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| sea slugs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Order Notaspidea |
| Forskal's
sidegill slug Pleurobranchus forskalii Family Pleurobranchidae updated Jul 11 Where seen? This humungous slug is sometimes seen, near reefs and seagrass areas. Sometimes seen buried just beneath the sand. On Cyrene, large numbers have been seen at some times of the year. According to Dr Bill Rudman, it is often found in quite large populations in shallow lagoons, reef crests and pools and sea grass beds. Features: 20-30cm. The large slug has a body texture of shallow polygonal bumps, in circular designs. Colour variable from completely dark to shades of brown. It has a pair of tubular rhinophores on its head. The large single gill is found on the right side between the mantle and the foot. The underside is smooth and unmarked. The slug appears to secrete a slime that feels acidic and is hard to rub off your hand. What does it eat? Although it is not known what this species eats, other species of Pleurobranchus are reported to feed on ascidians. What eats it? According to Dr Rudman, chitinous plates identified as the jaw plates of this sea slug had been found in the stomach of a turtle. Baby slugs: They have been seen laying white ribbons of egg masses. |
 Tanah Merah, Jun 09  Pair of tubular rhinophores. |
 Cyrene Reef, Jul 11 |
 GIlls on the side. |
 Bumps in a circular pattern. |
 Laying egg ribbons. Cyrene Reef, Jul 11 |
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Forskal's sidegill slugs on Singapore shores
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 Terumbu Raya, May 10 |
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 Cyrene Reef, May 11 
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 Cyrene Reef, May 11  A pair seen buried near one another. |
 Cyrene Reef, May 11  Egg ribbons found nearby, laid by these slugs? |
 Mating? Cyrene Reef, Jul 11 |
Links
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IKAN-Unterwasserachiv, Frankfurt. 321 pp.
. IKAN-Unterwasserachiv. 723pp.|
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