Finally found in Queensland

November 19, 2003
From: Gary Cobb

Hi Bill,
After searching for over a year and a half I finally found Tritoniopsis elegans.(if my ID is correct) There were 4 of them huddled together on a section of reef called Fairyland Boulders on the Sunshine Coast, Southern Queensland, Australia. Depth 17m, Water temp 22 degrees, length 50mm.

I think this is probably the most beautiful nudibranch in the sea. The tiny branches that come off the body must be good for something ... do you know? Is there a purpose for them? I noticed the it folds the branches up together when frightened.
Thanks,
Gary Cobb

gary@cobb.com.au

Cobb, G., 2003 (Nov 19) Finally found in Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11439

Dear Gary,
Congratulations on your find. Yes it is Tritoniopsis elegans. It is certainly difficult to find, often living at the edge of the soft coral colony it is feeding on, nestled into crevices during the day. As our aquarium-keeping friends have also discovered, one of the best ways to find this species is to keep the leathery soft corals it feeds on in your aquarium. Many soft coral colonies harbour small, almost invisible, juveniles which flourish and grow in the less dangerous waters of an aquarium, where fish are well fed.

The branched proceesses on the side of the body are gills. I suspect they are also useful in making the edge of the animal quite irregular which is a useful technique in camouflage. The curling up of these branches when 'frightened' seems to be a fairly basic defensive response animals have to protect small delicate parts of their body from damage
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Nov 19). Comment on Finally found in Queensland by Gary Cobb. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11439

Factsheet

Tritoniopsis elegans

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