Aplysia punctata & 'passengers'

May 16, 2002
From: Dr. Stephen Hoskins

Last week whilst undertaking field work on Jersey I made detailed observations of Aplysia punctata activity in situ and noticed on several occasions that a small bivalve was firmly (resisted efforts to pull it free) clamped on the parapodia close to the opening of the mantle cavity and also a small topshell attached to the animal's body just above the foot. Were these animals simply hitching a ride? Has anyone reported this before? Any suggested ideas?

Dr Stephen Hoskins

SRH@4TheNet.co.uk

Hoskins, S., 2002 (May 16) Aplysia punctata & 'passengers'. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6971

Dear Stephen,
I suspect the top shell is a chance hitchhiker but it is possible the bivalves have a relationship with Sea Hares. I can't recall any published association between a bivalve and a Sea Hare but there are numerous small bivalves which show a range of commensal and semi-parasitic relationships with other molluscs, crustacea, echinoderms and worms. Most examples are found amongst the leptonoidean bivalves. We know nothing about the biology of most species of the group and new associations are regularly being reported so it would not be that surprising if you had discovered a new association - but then again it could be just be a coincidence.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (May 16). Comment on Aplysia punctata & 'passengers' by Dr. Stephen Hoskins. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6971

Factsheet

Aplysia punctata

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