Cadlina sparsa
(Odhner, 1921)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae

PHOTO

San Miguel Island, Channel Ids, California. July 2004. Photo: Bruce Wight.

This species is translucent white with a scattering of slightly raised, rounded mantle tubercles. There is a submarginal band of large mantle glands which are usually a milky yellow colour, but in some animals are brown, or partly brown. Like other species of Cadlina there are also microscopic glands scattered all over the mantle. Originally described from Juan Fernandez Island, Chile as Juanella sparsa, it has since been reported from various localities around southern South America (Schroedl, 2000 – from nthn Argentina to central Chile). It is also known from southern California and Baja California, Mexico (Bertsch, 2003). At present it is not known of there is a continuous population from California down the Pacific coast of South America. I grows to approximately 35mm in length.

References.
• Behrens, David W. (1991) Pacific coast nudibranchs. Sea Challengers, Monterey, 107 pp.
• Bertsch, H. 2003. Cadlina sparsa [in} Slug Site, M.D. Miller. Available at http://slugsite.us/bow/nudwk367.htm
• Marcus, Ernst. 1959. Lamellariacea und Opisthobranchia. Reports from the Lund University Chile expedition 1948-1949, No. 36. Lunds Universitets Arsskrift (Ny Foljd), Avd. 2, 55(9): 1-133.
• Odhner, Nils HJ. 1921. Mollusca from Juan Fernandez and Easter Island. In: C. Skottsberg (ed.), Natural history of Juan Fernandez and Easter Island 3 (22): 219-254.
• Schroedl, Michael. 2000. Revision of the nudibranch genus Cadlina (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) from the southern ocean. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, U.K., 80: 299-309.
• Rudman, W.B. (1984) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 81: 115-273.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2004 (August 2) Cadlina sparsa (Odhner, 1921). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/cadlspar

Related messages


Cadlina from Point Lobos, California

March 2, 2007
From: Clinton Bauder

Hi Bill, Dave, et. al.,

I found these guys while branching at Point Lobos on Saturday. My first guess was that they are Cadlina modesta but after staring at them a bit I'm not so sure and I'm wondering if they might be Cadlina sparsa. Some of the tubercles seem to have the characteristic dark ring or spot that is seen in C. sparsa.

Locality: Point Lobos State Reserve, 15 meters, CA, USA, Pacific, 24 February 2007, Rocky Reef.. Length: 10-20mm. Photographer: Clinton Bauder.

I've several of these animals lately and all of them look a lot like the enclosed pictures. Yellow spots down each side and a very light yellow or white background color. Gills and rhinophores are typically the same color as the rest of the animal.

Clinton

gecko1@apple.com

Bauder, C., 2007 (Mar 2) Cadlina from Point Lobos, California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19550

Hi Clinton,

Sometimes I get the feeling that Bill's Forum has become the poster board for all the tough, in-betweens, that are almost impossible to ID from photos. Yours is just one of those. That said, since the rhinophores of your critter are white (not yellow as in Cadlina modesta, and since I note a couple of thin brown rings around the yellow tipped doral tubrcles, I vote for Cadlina sparsa.

Thanks for the challenge,,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2007 (Mar 2). Comment on Cadlina from Point Lobos, California by Clinton Bauder. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19550

Cadlina sparsa from California

August 3, 2004
From: Bruce Wight

Hi guys,
Here is a photo of Cadlina sparsa I took on our recent trip to San Miguel Island [Channel Ids, California] over the weekend [July 2004] with the SDUPS. Water clarity was poor, but the
place was loaded as always with branchs.

Best wishes
Bruce Wight

bruce.c.wight@boeing.com

Wight, B., 2004 (Aug 3) Cadlina sparsa from California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12715

Thanks Bruce,
This is a new addition to the Forum. I have put the close-up alongside because it seems to show this animal feeding on a smooth sponge. Some other species of Cadlina feed on these 'slime sponges' [see Cadlina cf. luteomarginata], so it would be interesting to keep an eye out for whatit is feeding on.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Aug 3). Comment on Cadlina sparsa from California by Bruce Wight. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12715