Pleurobranchaea californica from Santa Barbara, California

September 1, 2006
From: Christina Bonsell

Hi,
I am a high school student and volunteer at an aquarium in Santa Barbara, California. We recently got a new nudibranch that no one can ID. It was bugging me that I could only tell visitors that it was "some kind of nudibranch" and it would be great if I knew more about it. Sorry about the poor picture quality. It is kept in a tank and it was rather reflective.

Locality: Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara Channel. Length: 23 cm approx.

Thanks a bunch,
Christina B.

lettem_eat_Cake@yahoo.com

Bonsell, C., 2006 (Sep 1) Pleurobranchaea californica from Santa Barbara, California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17665

Dear Christina,
This is a sea slug, but not a nudibranch. It is Pleurobranchaea californica, which belongs to a group called the pleurobranchs or side-gilled slugs, because they usually have one large gill on the right side of their body between the mantle and the foot. In your lower photo I have put a ring around part of the gill which is visible. Have a look at the species Fact Sheet for more information

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Sep 1). Comment on Pleurobranchaea californica from Santa Barbara, California by Christina Bonsell. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17665

Factsheet

Pleurobranchaea californica

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