Unidentified Elysia from Victoria, Australia.

Hi Folks,

some friends came across this Elysia the other week and were after an ID. I offered that it may be Elysia expansa but that appears

to possibly be an invalid specification, any ideas?

Hi

 

Are you able to identify this for me?

 

It was found at Blairgowrie Marina, Victoria on the 6 Nov 2010 in about 3 – 5 m of water. Water temp between 14 - 16 . Did not see any other one in the area, have you seen one before? When I first saw it, it looked like a leaf. It went flat and than popped it's little horns out . I thought it had more yellow than green underwater. Once out of the water Michael spotted Dave Bryant and his friend whom is a marine biologist and she has never seen one before. She thinks it maybe a flat worm.

 

Length about 8cm

Thanks

 

Karen

 

 

Here is also a video taken of the slug in question.

Cheers,

Jim.

From what I can tell, Elysia expansa is still an accepted species and fits your specimen well as the very margins of the parapodia appear to be very dark. Sounds like there's some debate about lumping some Elysia species together though.

Did a dive yesterday to hunt for Slugs and one of my buddies spotted the Elysia in question.

Here's an image I took of it.

Was amongst Sea Grass in 4 meters depth and about 8cm/3" in length.

Cheers,

Jim.

Local expert Robert Burns has confirmed this as Elysia expansa.

Cheers,

Jim.