Re: Juvenile aeolid from Hachijo Is., Japan

July 13, 2001
From: Kathe R. Jensen

Dear Bill,
I think I agree with Nishina that this species has a distinct sacoglossan appearance. To me the rhinophores look like they are rolled - at least at the base, and the position and size of the eye also looks sacoglossan. Also, I think the white area on the back is the renal sac, which has that chalk-white colour in many sacoglossans. The shape of the rhinophores would indicate Aplysiopsis, but I looked at Baba's descriptions of Japanese species, and could not find any to match. The other possiblity is one of those elusive Hermaea species, which seems to pop up at irregular intervals in different parts of the world - something like H. paucicirra, which has only been recorded from France and Spain. So this may be an undescribed species of Hermaea.

Cheers,
Kathe

jensen@ait.ac.th

Jensen, K.R., 2001 (Jul 13) Re: Juvenile aeolid from Hachijo Is., Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4809

Dear Kathe,
I guess we will never know. The position of the eyes is also characteristic of juvenile nudibranchs and to me the rhinophores don't look enrolled .. but that's just my guess.
Any other thoughts gratefully received
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Factsheet

Hermaea zosterae

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