What are these slugs from Freeport NY?

[iamwhatiam52]

These are from the saltwater canal behind my home in Freeport NY. They are just over an inch long and are full grown since they are laying eggs.

They look like Aplasia, but are there temperate species?

I'm tempted to try to acclimate some to my mixed up reef but It would probably kill them since they are from cold water, may not have a food source in a reef tank, and most similar slugs sold in stores do not make it either. Why be cruel to these cuties?

The black thing on the lower slug is a tiny nudibranch!

 

[pagojoe]

Those are sacoglossan sea slugs, and I reckon they are elysiids, although I don't know the temperate species. You can check www.seaslugforum.net and see if it's listed under Elysia species. It should be one of the "solar powered" slugs discussed in those posts.

Cheers,



Don

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Yup.

Looks exactly like this one!

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

Elysia chlorotica
Gould, 1870

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: ELYSIOIDEA
Family: Elysiidae

DISTRIBUTION
East coast of Nth America from Nova Scotia to Florida.

PHOTO
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA, November, 1999. PHOTO: Dr. Mary Rumpho.

Typical elysiid shape with large lateral parapodia which fold over to enclose the body. Usually bright green in colour but can sometimes be reddish or greyish, apparently depending on the amount of chlorophyll in the branches of the digestive gland which ramify throughout the body. As well as the green pigmentation from the digestive gland showing through, there are also small white spots scattered over the body and numerous, but smaller, red spots. It can grow to 45 mm in length but is usually no more than 20-30 mm.

It feeds by sucking the cell contents from the intertidal algae Vaucheria. It is become an important study animal from plant physiologists because, like many sacoglossans, it keeps chloroplasts from its food, alive and functioning its own body. See solar powered slugs Fact Sheet. It is found commonly in salt marshes, tidal marshes, pools and shallow creeks.