Aglaja ocelligera
(Bergh 1893)
Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
Superfamily: PHILINOIDEA
Family: Aglajidae
DISTRIBUTION
West Coast of Nth America [Alaska to San Diego, California]
PHOTO
Locality: Monterey, California, USA, Pacific Ocean. Depth: 30 feet. Length: 1.5 inches. 15 May 2005. Sand. Photographer: Michael Jimenez
Body dark brownish black with spots variously described as yellow, white or bluish. On the naterior edge of the head shield on each side there is often a prominent whitish transverse streak. The posterior end of the body is often sometimes edged in yellowish white. The anterior end of each parapodia is extended out as a short tentacle like projection, the posterior end of the head shield is rounded, and the posterior 'tails' are usually unequal in length, the left often extending into a long slender 'streamer'. features of its anatomy are described by Macfarland (1966) where it is misidentified as A. diomedea (= Melanochlamys diomedea ). Its anatomy hasbeen investigated by Rudman (1974) and Gosliner (1980). It grows to about 20 mm in length.
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Bergh, L. S. R. (1893) Die Gruppe der Doridiiden. Mittheilungen aus der Zoologischen Station zu Neapel. Zugleich eim Repertorium fur Mittelmeerkunde, 6: 107-135.
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Gosliner,TM (1980): Systematics and phylogeny of the Aglajidae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 68(4), 325-360.
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MacFarland, F. M. (1966) Studies of Opisthobranchiate Mollusks of the Pacific coast of North America. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences 6: 1-546.
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Rudman, W.B. (1974) A comparison of Chelidonura, Navanax and Aglaja with other genera of the Aglajidae (Opisthobranchia, Gastropoda). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 54(3): 185-212.
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (May 23) Aglaja ocelligera (Bergh 1893) . [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/aglaocel
Related messages
Aglaja ocelligera ? from Puget Sound
July 10, 2008
From: David Jamison
Here is a photo of a Aglaja ocelligera from a sandy beach in southern Puget Sound near Olympia, Washington, U.S.A. and what appears to be it's egg case.
The egg cases in the photo were in large numbers scattered over the sand flat at around the 0.0 to -2.0 tide level.
Several weeks ago the animal was common on the surface but a beach walk yesterday did not turn up any individuals. However the egg cases were still present. However many were starting to turn a dark brown and to fall apart. Under a 40x scope the individual eggs were is long rows and several thousand were in each case.
Is there agreement that this is A ocelligera and that these are it's egg cases?
Locality: Tolmie State Park beach, Intertidal, Washington, USA, Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, 4 April 2008 and 8 May 2008, Intertidal. Length: animal - 15 mm: egg case 31 mm. Photographer: David Jamison.
David Jamison
dwjamison@comcast.net
Dear David,
Yes, indeed these are the egg masses of A. ocelligera. Interesting that you mention fluctuation in the population. I have been trying to collect a bunch to determine what they feed on, but just north of you in the Gig Harbor area I can't find a single individual.
Thanks for sharing this,
Dave Behrens
Aglaja ocelligera on Squid Eggs
September 25, 2007
From: Dave Washburn
We found three of these tiny Aglaja ocelligera on a mass of squid eggs last week, and it prompted a question to which I do not have the answer: what were they doing there? Which is to say, what do they eat? Were they eating something on the eggs, were they eating the eggs themselves, or were they just passing through? I haven't been able to find any information about what a spotted aglajid's favorite food is, so I'm hoping someone here can enlighten me.
Locality: Illahee State Park, 25 feet, Washington, USA, Puget sound, 3 September 2007, Muddy bottom on squid egg mass. Length: 1/2 inch. Photographer: Dave Washburn.
Dave Washburn
dwashbur@nyx.net
Washburn, D.L., 2007 (Sep 25) Aglaja ocelligera on Squid Eggs. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20710
Hi Dave,
Interesting place to find this cephalaspid for sure. You are correct. Not a lot is known about the biology of the species, in fact I don't think we know what any species of this genus feeds on. Other aglajids are carnivores so it is possible this one is looking for polychaete worms or flatworms but that is just a guess.
Thanks for sharing this,
Dave Behrens
Aglaja ocelligera from Friday Harbour, Washington
May 20, 2006
From: Bill Rudman
To accompany Ching-Yao's message [#16562] about a possible record of Aglaja ocelligera from Taiwan I thought it valuable to add another photo I have of a 'typical' specimen.
This photo was given to me many years ago by Tom Thompson and shows the lobes on the head quite well. This photo was a 'discard' and not meant for publication, but I am sure if he hadn't died in an accident some years ago, Tom would have been an active participant in the Forum today. The only locality data I have is:
Friday Harbour, San Juan Island, Washington State, USA. 3 cm long. Jjuly 1969. Photo: T.E. Thompson.
Bill Rudman
Aglaja ocelligera ? from Taiwan
May 20, 2006
From: Ching-Yao Chan
Dear Bill,
I think the photo is of Aglaja ocelligera. What do you think?
Locality: Kenting, 6 metres, Taiwan, 05 May 2006. Length: 20 mm. Photographer: C.Y.Chan & Su.
Best wishes,
C.Y.Chan
http://seaslug.myweb.hinet.net
logic.chan@msa.hinet.net
Chan, C.Y., 2006 (May 20) Aglaja ocelligera ? from Taiwan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16562
Dear Ching-Yao,
It certainly has close similarities to Aglaja ocelligera in shape and colour but it lacks the white transverse streaks on either side of the head which are usually present in Nth American animals. I have just posted a photo of an animal from Friday Harbour, Washington, USA [see message #16649] and like the photo we already have on the Forum from California, both these animals have the white streaks. Some animals also have a white band around the posterior end of the body as well.
It will be interesting to hear the views of Nth American colleagues who are familar with Aglaja ocelligera
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Aglaja ocelligera from Monterey, California
May 24, 2005
From: Michael Jimenez
Bill,
Here's a pretty crappy snapshot of an Aglaja ocelligera from Monterey, CA. I noticed that you don't have this on the Forum yet.
Locality: Monterey, California, USA, Pacific Ocean. Depth: 30 feet. Length: 1.5 inches. 15 May 2005. Sand. Photographer: Michael Jimenez
Cheers,
Mike
mpj17@pacbell.net
Michael Jimenez, 2005 (May 24) Aglaja ocelligera from Monterey, California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13811
Thanks Mike,
I am happy to get photos of any species not on the Forum. Although good photos are nice, I would hate to think we are missing out on interesting photos just because the photographer doesn't think they're perfect.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
