Glaucus in New Zealand

February 25, 1999
From: Ross Armstrong

Dear Bill

The attached image was supplied by my Uncle and Aunty Bill and Lynda West of Opotiki in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty.  (Central east coast of the North Island). In late January they were walking on the beach and encountered some Glaucilla washed up on the shore.  At the time neither had seen these before and did not know what it was.  They took some samples and had it identified
as Glaucilla alanticus. There have been a lot of easterlies blowing things up on the beach.  After getting it identified they went looking for some more.  So far they have
found a total of 27.  They have tried keeping them in a small aquarium but have a fairly high mortality rate.  I believe the photo was taken in the aquarium.  Neither are marine biologists but they have made some interesting observations including seeing a pair mating?  and also suspecting they might
become cannibalistic if there is a shortage of food.  They have been feeding them on jellyfish that have also been washed up.  They sent me a letter explaining what they have done and observed but I left it at home.
I look forward to any information you may be able to provide or questions that you may have.

kind regards

Ross Armstrong

Ross@northpower.co.nz

Armstrong, R., 1999 (Feb 25) Glaucus in New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/616

Ross,
Thanks for the great photo of Glaucus atlanticus. Whoever identified it for your Aunt & Uncle as Glaucilla atlanticus got it half right and half wrong. There are two very similar looking species, Glaucus atlanticus and Glaucilla marginata. Both have very similar life styles, floating upside down in the sea, feeding on Physalia and other similar floating cnidarians. Have a look at the pages and pictures I have on these two species.

To comment on your observations. Glaucus is usually found washed up on beaches with the Portugese man o' war, Physalia after days of onshore winds. With little power of independent movement they are at the mercy of the winds and currents. They will, like most nudibranchs confined in small containers, mate at the drop of a hat! Being hermaphrodite, every member of the same species is a potential partner. Other animals your Aunt & Uncle could try feeding their Glaucus with are Porpita and Velella, two little blue animals which also float at the surface. One has an oval shaped transparent disc with a diagonally placed "sail" which gives it the name of "By-the-wind Sailor" and the other has a circular disk and no sail.

It is possible that Glaucus and Glaucilla will eat each other, when starving, as other aeolids are known to do that. One other interesting thing about these slugs is that they lay short egg strings of 10-20 eggs which float at the surface until the larvae hatch. I have some photos somewhere. As soon as I find them I will put one on the page for you.
Best wishes,
Bill

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Feb 25). Comment on Glaucus in New Zealand by Ross Armstrong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/616

Factsheet

Glaucus atlanticus

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