Paliolla cooki
(Angas, 1864)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Polycerinae

DISTRIBUTION

Temperate Australia from New South Wales to South Australia.

PHOTO

Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. Oct 1989, AM C160803. Photos: Bill Rudman [Further details to follow]

Small polycerid of unknown affinities, with radula apparently fused into a cone of rods. Nothing is known of its biology but it often associated with the bryozoan in the accompanying photos on which it is quite camouflaged, the small orange spots matching the darker apertures in the bryozoan colony.

Reference:
• Angas, G.F. (1864). Description d'espèces nouvelles appartenant à plusieurs genres de Mollusques Nudibranches des environs de Port-Jackson (Nouvelles-Galles du Sud), accompagnée de dessins faits d'après nature. Journal de Conchyliologie, 12: 43-70

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (June 22) Paliolla cooki (Angas, 1864). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/palicook

Related messages


Paliolla cooki from Jervis Bay

November 12, 2003
From: Sue Newson

Hi Bill,
Today, while diving at a site called Boat Harbour, [Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia - 21 October 2003] I encountered this species of Gymnodoris on an ascidian(?) at a depth of 15m. The nudibranch was approx 10mm in length. Any idea which species it is?
Sue

snewson@shoal,net,au

Newson, S., 2003 (Nov 12) Paliolla cooki from Jervis Bay. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11296

Dear Sue,
This is Paliolla cooki, a strange polycerid-like nudibranch which we don't know much about. I am pretty sure that the sponge-like colony you found it on is the bryozoan it feeds on.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Nov 12). Comment on Paliolla cooki from Jervis Bay by Sue Newson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11296

Paliolla cooki from Victoria, Australia.

May 1, 2003
From: John Chuk

Dear Bill,
Here are three images of Paliolla cooki specimens photographed at Flinders Pier, Victoria, Australia on 19 November 2002. The specimens were found on the underside of a rusting piece of iron on the bottom beneath the pier at a depth of 4m. The largest specimen was 10mm in length.

The upper image is of two specimens attempting to mate. The lower left shows the same two specimens parting company. The specimen on the left crawled away and the one on the right remained stationary. Further shots were taken of the specimen on the right and when I looked at the slides I noticed that a portion of an egg ribbon was visible beneath the specimen. The lower right image is an enlarged view of the eggs.
Best wishes,
John.

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2003 (May 1) Paliolla cooki from Victoria, Australia.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9680

Thanks John,
The size of the eggs suggest this speies has direct development - that is a free-swimming larval stage is absent, small crawling slugs hatching directly from the eggs. In the lower left photo you can see how well amouflaged this species can be on its bryozoan food. When I first looked at this photo I thought the posterior half of the left animal was part of a bryozoan colony that the right animal was feeding on.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (May 1). Comment on Paliolla cooki from Victoria, Australia. by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9680

Paliolla cooki feeding.

May 1, 2003
From: John Chuk

Dear Bill,
Here is an image of a specimen of Paliolla cooki apparently feeding on an encrusting bryozoan. The shot was taken at Edithburgh Jetty, South Australia, on the 15th of February 2003. The specimen measured 6mm in length and was found on the underside of a piece of timber lying on the bottom beneath the jetty at a depth of 3m.
Best wishes,
John.

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2003 (May 1) Paliolla cooki feeding.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9681

Thanks John,
I think this is the same bryozoan I have found it on. Its nice to have some confirmation.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (May 1). Comment on Paliolla cooki feeding. by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9681

Paliolla cooki from South Australia

June 24, 2001
From: John Chuk


Dear Bill,

Here are two photo's of a specimen of Paliolla cooki found at Edithburgh Jetty in South Australia on 22/2/01. It was 8mm in length and was found under a piece of timber lying on the bottom beneath the jetty at 4m depth.

Best wishes,
John.

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2001 (Jun 24) Paliolla cooki from South Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4614

Thanks John,
Another species from temperate Australia which deserves a place on the Forum. I would be intersted in any future observations on its natural history - egg ribbons, food?, finding it on bryozoan (lace coral) colonies. etc.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jun 24). Comment on Paliolla cooki from South Australia by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4614