BIOLOGY OF MELIBEFIMBRIATA , A CONSPICUOUS OPISTHOBRANCH MOLLUSC OF THE INDIAN OCEAN, WHICH HAS NOW INVADED THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

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Abstract
An account is given of an influx of swimming Melibe fimbriata Alder & Hancock, 1864 (type-locality Waltair, India) into the Ionian Sea inlet of Astakos in September 1982. This large opisthobranch slug (up to 140 mm in length) has probably entered the Mediterranean via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Swimming involved lateral waves of contraction of the whole body; a detailed description is given, based upon the analysis of cine-film. The animals spawned in the grass beds of the Astakos inlet. Feeding involved rhythmic contractions of a dilated, fringed buccal hood, like that of the Pacific Melibe leonina ; neither odontophore nor radula is present, the prey being manipulated and comminuted by the tiny mandibles and the massively armoured gizzard. A brief description is also given of the only other Melibe of the Atlantic Ocean, M. rosea Rang , 1829 (type-locality Cape of Good Hope), to facilitate recognition of M. fimbriata. Melibe rosea is smaller (up to 50 mm in length), and lives under boulders in shallow water; like its Australian counterpart, Melibe auslralis (Angas, 1864), it cannot swim.

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