Pleurobranchaea californica from deep water

June 1, 2006
From: John Butler

Bill,

Dave Behrens asked me to share this photo of mating Pleurobranchaea californica. The photo was taken off San Diego, California in 265 m depth from a ROV with a Scorpio Digital (Nikon CoolPix 955) camera.

Regards.
John Butler

John.Butler@noaa.gov

Butler, J., 2006 (Jun 1) Pleurobranchaea californica from deep water. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16714

Thanks John,

Dave Behrens in Eastern Pacific Nudibranchs notes that species has been reported from 1200 ft so your animals are certainly at the deeper part of its known range. It is interesting how in each animal the gill is held aside to facilitate mating. The reproductive organs, and openings, are on the right side just beneath the anterior part of the gill.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jun 1). Comment on Pleurobranchaea californica from deep water by John Butler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16714

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