Large Glossodoris hikuerensis from Enewetak Atoll

May 8, 2000
From: Scott Johnson


Hi Bill,

Glossodoris hikuerensis grows to a large size indeed. The first individual I found at Enewetak measured 135mm in length (TOP PHOTO) and is still the most massive chromodorid I've ever found. All specimens found since were smaller. I have also included a photo of the spirally branched gills of an 80mm specimen.

Scott Johnson

johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu

Johnson, S., 2000 (May 8) Large Glossodoris hikuerensis from Enewetak Atoll. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2367

Dear Scott,
Thanks for the record. I don't think I have one that matches that length. The spiral gills are interesting. They seem to be a feature of chromodorids with a thick skin or a need for extra help in breathing. In some species, only the larger specimens have secondary spirals like this, while in other species with thicker muscular skins secondary gill spirals seem to be normal.

I have a theory that with a thicker skin, gas exchange through the skin would not be very successful, so there is a need to increase the capacity of the gills do do the job. You can either increase the size of the gills or increase the number of gills.

Best wishes.
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (May 8). Comment on Large Glossodoris hikuerensis from Enewetak Atoll by Scott Johnson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2367

Factsheet

Glossodoris hikuerensis

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