Phyllodesmium opalescens from Hong Kong

March 11, 2001
From: Bernard Picton

Hi Bill,
Here are some pictures of Phyllodesmium opalescens, taken in Hong Kong in April 1983 and presumably paratypes. I can't link the in situ photographs to individually collected animals. The Lower Left photograph shows some Phoronids, but I don't suppose this is what the species is eating?

LOWER LEFT: 12 Apr 1983 - S. Flat Reef, Tolo Channel
UPPER RIGHT: 12 Apr 1983 - S. Flat Reef, Tolo Channel
LOWER RIGHT: 14 Apr 1983 - E Pak Sha Chau, Mirs Bay

Bernard

bernard.picton.um@nics.gov.uk

Picton, B., 2001 (Mar 11) Phyllodesmium opalescens from Hong Kong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3943

Dear Bernard,
Thanks for these photos. I have a stack of Hong Kong slides to scan, so everyone that you do makes my pile smaller. I remember asking Brian Darvell to look for a possible food for this species but he couldn't find anything definite. This species is one of the more 'primitive' of the genus, or at least one of those not adapted for zooxanthellae symbiosis. In Australia, P. serratum similarly lacks zooxanthellae and feeds on a variety of octocorals such as stoloniferans. When I first saw your lower left photo I thought the clumps of flask-shaped organisms at th top right of the photo were something similar, and a possible food source. However if they are phoronids I guess they are probably not its food. Another of life's little mysteries.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Mar 11). Comment on Phyllodesmium opalescens from Hong Kong by Bernard Picton . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3943

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Phyllodesmium opalescens

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