Ringicula spp
Misc Pacific

Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
Family: Ringiculidae

This page is for unidentified species of Ringicula from the Pacific. Almost all species of the genus have been described on the basis of shell morphology. As we have no good indication of how variable shell shape is in this genus, identifying species is at an extremely primitive state.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2009 (May 13) Ringicula spp Misc Pacific. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/ringmiscpac

Related messages


Another living Ringicula from sthn Queensland

November 13, 2009
From: Gary Cobb

Concerning message #22447:

Hi Bill and everyone!
It is with great pleasure that I present Ringicula sp.3. Two live animals were found.
The body shape is very interesting. Especially the truncated tail. These shells are different from the ones we have found before in that they have a more inflated shell and lower spire.

Locality: Woody Point, Redcliffe, Brisbane. 100 mm depth, Queensland, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 10 November 2009, Intertidal. Length: 4.5 mm. Photographer: David Mullins on microscope.

Cheers
Gary

gary@nudibranch.com.au

Cobb, G., 2009 (Nov 13) Another living Ringicula from sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22776

Dear Gary,

This looks quite like the one I am tentatively calling Ringicula doliaris. The small whitish specks visible all over the headshield are small glands which produce a thick whitish secretion when the animal is disturbed. Of great interest are the larger pinkish glands I can see along the edge of the right lobe of the head shield. Similar glands were reported as 'repugnatorial glands' 50 years ago for a European species, R. buccinea,  so it's nice to see they are probably a widespread feature amongst the ringiculids.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Nov 13). Comment on Another living Ringicula from sthn Queensland by Gary Cobb. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22776

Ringicula found sthn Queensland

May 14, 2009
From: Gary Cobb


Concerning message #16718:

Hi Bill and everyone!
Good to see you're back. Now onto more pressing matters... While David Mullins, Richard Willan and I were diving near Bulwer Moreton Island, we were sieving the sand just off the shore in 4 metres of water. In the bits were found 7 new species to nudibranch.com.au including 2 species of Ringicula.
Here are photos of the shells. I have also found one shell at Pt. Cartwright off Mooloolaba Queensland.

Locality: Moreton Island, 4 m, Queensland, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 10 April 2009, Subtidal and Intertidal. Length: 2-4 mm. Photographer: Gary Cobb.

Cheers
Gary

gary@nudibranch.com.au

Cobb, G.C., 2009 (May 14) Ringicula found sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22447

Thanks Gary,

Shells of white or colourless bubble shells are often very difficult to identify as they have few shell characters we can use for species identification - and in some cases it is impossible to identify which family they belong to from shell alone. Adding to the confusion are the many names that exist - many from early exploring expeditions - which are based on shell descriptions with no information on the animal's anatomy.

At this stage all I can do is put your shells on a Ringicula misc Pacific page in the hope that it stirs someone's interest in revising this group.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (May 14). Comment on Ringicula found sthn Queensland by Gary Cobb. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22447