Mystery Nudibranch Behavior in Maryland

August 15, 2005
From: Vernon Heagy

A few weeks ago I was out on this wreck the Marine Electric off of Maryland, HUGE wreck, pretty famous [a show was just done on Deep Sea Detectives] The wreck is in 160fsw and relief for maybe 20 feet. So I did my first dive, just catchin lobsters. My camera housing is being fixed by Amphibico now [I broke it in Saba and got no good pitctures there] My 2nd dive someone did a drfit deco and the lost a reel and lift bag, so I did the long swim to the bow to look for it. As I can up over the inverted bow, I saw it. HUNDREDS of Nudis and that is no exaggreration, They were everywhere, I have never seen more than 2 in one place and here were as many as the eye could see. AND they were in small little balls and appeared to me to be mating. Behind the little ball of nudis were small spiral strings of what looked like noodles, I am guessing eggs of some sort or excrement, not sure which. Any ideas on this behavior?

Locality: Wreck of Marine Electric, Maryland, USA, Maryland, USA, Atlantic coast. Depth: 160 fsw. Length: not sure. July 2005. on wreck [steel] with minor growth.:

Vernon Heagy

vernh@smokeysdiversden.com

Heagy, Vernon, 2005 (Aug 15) Mystery Nudibranch Behavior in Maryland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14551

Dear Vern,
I'm afraid without some photos or more clues its a bit hard to make a sensible comment. The only possibility is that you have found a breeding aggregation ofOnchidoris bilamellata. This is a total guess based on messages we have had on the Forum in the past from Caliornia [see message #5827] and the NE Atlantic [see message #5689]. This species is also found on the Atlantic coast of USA, so it is a possibility. - But then again it could be many one of many other nudibranchs as well. Have a look at the messages on the Onchidoris bilamellata page and see what you think - and let us know - or best of all go back and take a photo.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Aug 15). Comment on Mystery Nudibranch Behavior in Maryland by Vernon Heagy. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14551

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