Old slug from Guyana

November 25, 2009
From: Floris Bennema

Hi,

I am studying species in an 18th century book and ran in to this slug.

It was send to the Dutch author ('in liqour') from Esseqiubo, a Dutch colony in Guyana (South America; West Atlantic)

Locality: Unknown, unknown, Guyana, West Atlantic ocean, 1765, unknown. Length: 3/4 of a thumb (= 2 cm.). Photographer: Martinus Slabber.

According to the author it is a sea slug. In 1970 a Dutch malacologist (van Benthem Jutting) speculated it could be a Umbraculum, but she was doubtful.

Does anyone have an idea?

Thanks
Floris Bennema

f.p.bennema@gmail.com

Bennema, F.P., 2009 (Nov 25) Old slug from Guyana. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22808

Dear Floris,

It would be valuable if you could give me the name of the book and author to include with your message.

The first problem is we have no idea just how accurate the artist [or engraver] was. It certainly could be a snail or slug with a limpet-shaped shell and there are indications it could be Umbraculum, but if the frilly row of papillae are suppose to represent the single gill of Umbraculum, then the papillae should run above the head and tentacles in an unbroken row. Also if you look at some of the photos of Umbraculum you will see that the head and 'snout' are not as in this illustration. Another possibility is another limpet-like slug, Tylodina americana. I don't have any photos on the Forum but have a look at Tylodina corticalis which has a head more similar to the illustration.

The other possibility is that it is some type of limpet. I'm afraid I can't easily identify the 3 pairs of tentacles [a,b,c]. Perhaps they are not accurate? Are shells illustrated in the book? I suspect if it had a shell it would have dropped off in the 'preserving jar' and if it didn't dissolve in the 'liqour' perhaps it was dried and drawn separately?

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Nov 25). Comment on Old slug from Guyana by Floris Bennema. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22808

Factsheet

Umbraculum umbraculum

Related messages

  1. Not a volute or nudibranch?
    From: Mike Burnett, January 19, 2010
  2. Re: Old slug from Guyana
    From: Floris Bennema, December 23, 2009
  3. Re: Umbraculum laying eggs
    From: Leanne and David Atkinson, January 29, 2009
  4. Juvenile Umbraculid? from North Sulawesi
    From: Hösel, Heidi, October 8, 2008
  5. Umbraculum umbraculum from New Zealand
    From: Kent Ericksen, December 8, 2006
  6. Umbraculum umbraculum from Reunion Island
    From: Hugues Flodrops, December 8, 2006
  7. Umbraculum from the Gold Coast, Queensland
    From: Ian Banks, May 12, 2006
  8. Umbraculum umbraculum feeding
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, March 25, 2006
  9. Umbraculum umbraculum from Port Stephens
    From: Bruce Potter, March 10, 2006
  10. Re: An aquarium 'hitch-hiker'
    From: Unni Nair, November 18, 2005
  11. An aquarium 'hitch-hiker'
    From: Unni Nair, November 12, 2005
  12. Umbraculum umbraculum from New Zealand
    From: Trevor Edward Lochore, December 30, 2004
  13. Umbraculum umbraculum from Jervis Bay
    From: Sue Newson, November 27, 2003
  14. Umbraculum laying eggs
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, April 10, 2003
  15. Umbraculum umbraculum from Lord Howe Island
    From: W.B. Rudman, January 21, 2003
  16. Umbraculum umbraculum from Indonesia
    From: Mary Jane Adams , January 6, 2003
  17. Umbraculum what?
    From: Valda Fraser, December 21, 2001
  18. Umbraculum from Sydney Harbour.
    From: George Evatt , July 4, 2001
  19. Umbraculum laying eggs in New South Wales
    From: Peggy Cable, March 11, 2001
  20. Anatomy of Umbraculum
    From: Bill Rudman, March 11, 2001
  21. Umbraculum umbraculum
    From: A.Lumnitzer & D.Piotrowska, June 11, 2000
  22. Re: Mystery from South Africa
    From: Johan Bresler, August 26, 1999
  23. Mystery from South Africa
    From: Johan Bresler, August 25, 1999
  24. Umbraculum from deep water off Australia
    From: Bill Rudman, March 25, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages