Diaulula sandiegensis from British Columbia

April 3, 2003
From: J. Hildering & G. Miller


Dear Bill,
Queries:
• Is this Diaulula sandiegensis as the branchial plumes are absent?
• Could it be feeding on the Leafy Hornmouth (Ceratostoma foliatum) eggs?

Site: Bear Cove - Port Hardy (British Columbia, Canada). Depth: 35'. Feb 9th, 2003
Photo: Glen Miller

Jackie Hildering & Glen Miller

earthent@telus.net

Dear Jackie & Glen,
From the 'bristles' on its back and the brown ring-like spots I would agree that this is Diaulula sandiegensis. I don't know how 'permanent' the absence of gills is. Most of the large flat sponge-feeding dorids you will come across have a special gill pocket into which the gills can contract. They can say contracted for some time so its possible that's why you didn't see them. Alternatively something may have bitten them off - not that common but it can happen. Most nudibranchs can survive quite a bit of damage and regrow lost parts. They can 'breathe' to some degree through their skin, so I guess as long as your Diaulula wasn't planning to participate in some animal Olympics, it would survive.

Concerning the eggs. To those not familiar with the name Ceratostoma foliatum, it is a muricid snail but please don't ask me why it has such an ugly common name - Leafy Hornmouth. I very much doubt it will have been eating their eggs. Like most last dorids, it is a sponge feeder, and will no doubt only eat one or a few particular species of sponge.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Apr 3). Comment on Diaulula sandiegensis from British Columbia by J. Hildering & G. Miller. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9543

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Diaulula sandiegensis

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