A very hairy Elysia
November 14, 2008
From: Brian Mayes
![](/images/m22036a.jpg)
Hi Bill,
I found a pair of these camouflaged sea slugs together on a shallow reef in the Perhentians, Malaysia.
At first I thought they were leaves of weed, but after a while I noticed their slow movement.
They are about 2 to 3 cm long and were found at a depth of 8 to 9 metres.
I've attached photos of each for you. Do you think they are Elysia tomentosa?
Locality: Perhentian Islands, 9 metres, Malaysia , South China Sea, 14 May 2008, Coral Reef. Length: 2.5cm. Photographer: Brian Mayes.
Kind regards
Brian Mayes
brian.r.mayes@gmail.com
![](/images/m22036d.jpg)
Dear Brian,
I don't think this is what I am calling Elysia tomentosa. I have put a group of 'hairy' animals on a separate page as Elysia cf. tomentosa, because I think they have similarities to E. tomentosa but are probably different. To confuse the picture, I suspect there is more than one species in this lot as well. However amongst this lot there are a group with large unequal-sized parapodial lobes and a bluish patch on the head just behind the rhinophores [see Jun Imamoto's message #10563 and others]. I suspect your animal belongs with this group, but I have never seen one quite so 'hairy'. Perhaps the branched papillae are retractile and are not often seen fully extended?
Hopefully Kathe Jensen has some comments, but I suspect there is still a lot of work to do on the species of Elysia in the Indo-West Pacific
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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