This species has been observed on Mauritius Island
Order :
Pleurobranchomorpha
Superfamily : Pleurobranchoidea
Family :
Pleurobranchidae
Distribution :
Indo-West Pacific
Maximal size : 200 mm
Abundance :
Species characteristics : The mantle is translucent clear with a reticulate pattern of brown encircling the white-tipped "mamillae" (breast-like tubercles) which cover the mantle.
The oral veil has about 16 ventrally projecting sensory
branched papillae
There is a caudal spur on the top of the tail. |
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Showing species characteristics... |
Photo Yann von Arnim
Mauritius, "Mahebourg Marine Farm", 22 m, 30 September 2010, size : 100 mm
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See more about : Sightening and mating periods
Remarks :
Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
Synonymous : (according Worms)
- Pleurobranchaea gemini Macnae, 1962
Bibliographic data :
The foot is a dark brown with opaque white patches
Species of Pleurobranchaea are carnivorous hunters, probably eating a wide variety of prey items. Little is known of the diet of individual species although
- Marcus & Gosliner (1984) report finding a 65 mm long specimen of P. brockii with 4 specimens (longest 18mm) of Philine aperta in its stomach.
- When crawling on the sand, it can also eats some small tube-dwelling sea anemones
- According Kathe Jensen : P. brockii is a very common subtidal species in Hong Kong, where it grows to a considerable size (>20 cm). The larger specimens are often cannibalistic, whereas smaller individuals have been found with cephalaspids ( Philinopsis cf. cyanea, Philine orientalis, Ringicula cf. doliaris ) in the crop. I once found a specimen, which had eaten a smaller specimen of P. brockii, which again had Philinopsis cf. cyanea in its crop, and the Philinopsis had some Ringicula shells in its intestine.
How is that for a "food chain"?
Like Euselonops luniceps, it 's a sand-dwelling pleurobranch
References :
Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Pleurobranchaea brockii
Nudipixel Pleurobranchaea brockii
Publications :
Bergh, L.S.R. (1897). Malacologische Untersuchungen. In : C.G. Semper, Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen, Wissenschaftliche Resultate. Band 7, Heft 1-2(Die Pleurobranchiden) : 1-115, Pls. 1-8.
Jensen, K.R. (1997) Cannibalism in an opisthobranch mollusc, Pleurobranchaea brockii Bergh, 1897 from Hong Kong waters. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication, 17(1) : 41-46
Marcus, E. & Gosliner, T.M. (1984) Review of the family Pleurobranchaeidae (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia). Annals of the South African Museum, 93(1) : 1-52
Other photos of Pleurobranchaea brockii :
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Yann von Arnim Mauritius, "Mahebourg Marine Farm", 22m, 30 September 2010, size : 100 mm
A lot of group of several specimens were observed on the same day.... |
Yann von Arnim
Mauritius, "Mahebourg Marine Farm", 22m, 5 October 2010, size : 100 mm
A dead specimen
The oral veil has about 16 ventrally projecting sensory branched papillae (a)
There is a caudal spur (b) on the top of the tail.
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More photos from Indian Ocean
Mauritius, Pleurobranchaea brockii at Pointe d'Esny, by Geoffrey Summers
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