Is this the largest nudibranch?

November 30, 1999
From: Yoshi Hirano

Dear Bill,

A technician of our laboratory found a very large dorid nudibranch in nearby port this week. It measures more than 350 mm long! I am not familar with the species. I took these pictures in the aquarium. By the way, do you know what is the biggest record of body size for nudibranchs?

The colour of our specimen is dorsally quite dark brown overall. It weighs 2 kg! The tubercle patterns of the present species seem to consist of large tubercles, each of which is surrounded by several small ones. The secondary gills remind me of those of Dendrodoris. Can this species be Dendrodoris tuberculosa? I hope to hear your suggestions.

I measured the animal in the relaxed condition in a tide pool. It was 35 cm long. Out of water, flattened on the laboratory sink it was 40 cm in length

Data: Amatsu-Kominato, Boso Peninsula, central Japan. 35 07N, 140 11E. Found near the surface on the concrete wall of a fishing port. 23rd November, 1999. Still alive at Kominato Marine Laboratory Aquarium. The maximum length is 40 cm. The wet weight is 2 kg. Photo: Yoshi J. Hirano.

I hope all is well with you and am hoping to hear from you.

Best wishes,
Yoshi

hiranoyj@earth2.s.chiba-u.ac.jp

Hirano, Y., 1999 (Nov 30) Is this the largest nudibranch?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1618

Dear Yoshi,
Your animal is Dendrodoris carbunculosa Kelaart, 1858 which has usually been confused with Dendrodoris tuberculosa. I have prepared new pages on both these species to show the differences.

I knew this species grew quite large but I don't know of one reaching your 350 - 400mm range.

Concerning the largest sea-slug, nudibranch etc. By coincidence, I have just received a message from Amelia Campbell asking the very question, so I have started a page for the largest, smallest, fastest etc sea slug. Any contributions are welcome. Have a look at my answer to her question.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Nov 30). Comment on Is this the largest nudibranch? by Yoshi Hirano. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1618

Factsheet

Dendrodoris carbunculosa

Related messages

  1. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from French Polynesia
    From: Peter Brink, April 9, 2010
  2. Phyllidia mimic from sthn Queensland
    From: Gary Cobb, March 4, 2009
  3. Re: Phyllidia mimic from Indonesia
    From: Philibert Bidgrain, June 20, 2007
  4. Re: Phyllidia mimic from Indonesia
    From: Erwin Koehler, June 19, 2007
  5. Re: Phyllidia mimic from Indonesia
    From: Cory Pittman, June 19, 2007
  6. Phyllidia mimic from Indonesia
    From: Ken Tucker, June 18, 2007
  7. Dendrodoris carbunculosa detail from N. Sulawesi
    From: Linda Ianniello, November 26, 2005
  8. ID of the biggest nudibranch I ever found!
    From: Emmanuel Tardy, November 3, 2005
  9. Re: Dendrodoris carbunculosa with commensal shrimps
    From: Barbara Hanchard, August 10, 2005
  10. Dendrodoris carbunculosa with commensal shrimps
    From: Barbara Hanchard, August 5, 2005
  11. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from Anilao, The Philippines
    From: Paul Osmond, May 17, 2005
  12. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from Reunion Island
    From: Philibert Bidgrain, February 23, 2005
  13. Dendrodoris carbunculosa or what?
    From: Tina Owens, December 6, 2003
  14. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from Hawaii
    From: Matthew Cummings, August 28, 2003
  15. Dendrodoris carbunculosa Nudi From Batam
    From: Alice Lee, July 7, 2003
  16. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from Kona , Hawaii
    From: Richard Lundholm, June 6, 2003
  17. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from Indonesia
    From: Takako Uno, March 15, 2003
  18. Dendrodoris from South Africa
    From: Linda Penny, September 10, 2002
  19. Dendrodoris carbunculosa? from the Seychelles
    From: Erwin Koehler, June 16, 2001
  20. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from East Pacific
    From: Clinton Bauder, September 1, 2000
  21. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from Sulawesi
    From: Lindsay Warren, April 1, 2000
  22. A larger Dendrodoris carbunculosa
    From: Clay Carlson & Patty Jo Hoff , December 8, 1999
  23. re: Dendrodoris carbunculosa
    From: Yoshi Hirano, December 1, 1999
  24. Dendrodoris tuberculosa & D. carbunculosa
    From: Bill Rudman, November 30, 1999
  25. Dendrodoris carbunculosa from Philippines
    From: Erwin Koehler, December 20, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages