Trivia californica, Channel Islands, California

June 12, 2006
From: Mike Neubig

Note added 15 June 2006: This is Trivia solandri [see message #16868]

Sadly, one of the most beautiful molluscs to ply our waters rates only 614 hits on google this evening, and the google image resource indexes only three photos. On the other hand, your Sea Slug Forum page is top ranked! I could not tell what this beauty was up to when I came across her corporally withdrawn, save a fully extended mantle. It was one of two night dives, and the only Trivia sighting in 9 dives. The tubercles and coloration are much more pronounced compared to Bruce Wight's remarkable photos of Trivia feeding [#10646 ]. Many of the tubercles here bifurcate before termination.

Locality: Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands, 7m, California, US, Eastern Pacific Ocean, 28 May 2006, underwater talus slope at the base of a 100m vertical cliff. Length: 2cm. Photographer: Mike Neubig.

Mike Neubig

mike.neubig@gmail.com

Neubig, M, 2006 (Jun 12) Trivia californica, Channel Islands, California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16779

Hi Mike,

Well what can we say, Bill and the Museum have done a wonderful job of providing a rapid and efficient access to opisthobranch information and deserve NUMBER ONE on Google.  I love it.

Concerning Trivia, it is a gorgeous California species, but it does not really fall under the content of this Forum. Trivia is slug-like but not a sea slug.  It is a marine snail [Fam: Triviidae ].  I will admit the mantle resembles that of a nudibranch, but it is only a sheath to cover the shell and keep it smooth, glossy and free on encrusting organisms.

Many tropical relatives of Trivia have elaborate mantles that make them very hard to differentiate from a sea slug.  Their colors and mantle morphology are quite spectacular, making them photogenic equals to our buddies the slugs.

Thanks for the great shots and comments,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2006 (Jun 12). Comment on Trivia californica, Channel Islands, California by Mike Neubig. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16779

Factsheet

Triviidae

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  1. Re: Trivia californica vs Trivia solandri
    From: Dave Behrens, December 5, 2006
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  3. Re: Trivia californica, Channel Islands, California
    From: Bruce Wight, June 15, 2006
  4. Trivia californica from the Channel Ids, California
    From: Bruce Wight , August 5, 2003

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