Re: Berthella aurantiaca or Berthellina edwardsii?

July 22, 2002
From: Jean-Pierre Bielecki


Hi Bill,
Here are more pictures of this Berthellina taken in its natural habitat. We found it during the “Sea slugs course” in Cerbère (on the border between France and Spain - Mediterranean coast). We organized with other “bio diving instructor” this “sea slugs course” with a scientist Gerard Breton, who is director of the Museum of natural history at Le Havre. This slug is the same animal that Marina, who took part to this training course as trainee, has already sent. She took the photo in a tank, after it was caught, and unfortunately it has lost its beautiful orange color. But I don't remember if its back was rigid or “squashy”, as we took every precaution to avoid hurting it so that the others could see it and we could let it go in good condition. I doubt it is so easy to feel the difference. Nevertheless it is the same species we found steadily during night dive or under the stones the day. Before this discussion, I thought it was in fact B. aurantiaca. Thank you Juan Lucas and Bill for correcting our small knowledge.
Best regards,
Jean-Pierre.

bielecki.jeanpierre@free.fr

Bielecki J-P., 2002 (Jul 22) Re: Berthella aurantiaca or Berthellina edwardsii?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7602

Dear Jean-Pierre,
We all learn from these discussions. I have seen Berthellina citrina become paler in colour, but I did not realise that animals could possibly lose all their colouration as shown in Marina's photos. I appreciate your concern about hurting these animals but if your finger is bare [no glove] it is usually quite east to feel the shell of a Berthella by a fairly gentle rubbing of the skin. I good way to get an idea of what to do would be to feel the shell of a Sea Hare by feeling the shell just beneath the mantle surface by rubbing the skin between the parapodia.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jul 22). Comment on Re: Berthella aurantiaca or Berthellina edwardsii? by Jean-Pierre Bielecki. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7602

Factsheet

Berthellina edwardsii

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