Lobiger souverbii Fischer, 1857 or viridis Pease, 1863 

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This species has been observed on Reunion Island


Order : Sacoglossa
Super-family : Oxynooidea
Family : Oxynoidae
Distribution : Circumtropical
Maximal size : 20 mm
Abundance : Seldom if ever on the reef flat zone

Species characteristics :

The mantle is vivid green and often, but not always, has several, thin, blue or black longitudinal lines which are plainly visible through the transparent shell

The parapodia are represented by four, curled pustulose lobes whose edge are crenulated or with secondary lobes

The rhinophores are long and pustulose

lonbiger souverbii viridis
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Christophe Cadet
Reunion, Saint Leu lagoon, less 1 m, 15 March 2010, size : 10 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonon
    For Rudman, Jensen and other, certainly both species are similarly coloured and can have dark blue lines or not on the mantle but there have been differences and they considered that there are two differents species
                    - Lobiger souverbii from Caribbean, tropical and subtropical West Atlantic. The four primary lobes have crenulations or little bumps rather than larger branch-like extensions
                    - Lobiger viridis from Indo West Pacific. The four primary lobes have secondary lobes (rolled flaps) along each parapodial edge rather than crenulations or little bumps. The exterior of the lateral lobes is green and pustulose in contrast to the interior which is smooth and display bright patches of color.
Kathe Jensen also suggests there are radula differences which need to be investigated.
    For Terry Gosliner and other, there are also two different species but different from Rudman "point of vue"
                    - Lobiger souverbii from Circumtropical ocean. This species has a reduce shell, with bright blue lines on the tissue below the shell
                    - Lobiger viridis from Indo West Pacific. This species lacks blue lines on the shell and has lobes with elongate internal branches
    For Willan and other, there is only one species called Lobiger souverbii with anatomical variations
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
         -) For Lobiger souverbii Fisher, 1857
               - No other name
         -) For Lobiger viridis Pease, 1836
               - No other name

Bibliographic data :

It is associated with various algae of the genus Caulerpa. In Hawai it was observed feeding on Caulerpa taxifolia ,Caulerpa ceratularioides, Caulerpa serrulata and the large form of Caulerpa racemosa
    When crawling on its green algal food Caulerpa sp , Lobiger is almost invisible. However when disturbed the tentacles around the parapodial edge unroll to effectively double the size of the animal to potential predators. In extreme situations the tentacles can break off. By this stage they have exuded a sticky secretion and wiggle and writhe for some time probably in an attempt to distract potential predators.
    The egg mass is a tightly coiled, cream to yellowish spiral

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Lobiger souverbii or Lobiger viridis
   Nudipixel Lobiger souverbii

Publications :

Fischer, P. 1856. Description d'espèces nouvelles. Journal de Conchyliologie 5 : 273-277, pls 8, 11.
    Jensen K. (2015). Sacoglossa (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from northern coasts of Singapore. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. suppl. 31: 226-249.
    Pease, W.H. (1861) : Descriptions of new species of Mollusca from the Pacific Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, for 1861 : 242-247
    Pease, W.H. (1863) Letter. On errors and omissions in former communications. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, for 1863 : 510
    Pease, W.H. (1868) Descriptions of marine Gasteropodae, inhabiting Polynesia. American Journal of Conchology, 4(2) : 71-80. (Pls. 7-10)
    Rosenberg, G.; Moretzsohn, F.; García, E. F. (2009). Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579–699 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.,

Other photos of Lobiger souverbii or viridis :


 

 

Christophe Cadet

Reunion, Saint Leu lagoon, less 1 m, 15 March 2010, size : 10 mm

Head and parapodia details...

In this specimen the primary lobes (a) have secondary (b) lobes (rolled flaps) along each parapodial edge

According Christophe Cadet : " When the specimen is found in open water, it deploys its four parapodia (red inside) which act as sails and allows it to descend slowly..."

The egg mass (c) is a tightly coiled, cream to yellowish spiral

The mantle is vivid green and often, but not always, has several, thin, blue or black longitudinal lines (d) which are plainly visible through the transparent shell


 

 

Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, found in a pool at "Kélonia center" a Marine Turtle Center in Saint Leu, 20 May 2010, size : 15-18 mm

Two specimens crawling on Caulerpa sp

In this specimen the three (the fourth is break off) primary lobes have crenulations or little bumps rather than larger branch-like extensions


 

 

Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, found in a pool at "Kélonia center" a Marine Turtle Center in Saint Leu, 20 May 2010, size : 15-18 mm

The second specimen found on the same area...


Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, Trou d'eau lagoon, less 1 m, 26 September 2010, size : 10 mm

On its favorite algae... Caulerpa sp

 

 


 More photos from Indian Ocean

Réunion, Lobiger souverbii - viridis with its yellow spawn, at saint Gilles, by Christophe Cadet

Reunion, Lobiger souverbii - viridis with partial blue lines on the shell, at saint Gilles, by Christophe Cadet