Re: Austraeolis ornata from Sydney

November 28, 2001
From: Mairi Prisk

Dear Bill,
Thanks for the ID, it's great to be able to come here and find this info! I have many sea hares and small green slugs (2-3mm, light green, sorry no photos yet). The Austraeolis ornata doesn't seem to diminish the population any. I guess he could be snacking on the leftover frozen mysis and brine shrimp from the seahorses' meals. I have had hydroids and Aiptasia in the tank, and after I found this guy the hydroids went and the Aiptasia reduced significantly. I reckon it's a good bet he's responsible.

I don't see much of the Austraeolis, but today I found him in a little cave and he is about twice the size from last week, and his furry fronds are really thickening. I don't know much about these groovy beasts but I really love my slugs!

Thanks again for providing such a valuable service. I will be back with more photos of my other slimy friends soon!
Mairi

mairi_p@telstra.com

Prisk, M., 2001 (Nov 28) Re: Austraeolis ornata from Sydney. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5748

Dear Mairi,
I see in Ian Anderson's message that he had Austraeolis eating Aiptasia so perhaps this is an Australian answer to Aiptasia infestations. Concernings its "furry fronds". They are called cerata. Have a look at the Cerata page for some information on these stuctures. If you click on some of the buttons at the top of the page [General Topics, Species List, etc] yo will find quite a lot of background information on Sea Slugs.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Nov 28). Comment on Re: Austraeolis ornata from Sydney by Mairi Prisk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5748

Factsheet

Austraeolis ornata

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