Hermissenda vs. Corynactis

August 3, 2007
From: Bruce Wight

Came across what appeared to be a Corynactis californica feeding on a Hermissenda crassicornis. After a few minutes the struggle was over and the Hermissenda crawled away leaving a few cerata behind.

Locality: San Miguel Island, 50 feet, California, USA, Pacific, 16 July 2007, Reef structure. Length: 2 inches. Photographer: Bruce Wight.

Bruce Wight

bruce.c.wight@boeing.com

Wight, B.C., 2007 (Aug 3) Hermissenda vs. Corynactis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20317

Hi Bruce,

Great observation. Between the stinging nematocysts of the slug and its ability to autotomize its cerata, it defeated a potential predator. Super defence mechanisms. Thanks especially for hanging around and documenting the whole story.

Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2007 (Aug 3). Comment on Hermissenda vs. Corynactis by Bruce Wight. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20317

Related messages

  1. Hermissenda crassicornis eating Flabellina trilineata
    From: John Albers-Mead, August 15, 2007
  2. Nudibranch Parasite? - Hermissenda
    From: Bruce Wight, August 1, 2007
  3. Colour variation in Hermissenda crassicornis
    From: Carissa Thomas, April 4, 2007
  4. Hermissenda crassicornis from Oregon, USA
    From: Julie Gilchrist, June 3, 2006
  5. Re: Hermissenda crassicornis from Sth Korea
    From: Ron Velarde, February 25, 2006
  6. Hermissenda crassicornis from Sth Korea
    From: Dong Bum Koh, February 24, 2006
  7. Hermissenda crassicornis eating ascidians?
    From: Marli Wakeling, February 3, 2006
  8. Hermissenda crassicornis genetics
    From: Martin H. Johnson, December 12, 2005
  9. Re: Janolus fuscus from Puget Sound
    From: Jeff Goddard, October 5, 2005
  10. Re: Janolus fuscus from Puget Sound
    From: Jack Connick, October 4, 2005
  11. Re: Janolus fuscus from Puget Sound
    From: Jack Connick, September 30, 2005
  12. Flabellina pricei or mistaken identity
    From: Jan Kocian, August 9, 2005
  13. Re: Janolus fuscus from Puget Sound
    From: Jeff Goddard, July 6, 2005
  14. Re: Janolus fuscus from Puget Sound
    From: Jack Connick, July 2, 2005
  15. Re: Nudibranch eggs will travel
    From: Marli Wakeling, May 9, 2005
  16. Nudibranch eggs will travel
    From: Marli Wakeling, May 7, 2005
  17. Re: Raising Hermissenda for research
    From: Ray Izumi, May 6, 2005
  18. Raising Hermissenda for research
    From: Daniel Swezey, April 29, 2005
  19. Hermissenda crassicornis Cannibalism?
    From: Daniel Swezey, February 28, 2005
  20. Hermissenda crassicornis with eggs
    From: Bruce Wight, February 10, 2005
  21. Hermissenda crassicornis from California
    From: Bruce Wight, August 9, 2004
  22. Trailing behaviour in Hermissenda crassicornis
    From: Marli Wakeling, December 22, 2003
  23. Hermissenda - 1000 miles from land
    From: Hiroaki Sakoh, November 15, 2003
  24. Hermissenda crassicornis feeding
    From: Glen Miller and Jackie Hildering, September 30, 2003
  25. Hermissenda crassicornis without cerata
    From: M.J. Adams, August 14, 2003
  26. Hermissenda crassicornis from the Channel Ids, California
    From: Bruce Wight, August 5, 2003
  27. Hermissenda crassicornis from California
    From: Chris Grossman, August 1, 2003
  28. Re: Update on Hermissenda ailments
    From: Rosemary Romero, July 30, 2003
  29. Update on Hermissenda ailments
    From: Ian Dow, July 18, 2003
  30. Re: Ailments in Hermissenda crassicornis
    From: Kathe R. Jensen, July 17, 2003
  31. Ailments in Hermissenda crassicornis
    From: Ian Dow, July 16, 2003
  32. Hermissenda from California
    From: Bruce Wight, October 17, 2002
  33. Hermissenda crassicornis from British Columbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, October 10, 2002
  34. Hermissenda crassicornis from San Miguel, Calif.
    From: Bruce Wight, August 12, 2002
  35. Looking for photos of Hermissenda veligers
    From: G. Sparks, July 22, 2001
  36. Hermissenda crassicornis question
    From: Robert Baker, June 12, 2001
  37. Information on Hermissenda crassicornis
    From: Bill Rudman, February 17, 2001
  38. Variation in Hermissenda crassicornis
    From: Bruce Wight, August 4, 2000
  39. Hermissenda crassicornis feeding on Geoducks?
    From: Pacific Shellfish Institute, August 4, 2000
  40. Hermissenda crassicornis from California
    From: Bruce Wight, July 15, 2000
  41. Hermissenda Mating Preferences...
    From: Ty Lim, March 6, 2000
  42. Re: Hermissenda
    From: Max O'Brien, February 20, 2000
  43. Re: mating information
    From: Ty Lim, February 16, 2000
  44. Mating behaviour in Hermissenda
    From: Ty Lim, February 15, 2000
  45. Finding out what I see under water
    From: Max O'Brien, February 7, 2000
  46. Source for Hermissenda crassicornis on E. coast
    From: David Chan, October 16, 1999
  47. Re: Hermissenda feeding
    From: Cesar Megina, July 22, 1999
  48. Re: Hermissenda feeding
    From: Benjamin Ross, July 21, 1999
  49. What is the best food for Hermissenda?
    From: Benjamin Ross, July 20, 1999
  50. Re: Use of name Hermissenda
    From: Bill Rudman, June 23, 1999
  51. Correct genus for Hermissenda crassicornis
    From: Maria Byrne, May 20, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages