Tambja verconis egg-laying

January 26, 2004
From: Leanne & David Atkinson


Dear Bill,
We found Tambja verconis egg-laying. It was laying right up close to another larger white egg ring. At first we weren't sure which egg ring belonged to it, but closer inspection showed it shaping the orange ring with its tail.

Its bryozoan food, Bugula dentata is almost gone. All of the Tambja sp. 1 that were on the Bugula dentata have also gone. The yellow of the Tambja verconis is starting to look a duller colour and we wondered if this is a sign of starvation.

Location: Halifax Sponge Gardens, Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
Date: 03 January 2004. Time: 6:00pm. Depth: 19m. Tide: High 1.16m. Water Temperature: 16 degrees celcius

Hope this is of interest.
Yours sincerely,
Leanne & David Atkinson

atk@hunterlink.net.au

Atkinson, L. & D., 2004 (Jan 26) Tambja verconis egg-laying. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11951

Dear Leanne & David,
This is indeed interesting. I don't think I have seen the bright orange-yellow eggs of this species before. The obvious white egg ribbon alongside is an excellent example of the dangers of assuming that closeness of eggs to an adult slug means ownership. You were indeed fortunate to find this animal while it was laying its orange egg ribbon rather than just before, or we might have been misled into thinking it had a white egg ribbon.

I am not sure if colour fades as they get old and decrepit. I would perhaps have expected the blue colour, which may be from the Bugula, to fade if the slug was not able to feed on Bugula, but I am not sure what connection there would be between the yellow pigment and starvation
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Jan 26). Comment on Tambja verconis egg-laying by Leanne & David Atkinson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11951

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