Philinopsis taronga? from Tasmania

July 2, 2007
From: Patrick N Lewis


Could someone please confirm the identification of this species? It was photographed in shallow water in a sheltered bay in South-eastern Tasmania.

I have not observed the species previously but on a recent dive it was quite abundant. Individuals were moving about on the top of fine, silty sediments and one pair was observed to mate. Is it Philinopsis taronga?

Any further information of records of this species within Tasmanian waters would be appreciated.

Locality: Lauderdale, south-east Tasmania, 2m, Tasmania, Australia, inshore, 14 Febraury 2007, Shallow subtidal, silty sediments. Length: ~50mm. Photographer: Patrick N Lewis.

Regards
Pat Lewis

plewis@utas.edu.au

Lewis, P.N., 2007 (Jul 2) Philinopsis taronga? from Tasmania. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19478

Dear Pat,
This is a nice series of photos showing Philinopsis taronga finding a partner and mating. In the second photo the darker animal has obviously sensed the mucus trail of the leading animal. The lower photo reminds me very much of the recent photo we have of Akera bullata mating in the Mediterranean [message #20050 ]. Although the two species are not closely related they have the primitive opisthobranch arrangement in which the penis is on the right side of the head while the rest of the genital apparatus opens on the back right side of the body. That is why in your photo the darker animal - acting as male - has climbed on to the leading animal on the right side so its penis (on the right side of the body) can be inserted into the female genital opening of that animal - which is acting as the female.

I am not sure of any records of this species from Tasmania. Although it can be relatively common at times, it is esentially a burrower in soft sediments, and has a frail internal shell, so it is not often seen either as a living animal or as a shell washed up on the beach. It is recorded from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in Australia, and also from New Zealand. It is not surprising it occurs in Tasmania, but I can't say if you have the first record or not.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jul 2). Comment on Philinopsis taronga? from Tasmania by Patrick N Lewis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19478

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