Mysterious sea slug? from Cornwall

November 1, 2005
From: Judith Oakley

Bill,
I came across this species on a marina pontoon. Have looked in all books I have available and can find nothing resembling it. The photo is not very good quality but hopefully you may have some ideas. It was very small - 6 mm and black/white in colour with a very oval shape. Also attaching underside photo.

Locality: Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. Length: 6 mm. 26 October 2005. marina pontoon. Photographer: Judith Oakley

best wishes
Judith

jomoakley@btinternet.com

Oakey, J.A., 2005 (Nov 1) Mysterious sea slug? from Cornwall. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15139

Dear Judith,
The underside photo is useful. Although we can't see head tentacles I am sure this is a 'snail' rather than a 'slug'. You can see a hint of an anterior siphon at the front of the body, and also the dark shadow in the upper photo is almost certainly the shell. There are two white patches which I think ia the white shell. What I can't be sure of is whether the white patches are visible because of damage to the overlying mantle or not. There are two possibilities. It is either a species of the cowry-like Trivia, which in juveniles have a smooth shell like this, and a large mantle flap on each side which can cover the shell. If the gaps I can see in your photo are 'natural' then this is most probably a juvenile Trivia. If the gaps are caused by damage, then this is most probably a juvenile velutinid, probably a species of Lamellaria. Sorry I can't be more specific but at least it will suggest some names to look up. Both feed on ascidians.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Nov 1). Comment on Mysterious sea slug? from Cornwall by Judith Oakley. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15139

Factsheet

Velutinidae - are they sea slugs?

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