Cumanotus from Slovenia [2]

April 13, 2005
From: Tom Turk

I agree that the two specimens of Cumanotus from Europe (the smaller one from France and a larger one from Slovenia) are, at least visually, two different species. The cerata from the specimen from Slovenia are much longer and the animal foot was measuring about 3 cm in length. For the specimen from Slovenia I am almost convinced that it feeds on Corymorpha nutans since many of them were seen in the near vicinity of the two slugs. Since the pictures were taken in the mid winter (February) when the sea temperature usually reaches its annual lows in northern Adriatic (only about 6-8 oC, making it the coldest part of Mediterranean) I am quite convinced that this Cumanotus is a boreal species that can only exist in Mediterranean in its coldest parts for a very brief period of the year. These animals were never seen before, probably also because not many divers venture in the cold winter sea. The second reason for appearance of Cumanotus in this waters may be the availability of its prefered food which is to be Corymorpha nutans. C. nutans is not present every year in our waters, but the last couple of years is quite abundant. I am attaching an additional picture of Cumanotus from the same location. This picture was taken from the front side, making the head more visible.

Locality: Punta Piran, Slovenia, northern Adriatic. Depth: 20 m. Length: 3 cm (with cerata aprox. 5 cm). February 2005. mixed bottom (muddy, detritic, fine gravel). Photographer: Borut Furlan

Tom Turk

tom.turk@bf.uni-lj

Turk, T., 2005 (Apr 13) Cumanotus from Slovenia [2]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13517

Copyright © Australian Museum, 1998-2010