Acanthodoris pilosa? - color variation

March 25, 2003
From: Alan Shepard

Bill -
I was rummaging through a few older photos and came across this one. I'm fairly sure this is Acanthodoris pilosa. Normally we find the white variety here in New England but that may be because they stand out better against their surroundings. From time to time I find cream colored individuals. One time I did however find this black version.

I photographed this one At Folly Cove in Gloucester, Massachusetts in approximately 5 meters of water about one year ago. It was small, no more than 15 to 20 millimeters long. Hadn't seen this color variation before and haven't seen it since.

Best wishes,
Alan Shepard
Tolland, CT

alan.chepard@snet.net

Shepard, A., 2003 (Mar 25) Acanthodoris pilosa? - color variation. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9410

Dear Alan,
Sherman Bleakney discusses colour variation of Acanthodoris pilosa in north America in his interesting book. He has no answers but has some challenging suggestions for research projects. He observes that in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Acanthodoris pilosa occurs in all colour varieties while in adjacent Minas Basin only mauve or white specimens were found.

However I wonder if this is not Acanthodoris? It is a bit difficult from this photo to see its real shape but it seems to have some of the features of Goniodoris castanea. If the two white spots behind the gills represent a break in the mantle then its hape would be quite Goniodoris-like. I am not sure it has been recorded from the western Atlantic, but there is no reason why it shouldn't be there. I would be grateful for comments from those familiar with this species
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Mar 25). Comment on Acanthodoris pilosa? - color variation by Alan Shepard. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9410

Factsheet

Acanthodoris pilosa

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