Re: Lophodoris danielsseni from Norway - first photos

January 18, 2006
From: Kåre Telnes


Concerning message #15571:

Today, I returned to the same Gorgonian head, and there they where. On the very same branch, two days later! With slightly different optics, I managed to take a few improved pictures. Coming back from the dive, it was encouraging to find your message. This is fun for an amateur like myself.

Locality: The Trondheim Fjord, Norway. North East Atlantic. Depth: 28 meters. Length: 10 mm. 17 January 2006. Photographer: Kåre Telnes

There are both bryozoans (looks like Hornera lichenoides ) and a few ascidians in the neighbourhood, but the slugs did not seem to care much for them. Entoprocts are perhaps too tiny too be noticed with the bare eye? I did not notice any eggs, so I really do not know what they are doing up there, on the coral branch. What do the eggs look like? Other species are spawning at the moment.

Cold? No it is not to bad at the moment, just a few degrees below zero.

Kåre Telnes

kare@seawater.no

Telnes, Kåre, 2006 (Jan 18) Re: Lophodoris danielsseni from Norway - first photos. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15597

Dear Kåre,
Thanks for the feedback. One of the problems with entoprocts is that they are so small and inconspicuous. They are also very 'nervous' and at the slightest disturbance their spring-like stalk retracts dragging the zooid down to merge into the background. I have ringed a couple of likely objects in the photo alongside. In the top right there appears to be a single zooid and in the lower ring there appears to be a group of them. I'm afraid they are very difficult to see in the field and they are so sensitive that when you try to collect some to look at under the microscope, they die.

I may be quite wrong, but they look like entoprocts to me. Have a look at the following messages: #3770, #6022, which show species of Trapania feeding on 'carpets' of entoprocts. It is not so easy when they are less abundant.

Your new photos also show the mid-dorsal crest very well. Concerning the egg ribbon. I have no idea what it will look like - you are on the forefront of discovery here. You may be the first person to see its eggs.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jan 18). Comment on Re: Lophodoris danielsseni from Norway - first photos by Kåre Telnes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15597

Factsheet

Lophodoris danielsseni

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