Dermatobranchus gonatophora? from South Africa

March 30, 2000
From: Valda Fraser

Dear Bill
I have not had too much luck trying to identify this nudibranch. It looks like Dermatobranchus gonatophora to me, but the location is a problem. In the winter months these nudibranchs are plentiful in certain areas. I have also noticed quite a colour variation. I was lucky with this photo .... note the fish!
Locality: South coast KwaZulu-Natal SOUTH AFRICA. Park Rynie - 25m
Date: June 1999
Size: 27mm
Regards
Valda Fraser

iti04937@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 2000 (Mar 30) Dermatobranchus gonatophora? from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2146

Dear Valda,
I guess you got the name from the book by Debelius. I'm afraid I don't know who advised him on that name but it is a bit of a jump from van Hasselt's problematic description from Indonesia.

I suppose it is a nudibranch? I can't see the head region very clearly so can't make out the nature of the rhinophores. There is a possibility that it is a flatworm. If you have a photo of the head region showing the rhinophores it would be a help. It would also be quite good to see some of the colour variation you mention.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Mar 30). Comment on Dermatobranchus gonatophora? from South Africa by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2146

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Dermatobranchus gonatophora

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