Aldisa sp ? from Reunion Island

February 12, 2009
From: Hugues Flodrops

Concerning message #6124:

Hi Bill,
Here is another nudibranch which I think is a kind of Aldisa? In the two pictures, we can see the brown gills appearing in the side view [middle left photo]. I can't find any similar picture on the forum or inside my reference books. Can you help us a new time.

Locality: Etang-Salé "Permanent Pool", 2 metre, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, 5 december 2007, Night. Length: 40 mm. Photographer: Hugues Flodrops.

Regards.
Hugues.

hugues.flodrops@wanadoo.fr

Flodrops, H., 2009 (Feb 12) Aldisa sp ? from Reunion Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22249

Dear Hugues,

I am glad you included the second photo as I was beginnin to wonder if you had sent a photo of a sponge or ascidian colony. It is a well-camouflaged slug! In that second photo I could see not only the gills beginning to emerge but a number of white papillae at the junctions of the ridges on the mantle. I am pretty sure your animal is Sclerodoris apiculata. Fortunately some of the papillae were visible, because often when disturbed - such as when being photographed and examined by humans - all the papillae retract and the slug is indistinguishable from a number of other well camouflaged species.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Feb 12). Comment on Aldisa sp ? from Reunion Island by Hugues Flodrops. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22249

Factsheet

Sclerodoris apiculata

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