Favorinus tsuruganus - egg-laying observations

August 20, 2003
From: Jim Black


Hi Bill
Here is some behavior for you - from Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

I was taking a pic of a nudi laying eggs on a small piece of dead coral. A nice spiral ... I moved the coral to suit a better photo angle ... as I resettled to shoot ...I noticed that the nudi was now laying the eggs across its pattern. I believe that these little guys have a built-in gyro and heading orientation for navigation ... and when this one got messed up-by me - he continued on the original heading for the continued egg laying spiral .... very interesting!!

All the best
Jim Black
Pittsburgh, Pa

jim.black1@comcast.net

Thanks Jim,
It is certainly an observation worth repeating. There is a lot of interest in the direction they spiral [clockwise or anti-clockwise], but I can't think of anyone who has studied the mechanics of maintaining the spiral during an egg-laying.

By the way, your animal is Favorinus tsuruganus, one of a genus of nudibranchs which feed on the eggs of other opisthobranchs. I can't recall seeing an animal with a whitish region below the black tip of each ceras, but it fits in all other respects.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Aug 20). Comment on Favorinus tsuruganus - egg-laying observations by Jim Black. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10739

Factsheet

Favorinus tsuruganus

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