Re: The real Stylocheilus longicauda from eastern Atlantic

August 26, 2009
From: Denis Riek

Concerning message #22607:

Hi Bill,
I don't know if this little sea hare is Stylocheilus longicauda but it does appear similar with the long tail and white spots. It was also attached to this piece of pumice (5cm dia.) with a very thin but strong mucus thread, strong enough to hold it "on board" through the surf and onto the beach. Luckily I was there as it came ashore as stranded animals have a very short life expectancy!

According to Dr Alex Cook at Queensland Museum this pumice, found in May 2008, was from the August 2006 eruption of the Home Reef Volcano, SW of Vavau, Tonga. Quite a voyage!! It also supported Bryozoans, Algae, Goose Neck Barnacles, Polychaete worms and Snails. Sorry the images aren't clearer but this slug was very small.

Locality: Hastings Point Beach, Beached, NSW Australia, Pacific, 23 March 2008. Length: 3-4mm. Photographer: Denis Riek.

Cheers
Denis

dwriek@optusnet.com.au

Riek, D.W., 2009 (Aug 26) Re: The real Stylocheilus longicauda from eastern Atlantic. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22615

Dear Denis,

From your description of the long tail and sticky mucus, and the general colour and shape, I agree with your identification. Small aplysiids are difficult to identify but if it were a species of the genus Aplysia I would expect to see a relatively large external shell in such a juvenile. Your animal already has the elongate shape of Stylocheilus. It is fascinating how species from quite unrelated groups have adapted for this fairly perilous lifestyle of living on floating debris. Others that come to mind are the aeolid Fiona pinnata and the dorid Vayssierea felis.

It is a nice find.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Aug 26). Comment on Re: The real Stylocheilus longicauda from eastern Atlantic by Denis Riek. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22615

Factsheet

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