Noumea haliclona feeding in Nelson Bay

February 24, 2004
From: Dave Harasti

Hi Bill,
After seeing the images from David and Leanne Atkinson the other day [#12234], it prompted me to send you these 2 images of what I think could be Noumea haliclona. I originally though it was a group of Mexichromis festiva feeding on the pink sponge. There was a small group of them (all 1-2 cm) that appear to be feeding on the pink sponge and a single larger individual (about 3 cm) which was nearby.

These images were taken at Little Beach in Nelson Bay, NSW - Australia in January 2003 at about 8 metres. Water temperature was about 22 degrees.

regards,
Dave Harasti

diving@webone.com.au

Harasti, D., 2004 (Feb 24) Noumea haliclona feeding in Nelson Bay. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12271

Thanks Dave,
Yes this is one of the
New South Wales colour forms of Noumea haliclona. The sponge is what I have been calling Darwinella gardineri Topsent, 1905. There is a slight chance this name is incorrect because that species is based on New Zealand material but I am checking with my sponge expert. This is one of the two sponges, the other being yellow, which I have found this species on in New South Wales. It is a direct developer, so you often find little groups of small animals together. I presume that when the egg ribbon is laid on their food sponge, which often happens, the young that hatch out as crawling slugs don't need to move very far to find all their requirements.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Feb 24). Comment on Noumea haliclona feeding in Nelson Bay by Dave Harasti. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12271

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Noumea haliclona

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