Pleurobranchus grandis
Pease, 1868

Order: NOTASPIDEA
Superfamily: PLEUROBRANCHOIDEA
Family: Pleurobranchidae

DISTRIBUTION

Indo-West Pacific

PHOTO

UPPER: Fiji, 10m, May, 1991. Approx 20 cm long. Photo: Mary Jane Adams.
LOWER: Russell Island Group, Solomon Ids. 3 m. Photo: Bruce Potter.

This large widespread Indo-West Pacific species is quite variable in colour, ranging form almost completely dark brown to white with pale brown spots. It usually can be described as white with large elongate brown patches. Like most large species of Pleurobranchus the mantle surface consists of rounded polygonal tubercles outlines by a reticulate pattern of white. The polygons in the white region are usually tipped with a diffuse pale brown. In living specimens the posterior part of the mantle is often held erect and folded into a posteriorly facing siphon [see upper photo]. It can grow to 20cm or more.

Reference:
• Pease, W.H. (1868). Descriptions of marine Gasteropodae, inhabiting Polynesia. American Journal of Conchology, 4(2): 71-80, Pls. 7-10.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (January 1) Pleurobranchus grandis Pease, 1868. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/pleugran

Related messages

  1. Pleurobranchus grandis from Reunion Island
    From: Hugues Flodrops, September 22, 2008
  2. Re: Pleurobranchus from Hurghada, Red Sea
    From: Binyamin Koretz, February 4, 2008
  3. Pleurobranchus from Hurghada, Red Sea
    From: Sven Kahlbrock, January 31, 2008
  4. Pleurobranchus grandis from Indonesia
    From: Mirjam Broos, February 15, 2007
  5. Re: Mystery slug from Malaysia
    From: Michael Smith, October 30, 2006
  6. Pleurobranchus grandis from sthn Queensland
    From: Ian Banks, April 5, 2006
  7. Pleurobranchus grandis from the Red Sea
    From: Oren Lederman, May 19, 2005
  8. Pleurobranchus grandis eggs ribbon?
    From: Oren Lederman, May 13, 2005
  9. Juvenile Pleurobranchus grandis from nthn NSW
    From: Bill Rudman, May 13, 2005
  10. Pleurobranchus sp. from the Philippines
    From: Erwin Koehler, May 13, 2005
  11. Red Sea Pleurobranchus
    From: Binyamin Koretz, February 2, 2005
  12. Pleurobranchus from Thailand
    From: Erwin Koehler, August 4, 2003
  13. Pleurobranchus from Thailand
    From: Erwin Koehler, August 1, 2003
  14. Pleurobranchus grandis from Red Sea
    From: Michael Mrutzek, May 29, 2003
  15. Pleurobranchus grandis from Fiji
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, May 22, 2003
  16. Pleurobranchus grandis from Egypt
    From: Michael Mrutzek, September 30, 2002
  17. Pleurobranchus grandis from the Red Sea
    From: Marina Poddubetskaia , April 22, 2002
  18. Pleurobranchus grandis from the Red Sea
    From: Luc De Loose, October 10, 2001
  19. A dark Pleurobranchus grandis ?
    From: Erwin Koehler, April 13, 2001
  20. Pleurobranchus from the Red Sea
    From: Erwin Koehler, January 26, 2001
  21. Pleurobranchus grandis from Fiji
    From: Mary Jane Adams, January 3, 2001
  22. Pleurobranchus grandis from Solomon Ids
    From: Buce Potter, January 2, 2001

Show factsheet and all related messages