All photos copyright ©2003-2008 Gary Cobb
10/02/07
Gary Cobb 0416 048 100
gary@nudibranch.com.au
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| Nudibranchs - Sunshine Coast etc. / 3386e All photos copyright ©2003-2008 Gary Cobb 10/02/07 Gary Cobb 0416 048 100 gary@nudibranch.com.au |
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| Hermaea sp. 1 |
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| Location: Trench, Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia Size: 5 mm Depth: 17 m Temperature: 25 C |
ORDER: NUDIBRANCHIA red |
| Found on Caulerpa! This red ‘aeolid’ presents a wonderful lesson in convergence of body forms. It’s actually a (new) species of Hermaea (Stiligeridae), so is a sacoglossan and not an aeolid nudibranch at all. The eyes are in a different location to aeolids, the foot is quite different and so, of course, is the structure of the radula. It would be an algae feeder, but not on Caulerpa in which it was found it. Maybe some delicate red algae that was growing amongst the Caulerpa. Richard Willan - Darwin Museum Australia. |
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Photographs by Gary Cobb - Copyright 2003-2008
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