Crimora papillata
Alder & Hancock, 1862

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Triophinae

DISTRIBUTION

Southern Britain, south to Morocco and the western Mediterranean.

PHOTO

Belle-ile, Brittany, Atlantic coast of France. August 17, 2002. Depth: 12m, Size: about 20mm
Photo: Marina Poddubetskaia.

Grows to approx 35mm long. background colour varies from translucent white to yellow, with numerous small deep yellow tubercles. The tubercles are often branched or even arborescent at the tips. The tubercles form a distinct line around the mantle edge, and there are also others scattered over the dorsum and the sides of the body. There are 3 to 5 translucent yellowish gills, and the rhinophore clubs are similarly coloured. In Britain it has been recorded sublittorally from southern locations down to 30m, feeding on the bryozoans Flustra foliacea and Chartella papyracea. The spawn is bright yellow. It is known from southern Britain south to Morocco and the western Mediterranean.

Reference:
• Thompson, T.E. & Brown, G.H. (1984) Biology of Opisthobranch Molluscs, Vol 2. 229pp. 41 Pls., Ray Society: London.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (September 15) Crimora papillata Alder & Hancock, 1862. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/crimpapi

Related messages


Crimora papillata from the Spanish Mediterranean

April 7, 2009
From: Miquel Pontes

Concerning message #22355:

Hi Bill,

Following the message by Dominique Horst regarding the "super-charged" orange coloration of northwestern Mediterranean specimens of Crimora papillata, you might be interested to know that specimens in the northwestern Mediterranean Spanish coast share the same trait as French Mediterranean animals.

I suppose that coloration in this species is closely related to feeding which, according to the documentation we have consulted, is based on encrusting bryozoans Chartella tenella. However, C. papillata egg strings have been observed on the bryozoan Flustra foliacea (Ballesteros, M. 1980).

Locality: Illa Mateua, L'Escala, Girona, 7 metres, Spain, Mediterranean Sea, 15 March 2008, Rocky bottom with scattered boulders.. Length: 10 mm.. Photographer: Miquel Pontes.

Miquel Pontes
www.marenostrum.org

mpontes@marenostrum.org

Pontes, M., 2009 (Apr 7) Crimora papillata from the Spanish Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22405

Thanks Miquel,
We still have a lot to learn about the basic natural history of most nudibranchs.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Apr 7). Comment on Crimora papillata from the Spanish Mediterranean by Miquel Pontes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22405

Crimora papillata from French Mediterranean

April 6, 2009
From: Dominique Horst

Concerning message #10480:

Hi Bill,
I think this is Crimora papillata. The colour is strong orange and the length 15 mm was more than I've ever seen before.

Locality: Antibes, 2 m, France, Mediterranean sea, 22 March 2009. Length: 15 mm. Photographer: Dominique Horst.

Best regards,
Dominique

dominique.horst@wanadoo.fr

Horst, D., 2009 (Apr 6) Crimora papillata from French Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22355

Dear Dom,

It is certainly a deeper orange colour than other examples on the Forum. Perhaps someone with local knowledge could give us some background information on colour range in this species.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Apr 6). Comment on Crimora papillata from French Mediterranean by Dominique Horst. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22355

Re: Crimora papillata near Chartella papyracea ?

August 21, 2008
From: Stephane Ores

Concerning message #14448:

Dear Bill

On this picture is the same nudibranch Crimora papillata I sent the picture of some months ago, but the bryozoan is more detailed. I think it is possible to confirm Chartella papyracea.

Locality: Belle-Isle, Brittany, Depth: 12 m, Brittany, France, Atlantic Ocean.
Length: 2.5 cm, 11 June 2005./ Photo: Stephane Ores

Stephane Ores

stephane.ores@neuf.fr

Ores, S., 2008 (Aug 21) Re: Crimora papillata near Chartella papyracea ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15567

Dear Stephane,

While preparing Jim Anderson's message [#21821] I found your message which has been languishing in the backlog for far too long. Sorry, but I sent it to a bryozoan expert for his opinion, but like most taxonomists he needs 48 hour days to answer all the calls on his time.

So still without an expert opinion here is your message. I am not an expert on bryozoans but it could well be Chartella papyracea, which is one of the bryozoans Crimora papillata is reported to feed on.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Aug 21). Comment on Re: Crimora papillata near Chartella papyracea ? by Stephane Ores. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15567

Crimora papillata from Scotland

August 21, 2008
From: Jim Anderson

Concerning message #16332:

Dear Bill,

There were many Crimora papillata on the bryozoans on the rocky wall and ledges around 28 m, where I first spotted the mating pair, up to 12 m where the 3rd example was seen. Spawn was also seen at 28 m. Water temperature 13° C. This is the first time I have seen this species in Scotland although I have a report from a friend who found it last year 100 km south of here.

Locality: Garvellachs Islands, 12 - 28 m, Scotland, Firth of Lorne, N E Atlantic, 3 August, 2008, Rocky reef. Length: 25 mm. Photographer: Jim Anderson.

Jim Anderson.

jander4454@gmail.com

Anderson, J, 2008 (Aug 21) Crimora papillata from Scotland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21821

Dear Jim,

Thanks for this interesting record.  It looks like it was a good place for bryozoans. Picton & Morrow (1994) note that this species is usually found associated with, Flustra foliacea, Chartella papyracea, and Securiflustra securifrons, three branching bryozoans with flattened blades. In your photos, at first sight it looks like they are associated with the bushy bryozoan which fills most of the background, but in the upper photo, I suspect they are sitting on the skeletal remains [middle right photo] of a colony of Flustra. And in the lower photo, the animal seems to have just started eating another colony of what I assume is Flustra foliacea.   

  • Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. 1994. A Field Guide to the Nudibranchs of the British Isles. 144pp. Immel Publishing: London.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Aug 21). Comment on Crimora papillata from Scotland by Jim Anderson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21821

Crimora papillata from Portugal

April 22, 2006
From: David Abecasis


Hi Bill,

Here are some photos, from Portugal, of which I believe is Crimora papillata.

Locality: Faro, 16 metres, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean, 13 April 2006. Photographer: David Abecasis.

Best wishes,
David Abecasis

davidbecas@netcabo.pt

Abecasis, D., 2006 (Apr 22) Crimora papillata from Portugal. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16332

Dear David,
As your photos show, it looks like this species is usually to be found on. or near, the bryozoans on which it feeds.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Apr 22). Comment on Crimora papillata from Portugal by David Abecasis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16332

Crimora papillata from southern Portugal

January 14, 2006
From: David Abecasis

Hi Bill,
Following my message [#15531] on Janolus cristatus, here's another nudi from the South Portugal waters - Crimora papillata.

Locality: near Pedra da Greta, Faro, Portugal. Depth: 16 metres. Length: less than 2 cm. 11 January 2006. rocky bottom. Photographer: David Abecasis

Best regards
David

dabecassis@ualg.pt

Abecasis, D., 2006 (Jan 14) Crimora papillata from southern Portugal. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15546

Thanks David,
Bill Rudman

Crimora papillata near Chartella papyracea ?

August 1, 2005
From: Stephane Ores

Dear Bill

I made this low quality photo at Belle-Isle, Brittany , France. Is it a Crimora papillata near Chartella papyracea?

Locality: Belle-Isle, Brittany, France, Atlantic coast. Depth: 12 m. Length: 2.5 cm. 11 june 2005. Photographer: Stephane Ores

Thank you
Stephane Ores

stephane.ores@neuf.fr

Stephane Ores, 2005 (Aug 1) Crimora papillata near Chartella papyracea ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14448

Dear Stephane,
Yes the nudibranch is Crimora papillata, but I'm afraid I am not an expert on Atantic bryozoans. I can see in the bottom right of the photo part of the blade-like branching colony it is on. It looks quite like Chartella papyracea but I don't know if there is enough detail in the photo to confim its identity.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Aug 1). Comment on Crimora papillata near Chartella papyracea ? by Stephane Ores. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14448

Crimora papillata from French Mediterranean

July 23, 2003
From: Marina Poddubetskaia

Dear Bill,

Here is another find from Cerbere : Crimora papillata. This quite common Atlantic dorid seems to be more rare in Mediterranean.

Date: July 12, 2003
Location: Cerbere, France, Mediterranean coast
Site: Les 3 moines
Depth: 15m
Size: 10mm
Photos: Marina Poddubetskaia - Nembro website

Best wishes,
Marina.

nembro@nembro.info

Poddubetskaia, M. , 2003 (Jul 23) Crimora papillata from French Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10480

Thanks Marina,
Bill Rudman

Crimora papillata from French Brittany

September 18, 2002
From: Marina Poddubetskaia


Dear Bill,
Here are 2 photos of Crimora papillata from the Atlantic Ocean.

Date: August 17, 2002
Location: Belle-ile, Brittany, Atlantic coast of France.
Site: Piler de Bagen Hir
Depth: Upper Photo: 15m, Lower Photo: 12m
Size: about 20mm
Photos: Marina Poddubetskaia - Nembro website

Best wishes,
Marina.

nembro@nembro.info

Poddubetskaia, M., 2002 (Sep 18) Crimora papillata from French Brittany. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7820

Thanks Marina,
This is a new addition to the Forum
Bill Rudman