Re: Caribbean Umbraculum - mating

April 29, 2003
From: Dee Scarr

Hi Bill,
Don't I wish I could have been the intrepid naturalist who got the information on Umbraculum mating, but we just didn't feel comfortable being that intrusive ... I had to go off-island for a week immediately after that dive, and since my return I've only found one individual (last night, after several daytime searches), and no eggs. I'll be keeping alert, though.

It's interesting that I've only seen these critters feeding at night, but the mating was taking place in the daytime. Great photo of the egg laying!

I've only seen them eating one type of sponge, which I think is Holopsamma helwigi. Is the purpose of the pustules/warts known?
Sorry -- and thanks,
Dee Scarr

dee@touchthesea.com

Scarr, D., 2003 (Apr 29) Re: Caribbean Umbraculum - mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9809

Thanks Dee,
The egg laying photos are great - but I'm still waiting for the 'intrepid naturalist'. Concerning the pustules on the body. As I guess I would say it is a form of camouflage, but I'm not sure how you would test such an hypothesis
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Apr 29). Comment on Re: Caribbean Umbraculum - mating by Dee Scarr. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9809

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