Plocamopherus imperialis from New Zealand

December 21, 1998
From: Ross Armstrong


Hi Bill
    
Here are two photos of an animal I have seen only once. I have identified it as Plocamopherus imperialis.  We found it on a night dive at the Poor Knights Island, northeastern New Zealand.  Both photos are mine.  A friend of mine claims to have seen one in Whangarei Harbour on a night dive.
    
cheers
    
Ross

Ross@northpower.co.nz

Armstrong, R., 1998 (Dec 21) Plocamopherus imperialis from New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/413

Thanks Ross,
They are certainly more brightly coloured than southeastern Australian animals but the traces of small brown spotting in your photos and the large bulbous papillae, confirm they are Plocamopherus imperialis. They are apparently a rare visitor to New Zealand.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1998 (Dec 21). Comment on Plocamopherus imperialis from New Zealand by Ross Armstrong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/413

Factsheet

Plocamopherus imperialis

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