Polycera atra from California

November 5, 2007
From: Clinton Bauder

Hi Bill,

Found about 20 of the these Polycera atra on a Macrocystis kelp blade near the end of a dive. Interestingly, these were the only examples of this species I found despite examining dozens of similar looking kelp blades. Not sure why this one was special.

Locality: Pfieffer Point, 6 meters, California, USA, Pacific, 28 September 2007, Macrocystis Kelp Blade . Length: 7 mm. Photographer: Clinton Bauder.

gecko1@apple.com

Bauder, C., 2007 (Nov 5) Polycera atra from California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20863

Hi Clinton,

Hard to say why they were all in a group on a single kelp blade, but they were certainly taking advantage of the opportunity to procreate. I am assuming that the other blades were equally covered bryozoans.

It is also noteworthy that the bryozoan is Membranipora, no Bugula in sight. This could account for the light coloration of your specimens.

Our Best,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2007 (Nov 5). Comment on Polycera atra from California by Clinton Bauder. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20863

Factsheet

Polycera atra

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