Please help identify this slug

Speckled Grouper

Speckled Grouper

Sticks Suck!
Found this in one of my frag tanks this morning. It does not appear to have a shell. Googled and looked through my books without success. Can anybody help?
It's back
Slug3.jpg

It does have antennas
Slug4.jpg

On it's side
Slug5.jpg

Turned over, it's underneath
Slug6.jpg
 
It's a beauty and a type of snail that's often mistaken for a slug because the shell is either reduced or completely covered by the extended mantle. It might be a Scutus which is a limpet, a grazer on micro-algae. Pagojoe is an expert on all things shelled. If he doesn't stop by send him a PM.
 
Great animal, and Leslie is right, it looks like a Scutus limpit, but I have seen this one or a very close relative eat zooanthids so if it is in your tank watch it closely to make sure it is an algae eater, there are at least 2 species here, one bright orange, one that is solid black (that is the one that I have seen eating zoo's) and a multi colored one similar to the photo of yours. I don't know if they are different species, or color varities of the same, but I have never seen the orange one eat zoo's only algae.
 
Well, I'm sure someone will take it off your hands if you decide you don't want to risk it. I would, but shipping would be involved. I'll bet someone local would want it.
 
It is awesome, and is probably a fissurellid, although I'm not sure whether it's a Keyhole Limpet or a Scutus. I've never seen a Scutus that looked like that, and its mantle doesn't really look...retractable. It looks like it might have a hole in the middle though, which would make it a Keyhole Limpet. BUT, the shape of what might be the shell, most visible in the second pic, looks very typically Scutus. I'm not 100% positive that it's either, mainly because the pic with it "rolled over" doesn't look like I'd expect it to... It's definite a species that I've never caught and handled, although I realize that doesn't help LOL. I'll see if I can find pics of a Scutus that's colored like that (difficult, because most of the pics I have are of dead shells).

Cheers,


Don
 
Could it be a Scutus with some aberant pigmentation? That second picture, while not quite clear, does look as though there is a "v" where the mantle isn't coming together. As its identification isn't certain at the moment, please do not sacrifice this animal. I am one of the crazies that would send you supplies and postage to ship this animal to me.
 
OK, I've just about convinced myself it's a Scutus. The well-lit photo with good light penetration from below makes it look a little different from most photos you'll see of this species. A lot of people on the net are calling it Scutus unguis, which is one of the most common species in the genus (identified by the shell, and this is assuming there aren't several species with essentially identical shells, which is entirely possible). Here are pics of a couple of similar animals from Singapore:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9jTkGowIILg/Stx6UyKbLuI/AAAAAAAAPEA/Zf0ea9gGvTc/s400/psr191009p06.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jTkGowIILg/SkH-z2f3RTI/AAAAAAAAMqA/heW1AC-8nC8/s400/ecp230609p11.JPG

Scutus sinensis also has a similar animal, apparently:

http://www.gastropods.com/8/Shell_8108.shtml

Cheers,



Don
 
Hi Don & others --
I sent a couple of the pics to Dr. Jim McLean, curator emeritus of molluscs at my museum. Here's his answer: "Yes, it is close to Scutus, a fissurellid limpet in which the mantle expands to envelop the shell. Scutus species often have a black head area. I think the excurrent notch in the shell shows in the dorsal view. Identification to species would require a look at the shell"
 
Thanks for the efforts guys. But the most important issue is, should I release it or keep it confined? I am concerned about it's well being, it can't stay in the cup much longer....If I release it, I might never find it again....
 
Dr. Bill Rudman says he sees no reason why they wouldn't be considered reef safe, and that while many fissurellids feed on sponges, the general consensus is that Scutus species are algal grazers:

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=scutus

http://www.seaslugforum.net/message/13282

Like many grazers, they might occasionally graze across something in a reef tank that they wouldn't otherwise graze on. Your choice, but most people don't think they're much of a problem, if a problem at all.

Cheers,




Don
 
Like I said, if you don't trust it, I could always pay pal you or send you some packing materials and stamps to send it my way. I love sea slugs, and Scutus spp. come awfully close for being a snail. I've also been known to feed hitchhiking coral-eating nudis coral frags just because I find them interesting animals. Its an option if you don't feel comfortable leaving this animal in your tank.
 
Elysia said:
Like I said, if you don't trust it, I could always pay pal you or send you some packing materials and stamps to send it my way. I love sea slugs, and Scutus spp. come awfully close for being a snail. I've also been known to feed hitchhiking coral-eating nudis coral frags just because I find them interesting animals. Its an option if you don't feel comfortable leaving this animal in your tank.
Click to expand...

I still have it in the cup, I don't want to take the chance of putting it back in the tank. So if you want it, it's yours.
 
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