Discodoris lilacina from the Red Sea

November 5, 2005
From: Binyamin Koretz

Hi Bill,

Is this Discodoris lilacina? Although known from the Red Sea (usually as Discodoris fragilis ), it's seldom seen here in Eilat.

Locality:  Eilat, Satil Area, Israel. Red Sea (Gulf of Eilat). Depth: 21 m. Length: 2 cm. 15 October 2005. sea grass and patch reef. Photographer: Shulamit Koretz

Thanks and best regards
Binyamin

binyamin@koretz.net

Koretz, B., 2005 (Nov 5) Discodoris lilacina from the Red Sea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15129

Dear Binyamin,
Yes this is Discodoris lilacina. As your photos show, this species is a classic example of autotomy, the phenomenon where an animal can break off part of its body, usually for defensive purposes. This species often breaks off part, or in this case, all its mantle skirt. That is why the gills look too far back on the body, and the rhinophores look too big for the size of the animal. The name fragilis, meaning fragile,  would have been a very appropriate name for this species but  D. lilacina is older.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Nov 5). Comment on Discodoris lilacina from the Red Sea by Binyamin Koretz. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15129

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Discodoris lilacina

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