Nembrotha rutilans eating tunicate

June 9, 2005
From: Bob Whorton

Note added 4 March 2008: Following Pola et al (2008) the name N. rutilans has been replaced by Nembrotha purpureolineata [see message #21419].

Hi Bill,
Thought you may be interested in these examples of Nembrotha rutilans munching on a tunicate...
Images were taken outside Wori Bay in Sulawesi, just north of Manado in May.

Locality: Wori Bay, Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Depth: +/- 6M
Length: 4". May 2005. Coral Reef. Photographer: Dr Bob Whorton.

What was interesting for me was watching the event unfurl and the lengths it can extend it's mouth parts to eat the tunicate from the inside out, bypassing the outer protection.

Hope they are useful to others too.

Cheers,
Bob Whorton
England.

drbob.whorton@btinternet.com

Whorton, R., 2005 (Jun 9) Nembrotha rutilans eating tunicate. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13941

Dear Bob,
Thanks for these interesting photos. The long blue tube from the head to the ascidian is the oral tube which, when not in use, sits retracted into the body cavity. At its tip is the radular ribbon, a 'tongue' of teeth used in biting off pieces of its food.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jun 9). Comment on Nembrotha rutilans eating tunicate by Bob Whorton. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13941

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