Cadlina flavomaculata

Cadlina flavomaculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Cadlinidae
Genus: Cadlina
Species: C. flavomaculata
Binomial name
Cadlina flavomaculata
MacFarland, 1905

Cadlina flavomaculata, common name the yellow-spot cadlina, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cadlinidae. [1]

Distribution

Cadlina flavomaculata is relatively rare nudibranch found in subtidal and intertidal zones of the northeastern Pacific, from Vancouver Island to the southern tip of Baja California. However, it is common in some diving sites between Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur.

Description

The yellow-spot cadlina is charactered by its ovate, translucent, white mantle with distinctive, brown to black rhinophores. A series of large, yellow spots (mantle glands) can be seen on each side of the mantle. Some reported specimens also show a yellow border to the mantle, but this is not found in all specimens. The color branchia (gills) is white to yellow. Cadlina flavomaculata feeds on the sponge Aplysilla glacialis [2] Its reported length is 1.5 cm.

Footnotes

References

  1. Caballer, M. (2011). Cadlina flavomaculata McFarland, 1905. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=562477 on 2011-02-26
  2. McDonald, G. R., & Nybakken, J. R. (1978). "Additional notes on the food of some California nudibranchs with a summary of known food habits of California species.". The Veliger 21 (1): 110–118.

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