Cadlina modesta from British Columbia

July 7, 2006
From: Jackie Hildering

I came across these two animals while on a beach walk with a gang of students. The animals were well camoflaged on a shell bottom in only about 4 cm of water. To give an idea of size, the specimen bottle lid in which I placed them (see photograph) has a diameter of 6 cm.

As an avid diver (and nudibranch fan) in this same area, I have never seen this species before. My only attempt at an id would be to think it may be of the genus Cadlina.

Locality: Port Hardy - Intertidal, Intertidal - 4 cm, British Columbia, Canada, Port Hardy Bay, 17 May 2006, Intertidal. Length: 3 to 4 cm . Photographer: Jackie Hildering.

Any help with identification would be hugely appreciated!

Jackie Hildering

econauts@telus.net

Hildering, Jackie, 2006 (Jul 7) Cadlina modesta from British Columbia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16650

Hi Jackie,

This is a fairly typical Cadlina modesta.  The yellow-orange rhinophores and yellow spots on a white dorsum, are the key characters.  This is an intertidal species, and feeds on sponges.

In individuals in the southern end of its geographic range, the yellow spots near the margin may be larger than those seen medially.

Thanks for sharing this one,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2006 (Jul 7). Comment on Cadlina modesta from British Columbia by Jackie Hildering. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16650

Factsheet

Cadlina modesta

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