellina rubrolineata from China. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14304
Dear Song,
Specimens of Flabellina rubrolineata from the NW Pacific seem to have these brighter colours. Apart from this, the colour pattern, and anatomy, appear to be identical to more typical southwestern Pacific animals
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Sth Africa
May 19, 2005
From: Colin Ogden
My name is Colin Ogden, I operate a dive charter at Sodwana Bay, South Africa, and I have numerous nudibranchs I cant identify. This is a picture of one of them
Locality: Sodwana Bay, South Africa, Indian Ocean. Depth: 15 metres. Length: 20mm. coral reef. Photographer: Colin Ogden
Can somebody help?
Colin Ogden
scubaco@iafrica.com
Ogden C M, 2005 (May 19) Flabellina rubrolineata from Sth Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13780Dear Colin,
This is Flabellina rubrolineata.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Moreton Bay, Brisbane
April 13, 2005
From: Gary Langford
Dear Bill,
My son and myself encounterd this beautiful red lined Flabellina rubrolineata in Moreton Bay a few weeks back and thought it would be a handy addition to the Forum. Are they common to Moreton Bay, Brisbane?
Locality: Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. Depth: 18.5 m. Length: 30 mm. 20 February 2005 rocky reef. Photographer: Troy & Gary Langford
Gary Langford
langford6@optusnet.com.au
Langford, G., 2005 (Apr 13) Flabellina rubrolineata from Moreton Bay, Brisbane. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13479
Dear Gary,
This species is found throughout the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, and I have found it as far south as Sydney in New South Wales. These animals are very dependent on their food, in this case a hydroid, so sometimes they can be found in quite large numbers in a particular spot. For that to occur, their food needs to be present, and their free-swimming larvae needs to be drifting past in the currents and be mature enough to settle down and become crawling slugs.
This colour form, in which the red lines are broken into short dashes, is quite common in eastern Australia.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Qatar
January 27, 2005
From: Dr. Iain Andrew Macdonald
I believe this is an Aeolid nudibranch, information from a coffee table book (The living seas - marine life of the southern gulf, 1989, Dipper and Woodward) . I have searched some books (e.g. Debelius 2003) the sea slugs web pictures and found none that compare well to it. Any suggestions?
Locality: Clives Crane Wreck, east of Al-Khor, Qatar, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean. Depth: 25 m. Length: 25-40 mm. June 2004. Photographer: Iain Macdonald
Iain Macdonald
dr_iamacdonald@yahoo.co.uk
Macdonald, I.A., 2005 (Jan 27) Flabellina rubrolineata from Qatar. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12821Dear Iain,
This is the northern Indian Ocean colour form of Flabellina rubrolineata.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey
September 11, 2003
From: Ferda Buyukbaykal
Dear Bill,
I took these photos of Flabellina rubrolineata recently.
Date: August 24, 2003
Location: Mugla-Bodrum
Site: Turgutreis-kargi adasi
Depth: 9-10 mt
Size: 25 mm
Photos: Ferda Buyukbaykal
Best regards
Ferda
ferdabbaykal@isnet.net.tr
Buyukbaykal, F., 2003 (Sep 11) Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10920Thanks Ferda,
This relatively dark form with thick purple-red lines is quite characteristic of Red Sea animals, which helps confirm the origin of your Turkish animals
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey
January 22, 2003
From: Ferda Buyukbaykal
Dear Bill,
Is this Flabellina rubrolineata?
Image Data: Hidayet, Kas,Antalya, Turkey. October 1999, 10-12mt /4-5cm, Sea grass bed.
Ferda
ferdabbaykal@isnet.net.tr
Buyukbaykal, F., 2003 (Jan 22) Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8938Dear Ferda
Yes this is Flabellina rubrolineata.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Recent news on Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey
October 7, 2002
From: Baki Yokes
Dear Bill,
Here are some new photos of Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey, to accompany my earlier report. As the photos posted to the Forum from different parts of the world indicate that there are many colour variations within this species. But all the specimens I have seen were identical to each other, without any difference. They are feeding on Eudendrium and Halocordyle sp. of hydroids which are very common in the Mediterranean. It became one the most common species around southwestern coast of Turkey. I hope that its agressive expansion will not effect the other local nudibranchs feeding on the same kind of hydroids.
Upper Image: Antalya, Turkey, September 1, 2002. Divesite: Uc Adalar, Depth: 8m, Size: 4cm. Lower Image: Antalya, Turkey. September 2, 2002. Divesite: Tatlisu koyu, Depth: 12m, Size: 3,5cm. Spawning on a hydroid colony
Photos: Baki Yokes
Best wishes
Baki
bakiyokes@turk.net
Yokes, B., 2002 (Oct 7) Recent news on Flabellina rubrolineata from Turkey. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8005Thanks Baki,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Malaysia
May 29, 2002
From: Kheong Sann Chan
Hi Dr. Rudman,
Here is another nudibranch I snapped recently at Pulau Dayang off the East Coast of Malaysia.
Kheong.
kschan@mail.dsi.nus.edu.sg
Sann Chan, K., 2002 (May 29) Flabellina rubrolineata from Malaysia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6774Dear Kheong,
This is a colour form of Flabellina rubrolineata.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Persian Gulf
February 9, 2002
From: Gordon T. Smith
Dear Bill,
Here is what I believe to be Flabellina rubrolineata. Approximately 10mm long at about a depth of 18 metres on a Wreck in the Persian Gulf.
Gordon T. Smith
aquashot@emirates.net.ae
Smith, G.T., 2002 (Feb 9) Flabellina rubrolineata from Persian Gulf. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3483Thanks Gordon,
Yes this is Flabellina rubrolineata. Animals from the NW Indian Ocean - Red Sea region seem to have a distinct purplish tinge to the red.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Papua New Guinea
November 11, 2001
From: Marli Wakeling
Hi Bill,
I was very excited to find these as aeolids were not so common in Kavieng. I think they are both Flabellina rubrolineata. The first image was taken on a wall, the second on a reef. The first was solitary, and on a sponge, while the second was with several other specimens and on hydroids and tunicates.
Dive Sites: Near Kavieng, Papua New Guinea, July 2001.
Depth: 15 meters
Length: 15mm
Photographs: Marli Wakeling
Marli
Wakeling, M., 2001 (Nov 11) Flabellina rubrolineata from Papua New Guinea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5529Thanks Marli,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata? from Turkey
September 8, 2001
From: Baki Yokes
Dear Bill,
Here are two photos captured in Antalya (Uc Adalar), Turkey, in July 2001. The photographs were taken at different divesites, around a depth of 20m. Are these Flabellina rubrolineata?
Photo: Adnan Buyuk: ado2000tr@yahoo.com - Upper right, Lower left; and Photo: Hasan Yokes: hyokes@turk.net - Lower right.
Best wishes
Baki
bakiyokes@turk.net
Dear Baki,
Yes this is Flabellina rubrolineata. This record from Turkey is a very interesting find. The only record of this species I know of from the Mediterranean is of a specimen from off Ashqelon, Israel (Mienis & Gat, 1981). I have included photos of a specimen from the Red Sea which is almost identical in colour. Specimens from the Pacific usually have a pinkish tinge to the whole body. This Indo-West Pacific species is apparently moving in to the Mediterranean - or perhaps just visiting occasionally - from the Red Sea, via the Suez Canal.
It has similarities to some Mediterranean species, but none of them have three red stripes down the body and the papillate rhinophores.
For those of you interested in exotic introductions to the Mediterranean, there is a website CIESM Atlas of Exotic Species in the Mediterranean Sea which has a list of introduced molluscs, including quite a few opisthobranchs. There is a comprehensive page on each species, but unfortunately no photos.
References:
• Gat, G., (1993) Flabellina rubrolineata (O'Donoghue) and Phidiana indica (Bergh) (Nudibranchia Aeolidioidea), two new Lessepsian immigrants in the Eastern Mediterranean. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 59: 120.
• Mienis, H.K. and Gat, G., (1981) A note concerning Flabellina rubrolineata (O'Donoghue, 1929). Levantina, 64: 683-684.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from the Red Sea
September 8, 2001
From: Bill Rudman
Here are some photos of Flabellina rubrolineata from the Red Sea.
The animal was collected at Suakin, Sudan, Red Sea, 18 April 1980, by Chris Todd. AM C131641 [13mm long preserved].
This species was originally described from the Red Sea (Suez, Egypt) and animals from that region tend to lack the pinkish background colour found in animals from the western Pacific although other aspects of the colour and the radular morphology are the same.
I have added these photos so that they can be compared with the photos in Baki Yoke's recent message from Turkey.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Eggs of Flabellina rubrolineata
July 27, 2001
From: Leslie Chan
Dear Bill,
Concerning your comment about the egg mass in Des Paroz's message, here is a photo where you can see the egg mass of Flabellina rubrolineata more clearly.
It was taken at Ninepin Island, Hong Kong.
15m depth. December 2000.
Thank you
Leslie
leslie@lesmart.com
Chan, L., 2001 (Jul 27) Eggs of Flabellina rubrolineata. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4933Thanks Leslie,
It's nice to get such quick feedback. I wasn't even sure that the egg mass in Des' photo actualy belonged to F. rubrolineata.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata from Port Stephens
July 25, 2001
From: Des Paroz
Hi Bill
Encountered this one at the Pipeline, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens [New South Wales, Australia] in early March.
Depth was about 8-10m, and temp was about 21C.
I assume it is Flabellina rubrolineata.
Best regards
Des
des@paroz.com
Paroz, D., 2001 (Jul 25) Flabellina rubrolineata from Port Stephens. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4167Dear Des,
Yes this is F. rubrolineata. It seems to be a tropical species with a permanent population in New South Wales. In the upper photo I think you can see an orange egg mass beside the slug. It would be worth checking next time you see this species if you can find what its egg mass looks like.
I have included a small uncropped version of your whole photo to show what heaven your animal was living in. A huge 'forest' of hydroids to eat, and not another Flabellina in sight!
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Flabellina rubrolineata feeding
April 11, 2001
From: Erik Schloegl
Dear Bill,
You've mentioned several times that you're interested in images of nudibranchs feeding. I think these two photos qualify. They were both taken on 2 April, 1999, at Fly Point, Port Stephens, New South Wales [Australia]. The depth was 8m.
Best wishes,
Erik
Erik.Schlogl@uts.edu.au
Thanks Erik,
To those of you who don't know what a hydroid colony looks like, the plant-like stucture the Flabellina are crawling over is in fact a colony of animals. In the bottom right photo you can see small sea-anemone like animals, each with a ring of tentacles around their mouth. These are the 'individual' hydroid animals, or 'polyps', which are eaten by Flabellina. Although a few aeolid species seem to eat a wide variety of hydroids, most are very specific, eating only one or a very few species. It is therefore useful to build up information on the food of nudibranchs. Apart from just being of interest, it might give us some clues to relationships between species.
Unfortunately it is when you try and get food items identified that you find that it is not only nudibranch taxonomists we are short of. So in most cases I photograph the food item and preserve it so that hopefully, some time in the future, I will find someone who is able to identify it. So any little bit of information, like Erik's photos, is welcome
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Aeolid from Malaysia
July 11, 2000
From: Fredy Brauchli
Hello Bill
In November 1996 I found at Sipadan Island (Malaysia) another specimen which looks, I think, similar to Aeolidiella indica. It is a small slug of about 12 mm.
Can you identify this slug?
Thanks very much for your help.
Kind regards from Switzerland
Fredy Brauchli
http://www.subaqua.ch
brauchli@subaqua.ch
Brauchli, F., 2000 (Jul 11) Aeolid from Malaysia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2689Dear Fredy,
This is Flabellina rubrolineata. In your earlier message you mentioned your interest in photography. Any other nudibranch photos you want identified, or just wish to share with us, would be welcome.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Flabellina rubrolineata from the Philippines
February 21, 2000
From: Erwin Koehler
Here is Flabellina rubrolineata (O'Donoghue, 1929), size ~1cm, Housereef Lipayo, Negros Is., Philippines, Nov. 1998
Erwin
Medslugs.Koehler@t-online.de
Koehler, E., 2000 (Feb 21) Flabellina rubrolineata from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1475Thanks Erwin,
Bill Rudman.
Flabellina rubrolineata from Kerama Is
February 21, 2000
From: Atsushi Ono
Dear Bill,
Thank you for ID of Hallaxa hileenae and H. paulinae.
Here is an eolid species I found at 5m depth on coral rubble [at Kerama Is. near Okinawa]. This size is 13mm long.
I think this is Flabellina rubrolineata. Could you help me to check this species?
Sincerely,
Atsushi Ono
ononini@cosmos.ne.jp
Ono, A., 2000 (Feb 21) Flabellina rubrolineata from Kerama Is. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1926Dear Atsushi,
Flabellina rubrolineata is somewhat variable in colour. Sometimes the red lines are broken or absent, and while in some animals such as yours, the skin is dusted with white, in others there may be no sign of white.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Flabellina from Fly Point
January 9, 1998
From: David & Leanne Atkinson
Bill,
We found this at Fly Point, Port Stephens, New South Wales over Christmas.
Thanks,
David & Leanne Atkinson.
atkin@hunterlink.net.au
Atkinson, D. & L., 1998 (Jan 9) Flabellina from Fly Point. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/59This is Flabellina rubrolineata. As its name suggests it usually has red longitudinal lines on its body, one down the centre of its back and one down each side of the body just below the cerata, but these lines can sometimes be broken, or in this case totally absent...Bill Rudman
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (Jan 9). Comment on Flabellina from Fly Point by David & Leanne Atkinson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/59