Glossodoris sp. 3 from Queensland

September 15, 1999
From: Nerida Wilson

Dear Bill,

This nudibranch was tentatively identified by you as Glossodoris averni previously. I have now seen a live G. averni and have realised that it does not have vibratile gills, while the pictured animal did. This animal also lacks the red line around the foot that G. averni has.

Any further thoughts?

Thanks
Nerida.

nwilson@zoology.uq.edu.au

Wilson, N., 1999 (Sep 15) Glossodoris sp. 3 from Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1317

Dear Nerida,
I'm surprised if I ever suggested this was G. averni. It certainly looks like one of a group of species including G. averni and G. electra which look very similar externally except for the colour of the border, gills and rhinophores, red in G. averni and yellow in G. electra.

I think all species of Glossodoris have vibratile gills, and I have certainly described them for G. averni, although at times an individual animal will not exhibit this behaviour.

It is possible that your animal is a tropical form of G. angasi, but I would need to have a look at its anatomy before I could say anything sensible.
Can you give us some basic locality information please and an idea of the animal's size?
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Sep 15). Comment on Glossodoris sp. 3 from Queensland by Nerida Wilson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1317

Factsheet

Glossodoris sp. 3.

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  1. Re: Glossodoris sp. 3.
    From: Nerida Wilson, September 19, 1999

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