Cuthona columbiana from British Columbia

October 25, 2001
From: Marli Wakeling


Hi Bill,
Here is Catriona columbiana, found close by Cuthona punicea [see separate message], but feeding on Tubularia sp. hydroids.
Dive Site: Plumper Rock, near Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Date: August, 2001
Depth: 20 meters
Length: 10mm
Photograph: Marli Wakeling

Marli.

scubamarli@excite.com

Wakeling, W., 2001 (Oct 25) Cuthona columbiana from British Columbia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5534

Dear Marli,
Thanks for this nice photo of Cuthona columbiana. I am following Michael C Miller (1977) in considering the genus Catriona to be a synonym of Cuthona. I realise this hasn't met universal acceptance, but the alternative is to recognise a genus for every combination of characters in the family which would not be very helpful.

Form my experience, the species with a Catriona-shaped radula tooth all are found amongst the basal stolons of the hydroid colonies they live amongst. I suspect they feed by breaking through the tough skin of the stolon [or stalk] of the hydroid and feed on the enclosed connecting tissue rather than attacking the polyps. If this is so, then the squat, apparently strong tooth shape, could be an adaptation for this feeding method. It would be interesting to know if your photo, with the animal far from the polyps, is typical of the behaviour of the species. Have you ever found it up near the polyps, or does it live nestled down at the base?
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Oct 25). Comment on Cuthona columbiana from British Columbia by Marli Wakeling. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5534

Factsheet

Cuthona columbiana

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