Collective spawning in Micromelo undata

November 16, 2006
From: Philibert Bidgrain

Concerning message #17376:

Dear Bill,
Reunion Island sea slugs: I couldn't find in your forum any observation about Micromelo spawning. Last week I found on a rocky coast an unusual concentration of Micromelo undata. I observed on a rock about 30 animals in 1 m2 (more than 100 in this area). In small crevices and gutters there were numerous spawns and about 10 animals burrowing among sediments.

In the photo below you can observe, some small yellowish egg masses.
Spawn structure:  A yellowish (in natural light) helicoidal spawn (size : 6 x 4 mm)..

Locality: Etang sale les bains, 80 cm, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, october 2006, pool on a rocky coast. Photographer: Philibert Bidgrain.

I also have sent some photos of the veliger larvae in a separate message [#18368]. 

Philibert Bidgrain
http://vieoceane.free.fr/runseaslug/indexslug.htm

pbidgrain@yahoo.fr

Bidgrain, P., 2006 (Nov 16) Collective spawning in Micromelo undata. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18354

Dear Philibert,
Thanks for this interesting observation. We still have much to learn about aggregations like this. Perhaps the worms they like to eat are abundant in these areas or perhaps they spend more time burrowing than we give them credit for.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Nov 16). Comment on Collective spawning in Micromelo undata by Philibert Bidgrain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18354

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