Aeolidiella sanguinea
(Norman, 1877)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Aeolidiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known from a few records: West coast of Ireland, Atlantic coast of France. Also reported on Forum from sthn Portugal.

PHOTO

Murles Point, Co. Donegal, Ireland - May 1976 - shore. Photos: Bernard Picton.

The body and cerata are usually tinged with red, hence the name [sanguinea = bloody]. The cerata are relatively short and all of similar size. One feature distinguishing it from other species of european Aeolidiella are the white-tipped rhinophores. The oral tentacles and cerata are often, but not always white-tipped as well. This species has rarely been reported, and is known mainly from the west coast of Ireland, and a few sites on the Atlantic coast of France. Picton & Morrow (1994) report that it feeds on sagartiid anemones, especially Sagartia elegans, and Tardy (1969) reports it feeding on a variety of anemones, including sagartiids and Diadumene sp. It is reported to grow to 46 mm in length (Thompson & Brown, 1984).

See Bernard Picton's message differentiating A. alderi, A. sanguinea and A. glauca. Feeds on sea aneomes.

• Picton, B. E., & Morrow, C. (1994) A field guide to the nudibranchs of the British Isles, 143 pp. Immel Publishing.
• Tardy,  J. P. (1969) Étude systématique et biologique sur trois espèces d'Aeolidielles des côtes européennes (Gasteropodes Nudibranches). Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique, Monaco, 68(1389): 1-40, pls. 1-15.
• Thompson, T.E. & Brown, G.H. (1984) Biology of Opisthobranch Molluscs, Vol 2. Ray Society: London.

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