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Pteraeolidia ianthina (Angas, 1864) [Flabellina]
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Click the thumbnail photos to enhance!
Pteraeolidia ianthina is the most common aeolid of the Philippines.
Divers call it the 'Blue Dragon' because of its likeness to the sinuous
shape of traditional Chinese dragons. It is either quite variable in shape
and colour or there are a number of similar species. Bill Rudman writes:
"...after looking at the anatomy and radula of about 100 specimens from
around the Indo-West Pacific, I can find no distinguishing anatomical features."
The purple bands on the oral tentacles are fairly distinctive. It rapidly
drops off many of its cerata when disturbed
(autotomise).Pteraeolidia
ianthina is what Bill Rudman calls "Solar-powered
Sea Slugs". This shot shows the egg-mass
of Pteraeolidia ianthina.
More informations on Pteraeolidia ianthina are at
Bill Rudman's Sea-Slug Forum! |
