Pleurobranchus hilli from Victoria, Australia

January 10, 2004
From: Harry Thorman


Hi Bill.
I wonder if you might identify a magnificent crimson sea slug. It was brought to the marine centre from a member of the public and it has obviously been collected here at Queenscliff, Victoria. Attached are some poor images revealing a palm sized mollusc. On the underside appears to be a gill structure and another opening with fibrous white tusk like protuberance. I apologise for the image, our photographer is on leave.

Harry Thorman

harry.thorman@dpi.vic.gov.au

Thorman, H., 2004 (Jan 10) Pleurobranchus hilli from Victoria, Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11852

Dear Harry,
This is a large pleurobranch, which are a group of sea slugs commonly called side-gilled slugs because of the large gill they have on the right side of the body under the mantle. I have ringed it in the photo alongside. The 'tusk-like' structure you describe is the penial papillae, which often protrudes when the animal is dying.

From the size and colour I suspect your animal is Pleurobranchus hilli.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Jan 10). Comment on Pleurobranchus hilli from Victoria, Australia by Harry Thorman. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11852

Factsheet

Pleurobranchus hilli

Related messages

  1. Pleurobranchus hilli from South Australia
    From: Alexius Sutandio, April 9, 2007
  2. Giant Slug from Coffin Bay, South Australia
    From: Mark Hood, August 31, 2006
  3. First Pleurobranchus hilli from Western Australia
    From: Chris Cunnold, November 2, 2005
  4. Large Pleurobranchus from Victoria, Australia
    From: Matthew Skinner, February 28, 2005
  5. Pleurobranchus hilli laying eggs
    From: Leanne and David Atkinson, May 23, 2003
  6. Re: Pleurobranchus hilli - feeding observation
    From: Sue Newson, April 25, 2003
  7. Pleurobranchus hilli - feeding observation
    From: Sue Newson, April 22, 2003
  8. Pleurobranchus hilli from eastern Australia
    From: Sue Newson, April 16, 2003
  9. Pleurobranchus hilli - mating
    From: Sue Newson, April 16, 2003
  10. Side gill slugs from New South Wales
    From: Grey McNeil, July 17, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages