Re: Placida dendritica or Ercolania subviridis ? [1]

April 22, 2006
From: Cynthia Trowbridge

Concerning message #15927:

Dear Gon and Bill,

Thank you for posting images of this species. I would agree with the assessment that the species is an Ercolania sp. (neither Placida dendritica nor Ercolania subviridis). The rhinophore shape, cerata shape, and cerata diverticulae (unbranched) all look like Ercolania spp. that we are finding regularly in Okinawa on various green algae.

Members of the Hirano lab group (Chiba University) have been dissecting the radulae of our Ercolania and Placida spp. It is too early to state exactly how many species are involved but there are at least 3 Placida spp. and at least 2-3 Ercolania spp. being recorded in Japan and environs under the name Placida dendritica. Last week, Yoshi Hirano talked about this problem at the Japanese malacology meeting in Tokyo: Cryptic species of a common Japanese sacoglossan, "Midoriamamo-umiushi" by Hirano Y.J., Hirano Y.M., and Trowbridge, C.D.

I am not used to seeing lateral views of these Ercolania species as we usually take dorsal photographs. It would be helpful to know if there were any dorsal red markings along the mid-dorsal line. At least two species of Ercolania have such markings. If you find more slugs, Gon, please take a few dorsal shots of the animals (with the cerata spread) as well as the algal food. Both types of information would be extremely helpful. Thanks for your message!

Cordially,
Cynthia

trowbric@yahoo.com

Trowbridge, C.D., 2006 (Apr 22) Re: Placida dendritica or Ercolania subviridis ? [1]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16360

Thanks Cynthia,
Your work with the Hiranos sounds very interesting. I'll elevate this species from the 'unidentified' list to Ercolania sp. 5.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Apr 22). Comment on Re: Placida dendritica or Ercolania subviridis ? [1] by Cynthia Trowbridge. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16360

Factsheet

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