Re: egg laying in Pleurobranchaea
April 27, 2005
From: Dong Bum Koh
![](/images/m13652a.jpg)
Dear Bill,
Concerning your question about my earlier message [#13638]. I rechecked my films but it's not a reversed image. And attached is a new photo of the same animal in just a little different position. It also looks like the egg ribbon is from the left side of animal.
I also include two photos [B,C], you can use as evidence that the egg ribbon is being extruded from the right side of animal. Could you explain to me what is truth, Right or Left?
Best regards,
Dong Bum Koh
drkoh@seasee.co.kr
Dear Koh,
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my earlier comments. What I meant was that, at first, I thought your photo was reversed because the egg mass seems to be be coming out of the left side of the animal, but as your Photo A here shows clearly, the egg ribbon is under the animal. The animal is either crawling over the egg ribbon, or using the sole of its foot to manipulate the egg ribbon into position. Many dorid nudibranchs, and sacoglossans, use their foot to manipulate the egg ribbon into a spiral and to fasten it to the substrate, after it has been extruded from the genital opening. Species of Pleurobranchaea don't usually have a regular spiral, but certainly the egg ribbon [or tube] needs to be fastened to the substrate and it seems the foot is used to hold it down while the mucous 'glue' dries.
Either way, the egg ribbon is definitely being extruded from the right side. Thanks for these interesting photos.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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