Thecacera pennigera from Woods Hole, Massachusetts

November 21, 2003
From: Alan Shepard

Bill -
I'm continually looking for nudibranchs that are new to me in our local waters. On November 9, 2003 I happened upon a species that I had not expected to find.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Intstitute's pier pilings are usually covered in hydroids and are a great spot to find nudibranchs. On that day I was surprised to find the pilings covered in bryozoans rather than hydroids. I was disappointed but upon seeing an egg string that I was not familiar with I had my hopes up that I'd find a "new" nudibranch.

Sure enough I found what I believe is Thecacera pennigera. I found two specimens that day on opposite sides of the dive site. My limited research indicates that it had only been reported as far north as Florida on our western Atlantic coast. Of course this notorious hitchhiker is found in many places around the world. I have contacted local experts to find out if this find is indeed new to our area. I was wondering if it is likely that T. pennigera will establish a permanent residence in our colder waters. It is not uncommon for our waters to drop below freezing and ice over a bit.

Both specimens were approximately 25mm to 30mm long and found at approximately 10m.
Best wishes,
Alan Shepard

alan.chepard@snet.net

Shepard, A., 2003 (Nov 21) Thecacera pennigera from Woods Hole, Massachusetts. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11462

Dear Alan,
Thanks for this interesting record. It is indeed Thecacera pennigera and looks very like eastern Atlantic specimens with small orange spots and even smaller blue specks. I am interested in your mention that it is recorded from as 'far north as Florida on our western Atlantic coast' as the only record I know of this species in the western Atlantic is Marcus's 1957 record from Brazil. I would be grateful for a reference.

Concerning the chance of a permanent population. This appears to be one of those species which is dependent on a food source - the bryozoan Bugula - which is never permanent. All I can say is that since you have found it once there is always the chance it will appear again. What we don't know is whether the appearance in Woods Hole was the result of 'hitch-hiking' or was the result of 'natural' larval dispersal.
Thanks again for another interesting find
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Nov 21). Comment on Thecacera pennigera from Woods Hole, Massachusetts by Alan Shepard. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11462

Factsheet

Thecacera pennigera

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