Dendrodoris denisoni and starfish

February 21, 2003
From: Dong Bum, Koh


Dear Bill,
Here is a photo of Dendrodoris denisoni with a starfish.

I took this picture in October 2001, depth 13m in Moon islet, Cheju Is., S. Korea during daytime.

Could you tell me about the meaning of this scene?

Best regards,
From Dong Bum, Koh

drkoh@seasee.co.kr

Koh, D.B., 2003 (Feb 21) Dendrodoris denisoni and starfish. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9211

Dear Dong Bum,
Thanks for the interesting photo. It looks like the two Dendrodoris are on a sponge colony, which has overgrown perhaps a bivalve? It might be an interesting clue to which sponges D. denisoni feeds on. I guess you are also interested in the starfish. It certainly looks as though it is about to crawl over the Dendrodoris, but I couldn't say whether this means it is interested in eating the slug, or whether it just means the slug is in the starfish's way. I am afraid we have very little information on what eats sea slugs. I think one species of starfish has been reported eating small sea hares in New Zealand, but apart from that I couldn't say whether starfish find opisthobranchs palatable.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Feb 21). Comment on Dendrodoris denisoni and starfish by Dong Bum, Koh. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9211

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