Chelidonura inornata feeding?

June 8, 2000
From: Akos Lumnitzer

Dear Bill,

Here is Chelidonura inornata from North Solitary Island, September 1998. It was in 15 meters of water. We have also seen these at two places in Sydney [off Shark Point, Clovelly and Oak Park, Cronulla] this season.

Akos.

dna72@softhome.net

Lumnitzer, A., 2000 (Jun 8) Chelidonura inornata feeding?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2525

Dear Akos,
I have been asked why I encourage people to send me more photos of species I already have photos of. This photo is a great example of the value of 'more' photos. It may just look like another photo of Chelidonura inornata on Porites coral but I think it is much more than that. Can you see the darker brown patches on the coral? I have pointed an arrow at one of them. They are a cluster? herd? of acoel flatworms, which often occur in 'plague' proportions on colonies of corals and soft corals in the tropics.

For years I have puzzled over why species of Chelidonura are often found, (and photographed), crawling over coral colonies. It seems that they are in fact hunting for these flatworms [see Chelidonura varians page.] which they eat. Your photo is the first one I have seen with a Chelidonura in close proximity to these flatworms. In fact your animal seems to have really struck gold!

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jun 8). Comment on Chelidonura inornata feeding? by Akos Lumnitzer. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2525

Factsheet

Chelidonura inornata

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