Cyerce cristallina from Cozumel, Mexico

August 29, 2003
From: Jim Lyle


We have seen very few nudibranchs in Cozumel Is. [Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico] over the years. The attached image shows what I believe to be Cyerce cristallina that we found on a shore night dive in 20 feet of water. We did not find any other specimens in the immediate area nor any recognizeable egg masses. This one was about 3 cm long and was light sensitive; crawling away from our lights if held too long.
Jim Lyle

jlyle@adelphia.net

Lyle, J., 2003 (Aug 29) Cyerce cristallina from Cozumel, Mexico. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10855

Dear Jim,
Thanks for this interesting record. The species of Cyerce and Polybranchia from the western Atlantic are not well known so photos such as yours are of great value in building up more information. For example I can't find any description which mentions the large raise yellow spots on the dorsal surface of the cerata, although there are mention of scattered white spots by some authors. This species was originally described from the Mediterranean, and so is what we call an amphi-Atlantic species, with populations on both sides of the warm-water Atlantic
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Aug 29). Comment on Cyerce cristallina from Cozumel, Mexico by Jim Lyle. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10855

Factsheet

Cyerce cristallina

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