Hypselodoris bullocki feeding

May 14, 2007
From: Richard Swann


Hi Bill

I have attached a few pictures of Hypselodoris bullocki feeding.

Locality: Clement reef Gaya island, Kota Kinabalu, 19 meters, Sabah, Borneo, South China Sea, 11 May 2007, Out Reef slope. Length: 30mm. Photographer: Richard Swann.

In the first two images I wasn't 100% sure as I could not see any obvious evidence of eaten sponge but I then noticed along the dorsum a red substance moving from front to back. In the lower photo you can see the red of the sponge being digested.

I know you have lots of feeding records for this species but I felt that the sponge had more red colouration than others that I had seen and as a result was worth a post.

Best regards
Richard
www.downbelow.co.uk

richard@downbelow.co.uk

Swann, R., 2007 (May 14) Hypselodoris bullocki feeding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19903

Dear Richard,
Thanks again. Although we do have a number of records of this species feeding, it is not many in comparison with our knowledge of feeding in other animal groups. It looks like this species specialises on the dysideid sponge genus Euryspongia but I am reluctant to say we have enough evidence just yet. The little clump of sponge in your photo well illustrates the problem of building up feeding information, because often the sponge colonies are not obvious like in Poppe's message [#16260] but very small, or partly covered in temporary mud or debris and so difficult for us to see.

Your photo of sponge fragments travelling down the oesophagus to the stomach is pretty indisputable evidence.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (May 14). Comment on Hypselodoris bullocki feeding by Richard Swann. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19903

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