What is the real Berghia verrucicornis?

March 25, 2004
From: Jimmy

First of all I would like to say that your site is one of the most informative that I have visited. Unfortunately I got to it just a little too late. I recently ordered 3 "Berghia verrucicornis" from a web site and am awaiting their arrival. I am confused as to how to actually identify Berghia verrucicornis. Before making my decision I read several articles published by both hobbyists and biologists with regards to this species. I decided to go with the Berghia verrucicornis due to the high level of satisfaction that I read. There are several sites that list themselves as selling the "real" Berghia verrucicornis, but each has different pictures. You posted in several of your responses that the pictures that you have seen to date were not good enough to tell if the nudi was actually Berghia verrucicornis; how can I tell if I really bought Berghia verrucicornis? What physical characteristics distinguish them from other nudi's? If they work to solve my problem then I will be happy, but I will still be curious. Is there a web site that shows how to actually distinguish these critters?
Jimmy

jkschiotis@sbcglobal.net

Jimmy, 2004 (Mar 25) What is the real Berghia verrucicornis?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12510

Dear Jimmy,
As you mention, if the animals you have ordered 'do the job' then you don't have a problem. If your animal looks like Steve Kempf's photo on the Fact Sheet or like Leslea's photo [message #7131] the it is the one that is commercially available and east aquarium Aipatasia.

However 'true' Berghia verrucicornis is a Mediterranean species with a quite distinctive colour pattern. I don't even know if it really occurs in the Caribbean, even thought it has been reported from there. I am sure the aquarium trade is not trying to trick you when they sell you something that may not be Berghia verrucicornis. They think it is and so do all the happy customers who have got rid of their Aiptasia infestations. There is in fact no evidence to show that 'true' Berghia verrucicornis could do the job. What we have is an example of how little we know about these animals. I guess its the same as the nursery trade who for years sold plants to well satisfies customers as Geraniums. We now know that most of them are really Pelargoniums but it didn't stop millions of customers enjoying the flowers.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Mar 25). Comment on What is the real Berghia verrucicornis? by Jimmy. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12510

Factsheet

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