Re: Feeding in Hypselodoris festiva

September 6, 2002
From: Ron Velarde

Dear Andrej, Jun and Bill,
My first impression was that the "structure" shown was the antenna of a decapod crustacean that was living in or near the sponge. However, with the new close ups, Andrej is correct, this is a syllid polychaete, possibly Haplosyllis spongicola. In the new close up (inset), you can see the two triangular anterior palps. And if you look closely at the original photos, you can see a bulbous structure internally, just behind where the worm is making contact with the nudibranch, this is the proventriculus which is characteristic of the family Syllidae. The proventriculus is used to aid in the extension of the pharynx which is usually armed with a tooth or series of teeth (trepan) in the syllids. Thus you captured the moment; "Don't tread on me!" or "Please don't eat me!".

Keep up the good work!
Ron Velarde

rvelarde@sandiego.gov

Velarde, R., 2002 (Sep 6) Re: Feeding in Hypselodoris festiva. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7904

Thanks Ron,
This looks like it could be an interesting story - although not primarily a nudibranch one. I remember reading a research paper years ago which showed that the commensal anemone fish Amphiprion not only gained personal protection from living in large anemones, but because they were territorial and relatively aggressive to other fish they also gave the anemone protection from predation. It would be an interesting research project for someone to see whether these worms provided similar protection for the sponge - or perhaps someone already has?
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Sep 6). Comment on Re: Feeding in Hypselodoris festiva by Ron Velarde. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7904

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