Dirona pellucida from Puget Sound

December 18, 2006
From: Mary Jo Adams

While exploring tidepools at Deception Pass State Park on Fidalgo Island, Washington (USA) we found three Dirona aurantia. One of them appeared to be hanging upside down from the surface tension of the water. We have seen this behavior before in Dirona albolineata and Triopha catalinae and wonder if anyone has an explanation for for why they do this. Also, we have not been able to find much information about Dirona aurantia. Does anyone know what they feed on?

Locality: Deception Pass State Park, low intertidal, Washington, USA, Puget Sound area, 05 December 2006, rocky intertidal. Length: 1 1/2 inches/ 4 cm. Photographer: Jan Holmes and Mary Jo Adams.

Thank you!
Mary Jo

mjadams52@comcast.net

Adams, M. J., 2006 (Dec 18) Dirona pellucida from Puget Sound. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18967

Hi Mary Jo,

Thanks for sharing this observation. Many species venture out onto the surface of tidepools when the tide is out and the pools are very calm. They are likely just cruising around looking for food. Because they have almost neutral bouyancy (no shell to drag them to the bottom), they can easily hang by surface tension.

The name Dirona aurantia, has been suppressed as a synonym to an earlier description of this species from Russia. The current correct name is Dirona pellucida. [see new Fact Sheet].

Although not seen in your photos, this species feeds on the branching bryozoan, Bugula pacifica.

Best wishes,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2006 (Dec 18). Comment on Dirona pellucida from Puget Sound by Mary Jo Adams. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18967

Factsheet

Dirona pellucida

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