Eubranchus rustyus from central California

August 31, 2006
From: Jeff Goddard

Hi Bill,

Here is an image of a typical Eubranchus rustyus from the northeast Pacific Ocean. Compared to the sympatric E. rupium (= E. olivaceus), this species lacks flecks of red-brown and opaque white on the body, and instead has irregular blotches and flecks of olive green on both the body and foot. Also, the digestive gland ducts are plainly visible through the body wall of E. rupium, but not in E. rustyus. Eubranchus rustyus feeds on species of Plumularia and also lacks the tentaculate foot corners of E. misakiensis.

Locality: Scott Creek, Santa Cruz County, Intertidal, California, USA, NE Pacific, 12 June 2006, Rocky shore. Length: 7mm. Photographer: Jeff Goddard.

Best wishes,
Jeff

goddard@lifesci.ucsb.edu

Goddard, J.H.R., 2006 (Aug 31) Eubranchus rustyus from central California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17539

Hi Jeff,
Nice coincidence you submit this at this time.  Yes, perfect example.  And thanks for the clear differentiations.

We are having a population explosion of this species up in Washington [Pacific coast, USA].  In Gig Harbor, in the south end of Puget Sound, the species can be found on Obelia.

Thanks,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2006 (Aug 31). Comment on Eubranchus rustyus from central California by Jeff Goddard. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17539

Factsheet

Eubranchus rustyus

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