Re: Food and colour in Tritonia nilsodhneri

October 6, 2009
From: Ricardo Roberto Fernández

Concerning message #4312:

Dear Bill,

The matter about the coloration and food of Tritonia nilsodhneri is still challenging. I enclose two photographs I've taken recently of this animal on Leptogorgia cf. sarmentosa. This species of gorgonian has two different colours in the Viveiro Stuary (Galicia - Spain). The one on the purple one is like Picton's shot, while the ones on the orange gorgonian is white. After so many years observing these animals, I cannot think the animals have just arrived on the orange gorgonian, after feeding on the white ones (Eunicella verrucosa ). Thus, it must be related to something else, may be do they like to use other gorgonians for reproduction? Why so? This really puzzles me! Thank you for your comments on the photographs I sent a lot of time ago [message #9841]. Yes, I quite agree with your suggestions.

best regards!
Ricardo R. Fdez

Locality: Viveiro Stuary, -10 m, Galicia - Spain, Atlantic Ocean, 02 May 2009, on gorgonians. Length: 7 mm. Photographer: Ricardo Roberto Fernández.

rirofermar@hotmail.com

Fernández Martínez, R. R., 2009 (Oct 6) Re: Food and colour in Tritonia nilsodhneri. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22568

Thanks Ricardo,

One thing worth considering is whether this species just eats the gorgonian polyps. As the polyps are usually colourless or white then we wouldn't expect much colour difference if it was based on pigment exchange from food to feeder. However if this Tritonia also eats part of the colourful stalk (pink or yellow in this case) then we might expect the animals to be a better match with the gorgonian, as its colour is really dominated by the stalk colour.

So I guess one thing to examine is which part of the colony does T. nilsodhneri eat?

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Oct 6). Comment on Re: Food and colour in Tritonia nilsodhneri by Ricardo Roberto Fernández. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22568

Factsheet

Tritonia nilsodhneri

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