I have two nudibranch images that I would like to identify. Both are from Indonesia near Komodo. The red one is tiny, it's on an egg ribbon from a Spanish Dancer and there wasn't much of picture option. I couldn't find it in any books I have - though I assume it's some kind of Flabelina or related species.
The second one seems to have something like eggs on it's back. Does anyone know what is going on here? There are actually two nudibranchs in the picture, a small one partially hidden on the top left and the main one. What is the pink stuff on the back of the larger one?
Pictures could be better, sorry.
Thanks for your help.
Jon
I really feel sorry for the second one. It's the dark form of Phestilla melanobrachia which feeds on Tubastraea corals. The pink structures are the external egg strings of parasitic copepods. The copepods are highly modifed & live inside the nudibranch. The only sign of their presence is a lump in the branch's body or the egg strings. Each copepod produces 2 strings so it's clear there must be about 15-20 parasites in the poor Phestilla.
The first one is an aeolid in the family Glaucidae, genus Favorinus. Members of this genus eat the eggs of other nudibranchs. F. tsuruganus, F. japonicus, F. mirabilis, and F. cf miracilis eat Hexabranchus eggs. Do you have a closer image of the head? We might be able to get to species with a better head shot.
Leslie,
Thanks, we thought it might be parasites but the stuff seemed to be part of the nudibranch which was confusing. So internal parasites...glad they aren't living in me.
As for the other one. That's the only shot I could get, what with current and flapping egg ribbons it's a miracle anyone even saw it. At least it's narrowed down to a genus, thank you.
Regards
Jon
The one other really bad case of copepod parasites that I've seen was also on a Phestilla melanobranchia (orange morph). http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=9871 I wonder if there's something about the species or the particular parasite that makes for these multiple infestations. Why don't you send your photo in to the Sea Slug Forum Jon? www.seaslugforum.net You'll get the id verified and Bill Rudman would appreciate another visual record of parasitism for the species.
