Re: British Columbia mystery

July 1, 2003
From: Jeff Goddard

Hi Bill,
Marli's mystery aeolid is either Cuthona fulgens or C. flavovulta. I am pretty sure it is the latter, owing to its fusiform cerata with large yellow spots. I can't tell from the photo if it has the characteristic orange head. In either case, Marli's find represents a range extension from Cape Flattery, Washington (Goddard et al. 1997). I have been expecting one or both of these species to be found in British Columbia, because as I made my way up the Oregon and Washington coasts in the 1980's and '90's, I kept finding them farther and farther north.

References:
Goddard, J.H.R., T.A. Wayne & K.R. Wayne (1997) Opisthobranch mollusks and the pulmonate limpet Trimusculus reticulatus (Sowerby, 1835) from the outer Washington coast. The Veliger, 40(4):292-297.

Best wishes,
Jeff

goddard@lifesci.ucsb.edu

Goddard, J., 2003 (Jul 1) Re: British Columbia mystery. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10324

Thanks Jeff,
It seems we are tantalisingly close to a positive identification. Perhaps Marli has a photo of the head which could solve the problem.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Jul 1). Comment on Re: British Columbia mystery by Jeff Goddard. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10324

Factsheet

Cuthona flavovulta

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