Feeding record for Chromodoris aureopurpurea from Port Stephens

March 24, 2010
From: Leanne and David Atkinson

Concerning message #19178:

Hi Bill,
We found this Chromodoris aureopurpurea on a sponge with its mouth clearly visible. This is quite a common nudibranch in the Port Stephens area but it often has its head pushed into an overgrown area so it is difficult to see what it is feeding on. We were excited to find this one with the mouth parts so clearly visible. There doesn't seem to be any other messages re its food to compare with.

Locality: The Pipeline, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, 5metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 06 February 2010, Sandy silty bottom with sea pens, sponges, ascidians, gorgonias, soft corals, hydroids and seaweed.. Length: 60mm. Photographer: Leanne and David Atkinson.

Hope it is of interest.
Regards
Leanne & David Atkinson

atk@hunterlink.net.au

Atkinson, L. & D., 2010 (Mar 24) Feeding record for Chromodoris aureopurpurea from Port Stephens. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23388

Dear Leanne and David,

This is definitely of great interest. It is the first feeding record I have of this species and fits my observations that similarly coloured species are often found feeding on the same sponge species. This may be because they are closely related and their common ancestor developed a liking for a particular sponge or it could be that unrelated species can evolve a similar colour pattern so that they 'share the load' in teaching predators to avoid animals with their colour pattern because they are distasteful.

The sponge is the same species of Euryspongia that the similarly coloured C. collingwoodi usually feeds on [see your last message #23381].

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (Mar 24). Comment on Feeding record for Chromodoris aureopurpurea from Port Stephens by Leanne and David Atkinson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23388

Factsheet

Chromodoris aureopurpurea

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