Polycera from Kerama Island, Japan

July 7, 1999
From: Atsushi Ono


Dear Bill,

I found these Polyceridae species. They are similar to Gymnodoris. Their size 4.5 to 5mm.
Any ideas as to the identification?

I found them at 3 to 8m depth at Kerama Is. One was attached to Bryozoa.

Yesterday I found their eggs ! so they are adult, and common species ! They lay their eggs on a common bryozoan at Kerama Island which I identify as Tricellaria or Scrupocellaria sp. This Bryozoa I found "Coral Reef Animals of Indo-Pacific" No.902. It's easy to find this polycerid in this Bryozoa.

Their eggs' color is orange, but at that time I did diving guide for my guests, I could not take a photograph.


Sincerely,
Atsushi Ono

ononini@cosmos.ne.jp

Ono, A., 1999 (Jul 7) Polycera from Kerama Island, Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1022

Dear Atsushi,
There are a lot of small polycerids in the tropical western Pacific without names at present. It is very interesting that you found these laying eggs as it suggests that they are adults rather than juveniles. I have had a look at species described by Baba from Japan, but it doesn't seem to have been found by him.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Jul 7). Comment on Polycera from Kerama Island, Japan by Atsushi Ono. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1022

Factsheet

Polycera sp. 1.

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