A nudibranch-like Coriocella from Okinawa

March 23, 1999
From: Bob Bolland

Hi Bill:

I thought you might like to see a scan of one of the bizarre opisthobranch-like prosobranchs which are occasionally found on Okinawa. The enclosed scan is of Coriocella sp. which was collected from Horseshoe Cliffs from 55m during a daytime dive. The animal was collected from beneath a slab of coral rubble on 11 September, 1994. The crawling length of the animal was 68mm. Several others, apparently of the same species, have also been collected during night dives, but these were found in the upper 3m at the reef edge. Do you have this same animal in your part of the world?

In addition, I've collected a dozen or so other opisthobranch-like prosobranchs (Lamellaria spp.), which are very colonial sponge-like/colonial tunicate-like, and seem to be quite diverse in both color and form.

Cheers, Bob

OKINAWA

bolland@imicom.or.jp

Bolland, R.F., 1999 (Mar 23) A nudibranch-like Coriocella from Okinawa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/714

Thanks Bob,
I am afraid the velutinids (= lamellariids) have not been well-studied in Australia, but they are certainly here. I have already posted pictures of a few above. Unfortunately they have all been described on shell features. Until someone compares the living animals with their shells, taxonomic confusion will reign supreme. Sounds a bit like the Haminoea story.
There are preserved specimens in museum collections but they are not much more use than the empty shell, unless they are accompanied by information on the colour and the shape of the living animal.

They would be a fascinating group to study their natural history. Why are some very cryptic, while others flaunt their strange shapes and colours? Clearly there will be parallels with the opisthobranchs who have also had to find ways of protection which don't include a shell.
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Mar 23). Comment on A nudibranch-like Coriocella from Okinawa by Bob Bolland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/714

Factsheet

Velutinidae - are they sea slugs?

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