Rictaxis punctocaelatus from California

July 6, 2005
From: Jim Lyle

Here's a photo of Rictaxis punctocaelatus. I didn't know that this was an opisthobranch when I took the picture! Only about 5 mm long, it looked like a pretty prosobranch snail. Since you have very few images, I thought I would forward this one to you.

Locality:  Old Marineland, Palos Verdes, California , USA. Depth: 15 metres. Length: 5 mm. 04 July 2005. On top of a sunken wooden pier.
Photographer: Jim Lyle

Jim Lyle

jlyle@scubadiving.com

Lyle, J.L., 2005 (Jul 6) Rictaxis punctocaelatus from California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14215

Thanks Jim,
My personal knowledge of this animal is based on preserved animals and dead shells, which don't do it justice. I hadn't realised how white the shell could be. Usually in dead shells the horny periostracum covering the shell dries to a dirty brownish colour.

The black spot on its head, is an eye, buried in the skin, which is an indication that the acteonids are more closely related to the opisthobranchs than to the 'prosobranchs' or marine snails which have their eyes associated with stalks or tentacles..
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jul 6). Comment on Rictaxis punctocaelatus from California by Jim Lyle. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14215

Factsheet

Rictaxis punctocaelatus

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