Nudibranch from New Zealand

February 18, 2010
From: Anna Barnett

I would like to have this nudibranch identified if possible please. I have been referred to this forum by someone on the Flickr website where I asked if anyone knew what it was.

Locality: Cape Soucis, Marlborough Sounds, 11 metres, South Island, New Zealand, 10 February 2010, Gravelley sea floor, Large boulders, and the nudibranchs were feeding on fans attached to the large boulders.. Length: 2 mm. Photographer: Anna Barnett.

Many thanks,
Anna

annabarnett@xtra.co.nz

Barnett, A.M., 2010 (Feb 18) Nudibranch from New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23235

Dear Anna,

I am pretty sure this is the aeolid, Jason mirabilis, which is only found in new Zealand waters. It usually has a pink body, which makes it a spectacular sight, but I guess there are variations. This species lives and feeds on the large branching hydroid, Solanderia racemosa, and if you look at photos of the hydroid in other messages about this species you will find that in your hydroid colony most of the side branches on which the polyp animals live have been eaten off, presumably by the many aeolids present. At some stage soon I suspect they will start laying eggs over the 'skeletal' remains of the hydroid colony

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (Feb 18). Comment on Nudibranch from New Zealand by Anna Barnett. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23235

Factsheet

Jason mirabilis

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