Egg mass in photo of Tritonia festiva

March 31, 2002
From: Jeff Goddard

Hi Bill,
The egg mass in Marli Wakeling's photo of Tritonia festiva looks very much like those laid by the dendronotids, especially with those irregular convolutions, inflated appearance and the glistening shells of the embryonic veligers. The embryos of the dendronotids (as well as aeolids belonging to the family Tergipididae) develop egg-shaped, inflated shells which are larger than the spiral shells typical of other embryonic nudibranchs. As these shells develop, the egg mass cord swells considerably from its original diameter, and the shells are noticably shiny and iridescent.

It's a bit difficult to make out in the photo, but that may be a Dendronotus in the upper right. I will send you a photo of the egg mass of Tritonia festiva as soon as my laptop is back from the shop.
Best wishes,
Jeff Goddard

goddard@lifesci.ucsb.edu

Goddard, J., 2002 (Mar 31) Egg mass in photo of Tritonia festiva. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6638

Thanks Jeff,
I think some nudibranchs deliberately go and hide after laying their egg-ribbons to mislead us into thinking someone else laid their eggs. I look forward to your photos of T. festiva's egg ribbon.
Bill Rudman

Factsheet

Tritonia festiva

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