Trapania sp. 12
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Goniodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Caribbean
PHOTO
Location. Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean Sea. Size: 5 mm to 25 mm. Depth: 6 m to 10 m. 01 June 2007 - 25 June 2007. All specimens were found on brown bowl sponges (Cribrochalina vasculum?) Photos: Ellen Muller.
Typical shape with a recurved lateral papilla alongside each rhinophore and on each side of the gills. The body is transparent with a reticulate pattern of white lines, each white line being outlined in black. The lateral papillae are transparent with scattered black spots and a few white marks. There is a white patch in the midline between the rhinophores with a white line extdniing up the inside of each rhinophore. There is another larger white band running across the body just in front of the gills and out to the base of the two posterior lateral papillae. Reported to grow to at least 25 mm. Known from this report from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2007 (June 27) Trapania sp. 12 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/trapsp12
Related messages
Trapania from Caribbean
July 16, 2007
From: Ellen Muller
Hi Bill,
I have found what is apparently a new species of Trapania. These photos have been seen by Angel Valdes, Dave Behrens and Anne DuPont, co-authors of the book Caribbean Sea Slugs and having reviewed everything known from the Caribbean in the preparation of their book, they have never seen this species.
In two of the photos you can clearly see the entoprocts or kamptozoans that the Trapania is feeding on.
Location. Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean Sea. Size: 5 mm to 25 mm. Depth: 6 m to 10 m. 01 June 2007 - 25 June 2007. All specimens were found on brown bowl sponges (Cribrochalina vasculum?) Photos: Ellen Muller.
Best regards,
Ellen Muller
http://www.pbase.com/imagine/trapania
ellen@imaginebonaire.com
Dear Ellen,
Thanks very sending these photos. It certainly is something I have not seen before. I am glad you were able to photograph it with its kamptozoan prey. Now that we know what we need to look for, it seems strange that only a few years ago we had no idea what Trapania ate - except for the suggestion that it ate sponges. I know it is dangerous to suggest 'reasons' for colour patterns, but I am struck with the way the lateral papillae in this species are transparent, except for scattered black spots, which are very similar in size to those of the kamptozoans. Their transparency and the spots certainly comply with a primary rule of camouflage - which is to disguise and break up your outline.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
