Roboastra luteolineata laying eggs

May 6, 2010
From: Deb Aston

Thought you might like these pics of Roboastra luteolineata laying eggs for the forum.

Locality: ex HMAS Brisbane, Mooloolaba, 20 metres, Queensland, Pacific, 01 May 2010, Artificial Reef. Length: 40mm. Photographer: Deb Aston.

Deb Aston

dtaston@bigpond.net.au

Aston, D, 2010 (May 6) Roboastra luteolineata laying eggs. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23606

Thanks Deb,

It's nice to get photos of any of these species laying eggs. There are a group of species of the related genus Tambja [see T. affinis colour group] with a similar colour pattern to your Roboastra, but most of them lack the type of oral tentacle we can see in one of your photos. Fortunately the one species of Tambja with this type of oral tentacle, Tambja tentaculata, has a distinctively different colour pattern.

I have also included a close-up to show how the yellow lines on the body are really folds into which glands embedded in the skin have their opening. When these animals are disturbed they can exude a thick viscous white or yellow secretion to deter potential predators.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (May 6). Comment on Roboastra luteolineata laying eggs by Deb Aston. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23606

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Roboastra luteolineata

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