Janolus hyalinus? from Victoria, Australia

April 30, 2001
From: John Chuk


Dear Bill,
Here are photo's of another Janolus species from Portsea Pier, Victoria, Australia. I suspect that this one is Janolus hyalinus but I would be keen to have your opinion on this ID. The specimen was photographed on a night dive on 19 March 2001. It is 18mm in length and was found crawling on brown algae at a depth of 4.5m.

The specimen has inflated, papillose cerata. The cerata appear translucent with some brown mottling and are covered in minute white spots. A dark extension of the digestive gland could be seen extending into the cerata for about half their length.

The rhinophores are lamellate and are closely placed, separated only by an obvious sensory caruncle. This can be seen in one of the views.
Best Wishes,
John

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2001 (Apr 30) Janolus hyalinus? from Victoria, Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4252

Dear John,
From external appearance I think this is the animal that Burn and subsequent authors have recorded from Victoria as J. hyalinus. It certainly looks like the European species. This certainly suggests that the animal in your earlier photo was not J. hyalinus. I still suspect it is probably the species, previously known only from New Zealand Janolus novozealandicus.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Apr 30). Comment on Janolus hyalinus? from Victoria, Australia by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4252

Factsheet

Janolus sp. 6

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