Giant Slug from Coffin Bay, South Australia

August 31, 2006
From: Mark Hood

Can someone shed some light on the most amazing slug I have ever seen!
It is huge, 300 mm plus across, Domed top with nobs of differing sizes protuding up from dome. Weight about 2 kg. Deep maroon almost purple in colour. May have had gills in between the "foot" and the dome

Locality: Coffin Bay, 6 feet, South Australia, Southern ocean, 28 August 2006, Sand bottom in oyster lease. Length: 300 mm

Mark Hood

hood1@bigpond.com

Hood,M, 2006 (Aug 31) Giant Slug from Coffin Bay, South Australia . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17655

Dear Mark,
This is a pleurobranch or side-gilled slug called Pleurobranchus hilli. At present it has been recorded from temperate southern and south-eastern Australia.

As you can see in your lower photo, it certainly has a large gill along the right side of the body between the foot and the mantle - which is why this group are often called the side-gilled slugs. The white blob alongside the gill is part of the reproductive organs which open alongside the gill. There are not that many records of this species, but is seems to be quite common at times in sandy subtidal locations. Have a look at the other messages about this species attached to the Fact Sheet.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Aug 31). Comment on Giant Slug from Coffin Bay, South Australia by Mark Hood. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17655

Factsheet

Pleurobranchus hilli

Related messages

  1. Pleurobranchus hilli from South Australia
    From: Alexius Sutandio, April 9, 2007
  2. First Pleurobranchus hilli from Western Australia
    From: Chris Cunnold, November 2, 2005
  3. Large Pleurobranchus from Victoria, Australia
    From: Matthew Skinner, February 28, 2005
  4. Pleurobranchus hilli from Victoria, Australia
    From: Harry Thorman, January 10, 2004
  5. Pleurobranchus hilli laying eggs
    From: Leanne and David Atkinson, May 23, 2003
  6. Re: Pleurobranchus hilli - feeding observation
    From: Sue Newson, April 25, 2003
  7. Pleurobranchus hilli - feeding observation
    From: Sue Newson, April 22, 2003
  8. Pleurobranchus hilli from eastern Australia
    From: Sue Newson, April 16, 2003
  9. Pleurobranchus hilli - mating
    From: Sue Newson, April 16, 2003
  10. Side gill slugs from New South Wales
    From: Grey McNeil, July 17, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages