Re: Rostanga pulchra from Vancouver Island

August 28, 2008
From: Jeff Goddard

Concerning message #21520:

Hi Bill,

I was just catching up on messages posted recently on the SSF forum and wanted to comment on Dave's response to message #21520. The Rostanga pulchra in Jackie Hildering's image are typical looking for individuals out of the water, when the very fine texture caryophllidia cannot be discerned with the naked eye. Second, both egg masses are also typical for the species; the paler, broken coil is merely at a later stage of development and is breaking down (and flimsier) with the hatching of the veliger larvae. Finally, good eyes, grade 9 science class of Port Hardy Secondary School!

As an aside, the red-orange sponge is likely Ophlitaspongia pennata, the most common prey species for Rostanga pulchra intertidally in the Pacific northwest, and the tan-colored, slick-surfaced patches surrounding the Ophlitaspongia are the slime sponge, Halisarca, which is the sole prey of Hallaxa chani. A few patches of a Haliclona -like haplosceridan sponge are also present; these are typically consumed by Diaulula sandiegensis. The entire scene is reminiscent of what I have often observed under intertidal cobbles in Oregon and Washington.

Best wishes,
Jeff

goddard@lifesci.ucsb.edu

Goddard, J.H.R., 2008 (Aug 28) Re: Rostanga pulchra from Vancouver Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21831

Dear Jeff,
Thanks for sorting out the egg mass differences and for the background information on the other sponges.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Aug 28). Comment on Re: Rostanga pulchra from Vancouver Island by Jeff Goddard. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21831

Factsheet

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