Doto from Monterey, California

January 27, 2006
From: Clinton Bauder

Hi Bill,
I cam across these very small Doto on Monterey Breakwater. I suspect they are Doto amyra but I can see black markings on the body of some which makes me wonder if they are Doto columbiana. I saw lots of egg masses which I guess belong to the Doto but it is possible they belong to the Dendronotus which I also found there [message #15119 ]. The photos were taken by my friend Michael Jimenez

Locality: Monterey Breakwater, California, USA. Depth: 10 meters. Length: 20 mm. 22 October 2005. Hydroid on a rocky breakwater. Photographer: Michael Jimenez

Clinton Bauder

gecko1@apple.com

Bauder, C., 2006 (Jan 27) Doto from Monterey, California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15117

Note added 30 Jan 2006: See Jeff Goddard's message [#15687] saying that his Form B of Doto amyra is Doto columbiana.

Dear Clinton,

Wow... this seems to be the week for North Eastern Pacific Doto's.  As mentioned in Marli's replies, and Goddard (1996), identification of Doto amyra can be a challenge.  That said, Yes I agree, this is Doto amyra.  I would say it is what Jeff referred to in his paper as Doto form B, but hopefully we will hear from him to confirm.  In his paper Jeff indicates that form B, the cerata are smooth with only low tubercles, and there is dark pigment on the body.

Concerning the eggs, these are very typical Doto eggs.  Note the long tangled string shaped Dendronotus egg mass at the top of page 118 in Behrens (2005) - Nudibranch Behavior.

  • Behrens, D.W.  2005. Nudibranch Behavior.  New World Publications Inc. Jacksonville, Florida. 176 pp.
  • Goddard, J.H.R. 1996. Lecithotrophic development in Doto amyra (Nudibranchia: Dendronotacea), with a review of developmental modes in the genus. The Veliger, 39(1): 3-54.

Best wishes,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2006 (Jan 27). Comment on Doto from Monterey, California by Clinton Bauder. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/15117

Factsheet

Doto columbiana

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