Diaulula sandiegensis from Vancouver Island

March 1, 2007
From: Minette Layne

In archiving some photographs today, I came across this picture of Diaulula sandiegensis that I took in a small sea cave at Sooke on Vancouver Island.

I visited the cave every day for five days and this Diaulula was in pretty much the same place each time. The sponge, however, seemed to be disappearing! I'm not as good at identifying sponges as I should be, but perhaps this one is Halichondria panicea?

I looked at the other pictures of Diaulula on the forum, and none seem to have quite the same coloration and spot style as this little guy, so I thought it might be a useful addition to the collection. Isn't he handsome?

Locality: Sooke, Intertidal, British Columbia, Canada, Strait of Juan de Fuca, 24 June 2005, In a small sea cave. Length: 2". Photographer: Minette Layne.

Minette Layne

minette_layne@hotmail.com

Layne, M.C., 2007 (Mar 1) Diaulula sandiegensis from Vancouver Island. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19543

Hi Minette:

Yes, he (or she, whatever) is handsome. And yes, this critter is Diaulula sandiegensis. As reported by fellow Brancher, Angel Valdes and myself, as you wander north, specimens take on this darker ground color and display many more dorsal spots. We haven't a clue why, but internal examination shows that the animals are identical to those southern specimens that are very white with few spots. As they say in the US, "News at 11."

Thanks,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D.W., 2007 (Mar 1). Comment on Diaulula sandiegensis from Vancouver Island by Minette Layne. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19543

Factsheet

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