More on Melibe japonica? from Japan [1]

February 3, 2004
From: Jason Bell

Bill,
Thanks for your comments.
The Melibe japonica was found on Jan 11, 2004. It was late afternoon 2:30 - 3pm and we had an incoming tide. I have attached all the photos straight from the camera. You can see the rhinophores in some of the photos. I am sorry to say that I do not have any specific shots of the midline of the creature.
Jason Bell

belljason@hotmail.com

Bell, J., 2004 (Feb 3) More on Melibe japonica? from Japan [1]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12076

Thanks Jason,
These are a very valuable addition. I have split your photos into 3 messages [see message 2, message 3]. Now that I have looked at these photos I am even more convinced that your animal is Melibe japonica. The reddish tinge to parts of the body, the reddish tubercles, the proportionally large oral hood, and the small rhinophore sheaths, all fit the known features of this species.

The main anatomical doubt is the apparent absence of branched papillae in the dorsal midline between the cerata. However in your new photos there are clearly raised tubercles doen the midline. Unfortunately I can't see enough detail to know whether the lumps we can see are retracted branches tubercles or not. They can be seen in the lower photo above, which is a close-up of part of the upper photo, and in the photo alongside [in oval ring] which is a closeup of the head. The object in the circular ring is the left rhinophore and sheath.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Feb 3). Comment on More on Melibe japonica? from Japan [1] by Jason Bell. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12076

Factsheet

Melibe japonica

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