Berghia Nudibranch - Aiptasia Munchers

Tidepool Geek wrote:

Hi Paul,

Here is another source for Aiptasia eating nudibranchs:
http://www.saltyunderground.com/index.htm

And now for a bit of identification trivia:

The Aiptasia eaters we've all been calling Berghia verrucicornis or
just Berghia are apparently a different species entirely. Here's the
411 on the real Berghia.
Berghia verrucicornis
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=bergverr
They're from the eastern Atlantic - Africa and possibly Europe - and
appparently not much is known about their habits or diet.

And here's the info on the slug that we've been calling Berghia:
Aeolidiella stephanieae
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=aeolstep

As an aside, the Sea Slug Forum lists three different species of
Berghia and seven of Aeolidiella.

In the end, it doesn't really make a lot of difference since you still
want to ask for "Berghia" when you're in the market for an Aiptasia
eating nudi.

Taxonomically yours,

Alex

thanks for the info Alex.
Paul S.