Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus from Reunion Island
February 23, 2006
From: Philibert Bidgrain
Dear Bill,
Reunion Island sea slugs.
In Reunion Island we have observed one specimen of this species in a lagoon. I think it could be Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus. What's your opinion?
Locality: Saint Pierre, 1 m, Reunion Island, Indian ocean, november 2005, lagoon. Length: 20 mm. Photographer: Alain Barrére.
Best Regards
Philibert Bidgrain
http://vieoceane.free.fr/runseaslug/indexslug.htm
pbidgrain@yahoo.fr
Bidgrain, P., 2006 (Feb 23) Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus from Reunion Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15879Dear Philibert,
Congratulations to Alain for his photographic technique. I have tried to photograph Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus many times without great success. It is usually half covered in sand - or at least with some grit - in the field, and does not like crawling on smooth surfaces in the lab. I never thought to try photographing it on my hand! This species is a great example of just how often in the Cephalaspidea, shelled species have evolved into slugs independently. In fact Phanerophthalmus was considered for many years to be a member of the Aglajidae. However its internal anatomy clearly shows that its ancestry is amongst the haminoeids.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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