Unknown worm mass

February 10, 2004
From: Rick Eastwood

I have photographed the attached worm mass in 1.5 mtrs of water inside the Oak Park ocean baths at Cronulla, Sydney, Australia. It appeared to be attached to the seaweed growing on the sandy floor of the baths. The only movement coming from the mass was from the individuals - worms? - breaking away from the pack. The colour varied from a coral pink centre area to white extremities. The mass size shown would be approx.50mm across, say the size of a squash ball. Image taken with Sea & Sea MX10 with macro lens at F8..
Your help in identifying this would be appreciated.

Rick Eastwood

dicke@optushome.com.au

Eastwood, R., 2004 (Feb 10) Unknown worm mass. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12148

Dear Rick.
I am pretty sure this is the tangled egg ribbon of a Sea Hare. Have a look at photos on the Forum of the egg ribbon of Aplysia juliana [see #10759]. I can't see enough detail to be sure, but if it is a Sea hare egg ribbon you will see tiny eggs inside the pink cylinder much as in the photos of Aplysia fasciata [see #8159].
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Feb 10). Comment on Unknown worm mass by Rick Eastwood. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12148

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