Flabellina rubrolineata egg laying

April 19, 2008
From: Leanne & David Atkinson

Hi Bill,
When we looked at these photos on the computer we noticed that this Flabellina rubrolineata was laying eggs and you can actually see them being extruded from the body. We also noticed what may be a much smaller nudibranch in two of the photos but we are not sure whether it is a tiny Flabellina rubrolineata that hasn't developed its colours yet. Thought this may be of interest since it is a different colour form to the one we have previously sent in laying eggs.

Locality: Halifax Sponge Gardens, Nelson Head, Port Stephens, 18 metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific, 30 September 2007, Sandy bottom covered in sponges, soft corals, ascidians, bryozoans and hydroids. Length: approximately 20 mm. Photographer: Leanne & David Atkinson.

Regards,
Leanne & David Atkinson

atk@hunterlink.net.au

Atkinson, L.&.D., 2008 (Apr 19) Flabellina rubrolineata egg laying. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20882

Dear Leanne & David,

Thanks very much for these photos. I haven't included a close-up of the egg being extruded because I couldn't get the photo to come out clear enough. I have however included close-ups of the egg ribbon, the characteristic papillate rhinophores, and the mystery second aeolid. I am pretty sure it is Flabellina poenicia. If you look at the photos on the Fact Sheet you will see it quite similarly coloured.  The ceratal colour is variable however and the most distinctive feature is the purple jaw plates which show through the head wall as two bright purple patches. 

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Apr 19). Comment on Flabellina rubrolineata egg laying by Leanne & David Atkinson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20882

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