Cerberilla sp. from Queensland

April 9, 2002
From: Nerida Wilson

Hi Bill,

This Cerberilla was found in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia in October 2001. It was found intertidally on a silty flat. Have you seen it before? The specimen was around 10mm.

Cheers
Nerida

nwilson@marine.uq.edu.au

Wilson, N., 2002 (Apr 9) Cerberilla sp. from Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6511

Thanks Nerida,
No I haven't seen this colour form before, but from its size it is most probably a juvenile colour form. Most species of Cerberilla have a dark juvemile colour form which starts to lighten up and develop the species distinctive colours when they reach about 20mm in length. Because these infaunal sand-burrowers are so seldom found, we know very little about their geographic range or colour variability. I have included a closeup of some of the cerata to show the yellow streak on the cerata. These may be as big as it gets, but it could also be the start of a yellow ring which only become complete in adults.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Apr 9). Comment on Cerberilla sp. from Queensland by Nerida Wilson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6511

Factsheet

Cerberilla sp. 5

Related messages

  1. Cerberilla sp. 5 from Lizard Id, QLD
    From: Nils Anthes, January 10, 2004

Show factsheet and all related messages