Nembrotha sp. 4.
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Nembrothinae
PHOTO
Pulau Hoga, Tukang Besi Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia, 5 m, 3 August 1999. 5 mm long. Photo: Lindsay Warren.
See Lindsay Warren's message below.
Could this be a juvenile of Nembrotha kubaryana? - see message below.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (April 4) Nembrotha sp. 4. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/nembsp4
Related messages
Nembrotha sp. 4 from Sulawesi
July 27, 2000
From: Lindsay Warren
Dear Bill
Last year I sent you an illustration of a blue and orange Nembrotha found in SE Sulawesi but for which we unfortunately did not have any photos. Luckily, another was found during last year's survey period and I have attached the photo which you might like to use on the Forum.
This specimen was found by Dean Lea at a depth of 5 m on 3 August 1999 at 21:30 on algae encrusted dead table coral on Pulau Hoga, Tukang Besi Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia (Operation Wallacea). L: 5 mm. Photo: Lindsay Warren.
All the best
Lindsay
alldcl@compuserve.com
Warren, L., 2000 (Jul 27) Nembrotha sp. 4 from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2781
Dear Lindsay,
A few days ago I posted some photos of yours of what I suspect could be a juvenile of Nembrotha kubaryana. I have copied one of them alongside my reply.
The markings are remarkably similar to those of your blue animal, and there are traces of blue on the green animal [see on the rhinophore sheath]. I think it is worth considering whether these are all growth stages of Nembrotha kubaryana. If the blue animals are juveniles, perhaps they are taking up pigment from a blue ascidian that they are feeding on and change colour on moving to a larger species of ascidian as they grow. I have no solid evidence to go on but the size of each colour form fits and the colour patterns of the larger animals can be easily derived from smaller ones. It would certainly be an interesting hypothesis to test.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Nembrothid from Sulawesi
April 4, 1999
From: Lindsay Warren
Dear Bill
Another illustration-only specimen found in the Tukang Besi Islands, SE Sulawesi last year during the research for Operation Wallacea.
Length: 3-4 mm. A tiny specimen with fluorescent gills and rhinophores in red and orange. The gills also had darker, almost blood red margins. The base of the rhinophores was navy blue. The body was blue but not a uniform colour as over the blue was a fine shade of darker blue/purple. The foot was the same colour but slightly lighter. Faint stripes appear on the mantle and are similar to Nembrotha lineolata but are dark with the smallest hint of brown.
It was found on coral rubble at a depth of 4. 8 m. Thoughts were that it might be a Nembrotha or a Roboastra. What do you think?
All the best
Lindsay
100014.2112@compuserve.com
Warren, L., 1999 (Apr 4) Nembrothid from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/746Dear Lindsay,
It is certainly a nembrothid and from the head I would think it is probably a species of Nembrotha or Tambja. Species of the opisthobranch-eating genus Roboastra usually have prominent oral tentacles.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
