Bursatella leachii in Malaysian shrimp ponds

February 28, 2007
From: Huan Ung

This is indeed a wonderful website and I wonder if the Australian Museum has begun Bar-Coding the various species using the Cytochrome Oxidase 1 gene that is currently being used to barcode all kinds of organisms. It will also be interesting to see how much the DNA sequence varies for the various geographical types of species that are cosmopolitan such as Bursatella leachii as their polymorphic forms are diverse. Anyway, we have 500 aquaculture ponds for shrimp and one just got colonized by thousands of Bursatella leachii. Strangely the postlarval shrimps have disappeared (died?) and I'm wondering if the pink dye is toxic or not? Also, if there is any commercial use of these animals, I may decide to preserve this pond as a closed system breeding population of this (invasive) species. Is it true that Chinese actually eat this animal? or make natural medicines from it?

Locality: Umas Umas River area, 0.2-1.4 metres, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, 24 February 2007, within newly stocked shrimp pond. Length: 60-110mm. Photographer: Ms.Claire Emmanuelle Bue.

Huan Ung

huanung@yahoo.com

Ung, E.H., 2007 (Feb 28) Bursatella leachii in Malaysian shrimp ponds. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19541

Dear Huan,

There is still considerable debate on the efficacy of bar-coding amongst taxonomists. Also with such limited funds availble for basic research I would rather encourage students to study the basic biology of some of these common, abundant animals than to study slight differences in their cytochrome oxidase genes. We could then be able to answer questions like yours.

As you will see from earlier messages on this species, they do at times appear to 'take over' shrimp/prawn ponds. I assume this is partly because they feed on the blue-green algal layer [cyanobacteria] often found growing over the substrate. However as Doug Pearson [messages #363; #359]and Tom Capo [#368] suggest, larval Bursatella in the shrimp/prawn ponds could affect the phytoplankton bloom in the ponds and so effect the larval prawn food supply.

Concerning the use of Bursatella as food or medicine in China. I can find no good evidence of any sea hare being used as food, but there are places [Fiji, Philippines] where their eggs are eaten. I have no information on whether they are used for traditional medicine. Many other marine animals have been called sea slugs [see sea cucumbers] so the literature is quite confusing.

Concerning their pink/purple ink. Have a look at the Fact Sheet on the topic. There is no real evidence to suggest it is toxic in normal concentrations.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Feb 28). Comment on Bursatella leachii in Malaysian shrimp ponds by Huan Ung. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19541

Factsheet

Bursatella leachii

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