On Philine auriformis

Philine auriformis is found throughout New Zealand. It has recently been considered to have "invaded" California but as I have shown elsewhere in the Sea Slug Forum this is a case of mistaken identity. This species has three equal-sized symmetrical gizzard plates which have a pair of semi-circular pits on the outside. The shell has a characteristic sculpture consisting of spiral rows of microscopic oval pits which can be seen in the photo alongside. The radular formula is 1.1.0.1.1 and the penis has a very prominent coiled and tangled prostate gland. Aspects of its anatomy and biology have been published before:

Rudman, W.B., 1970. A revision of the genus Philine in New Zealand with descriptions of two new species (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia). Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 2(1): 23-34.

Rudman, W.B., 1972a. Structure and functioning of the gut in the Bullomorpha. (Opisthobranchia) Part 3. Philinidae. Journal of Natural History 6(4): 459-74.

Rudman, W.B., 1972b. The genus Philine (Opisthobranchia, Gastropoda). Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London, 40(3): 171-87.