Aplysia fasciata and A. punctata from Antibes

June 1, 2007
From: Dominique Horst

Dear Bill,

I have some doubt about the identification of these Aplysia. I think there are two species, first is A. punctata and the others are A. fasciata.  My doubt come from the fact that they both have a red line on the border of the mantle and both are spotted even if the first one is largely more spotted even inside the mantle.
Also, on the picture of the couple, one is a partially spotted but not the second one.

Locality: Cap d'Antibes and Golfe-Juan, 15m, France, Mediterranean sea, 13 May, 2006 and 23 June 2006, vertical rock. Length: 250mm. Photographer: Dominique Horst.

Thanks a lot in advance for your continuous help.
Kind regards,
Dominique

dominique.horst@wanadoo.fr

Horst, D., 2007 (Jun 1) Aplysia fasciata and A. punctata from Antibes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17002

Dear Dominique,
I am pretty sure these are all A. fasciata. I don't think A. punctata usually has a red parapodial border. More importantly these two species are quite different in shape. A. punctata is one of a few species in which the parapodia join together quite high behind the mantle - shell region. Also the shell in A. punctata is usually partially visible through the large hole or 'foramen' in the mantle roof [see message #9758 ].

Aplysia fasciata on the other hand, is a swimming species, and the parapodia are large and quite separate from each other. In A. fasciata  the 'foramen' is a small pore which is almost invisible.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jun 1). Comment on Aplysia fasciata and A. punctata from Antibes by Dominique Horst. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17002

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Aplysia fasciata

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