Melibe japonica
Eliot, 1913

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DENDRONOTINA
Family: Tethydidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known from Japan, Korea. Also reported on Forum from Eastern Australia [see #21985 ]

PHOTO

10m off of Osezaki beach, Japan. 12 - 16 inches [30-40cm] long, with an oral hood diameter of 6 inches [15cm]. Photo: Jason Bell

Melibe japonica was described by Charles Eliot (1913) from a preserved specimen. He described the colour as "transparent yellowish white, with a strong reddish tinge in parts" but I suspect that refers to its preserved state.

Baba, (1949) reports that living specimens, which he identifies with Melibe japonica, are 'not common' on the Pacific coast of Japan. He describes the species as "colossal, often attaining over 50cm in length, and with a strikingly large hood and expanded foot, and small rhinophore sheaths. He describes the body colour as pinkish with the hood margin and various tubercles as deeper reddish. Blunt tubercles, often pink or red are scattered over the oral hood, sides of body and cerata. Baba and Eliot both describe bushy or dendritic papillae irregularly arranged down the midline of the body between the cerata.

Note added 22 October 2008: Melibe mirifica is considered a synonym [#21985]

  • Baba, K (1949) Opisthobranchia of Sagami Bay collected by His Majesty The Emperor of Japan. Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo. 194pp., 50 Pls.
  • Eliot, C.N.E. (1913) Japanese nudibranchs. Journal of the College of Science, Tokyo Imp. University, 35: 1-47. (Pls.1-2)
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2004 (January 28) Melibe japonica Eliot, 1913. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/melijapo

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