Re: Dolabella auricularia from Tonga

October 13, 2009
From: Alastair Robertson

Hi Bill

I took these photos in Tonga in June on Fafa Island. I would appreciate a confirmation of species Id if possible. I think the first shot shows mating - at least the two sea hares were linked somehow together

Alastair Robertson

kiwibiologist@gmail.com

Robertson, A., 2009 (Oct 13) Re: Dolabella auricularia from Tonga. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22701

Dear Alastair,

This is the sea hare Dolabella auricularia. If you look at the messages attached to the species Fact Sheet you wll find quite a lot of information about this species. If you go to the General Topics list you will find a whole section on Sea Hares.

It's quite likely the two were mating. Like all opisthobranchs, Sea Hares are hermaphrodite, but in Sea Hares the penis is on the right side of the head, quite separate from the female genital opening which is much further back on the body. In your second photo I have ringed the inhalent opening into the mantle cavity which allows fresh seawater in over the gills. The common genital opening is just inside the inhalent opening. If you look carefully there is a  groove running forward towards the head which carries sperm forward to the penis which opens on the right side of the head. So the position your animals are in fits with mating. For more on the topic have a look at the page on mating chains

 Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Oct 13). Comment on Re: Dolabella auricularia from Tonga by Alastair Robertson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22701

Factsheet

Dolabella auricularia

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