Plocamopherus ceylonicus - early paintings

March 29, 2000
From: Bill Rudman

To accompany the discussion on Plocamopherus ceylonicus I thought it would be interesting to show you these photos of some old paintings I found some years ago in the Natural History Museum, London. When Alder & Hancock (1864) published their paper on Indian nudibranchs, it was based on specimens collected by Walter Elliot and paintings that Elliot had done by local Indian artists. They show variations in colour but in all cases the orange yellow spots are visible on the edge of the foot.

UPPER RIGHT: Waltair, India 18 March 1854
LOWER LEFT: Waltair, India 21 March 1854
Lower RIGHT: No details.

In the upper right picture there is an excellent drawing of an animal swimming. Note how the posterior end of the foot has expanded into a high 'blade' which in concert with the lateral flexion of the body, acts as a paddle to propel the slug during swimming.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Mar 29) Plocamopherus ceylonicus - early paintings. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2171

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