Hypselodoris tricolor - feeding ?

June 21, 2006
From: Kerem Turker

Dear Bill,
I have been diving in Turkish waters for nearly 7 years and I have not seen this nudi even once before.

After an extensive search in the forum, I think that it is Hypselodoris tricolor. I have spent quite some time with the nudi, and I am pretty sure that it is feeding on the green sponges attached to the rocky surface.

Locality: Bodrum - Kargi , 25 to 30 meters, Turkey, Mediterranean, 18 June 2006, Rock surface with sponges. Length: less than 10 mm. Photographer: Kerem Turker.

Best Regards,
Kerem

kerem.turker@pmintl.com

Turker, K., 2006 (Jun 21) Hypselodoris tricolor - feeding ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16919

Dear Kerem,
I agree with your identification of the chromodorid, but I am pretty sure the greenish organism in your photo is a filamentous green algae. H. tricolor is reported to feed on the sponge Dysidea avara which ranges from a whitish grey to a pinkish colour and has a distinctive shape and texture which you can see in Bali Yokes photos [message #5338 ]. The green algae may be growing on a pale cream sponge but I don't think so. Nudibranchs at times can be very infuriating. You can sit and watch them for a long time and they seem to be very busy and purposeful, when in fact all they are doing is slowly feeling  and sensing everything they come in contact with. I suspect that if a food sponge is nearby their rhinophores will sense its presence, but when they can 'smell' nothing, they just search methodically - but not necessarily successfully, as you observed.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jun 21). Comment on Hypselodoris tricolor - feeding ? by Kerem Turker. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16919

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