Doto pita from the Bahamas
July 3, 2002
From: Colin Redfern
Dear Bill,
Following Shouichi Kato's message regarding Doto pita, here is a photo of this species from Abaco, Bahamas. The 6mm specimen was collected by Rodger Bunnell from floating Sargassum between Fish Cays and Treasure Cay, Abaco on June 29, 1995. Although occasionally found on floating Sargassum, D. pita is more commonly found close to shore in the Abaco area, on a species of Sargassum [S. platycarpum?] that is attached to rocks in about 1m.
To add to your list of references, Ortea et al. (1999) reported that D. pita was amphiatlantic, having recorded the species from Cuba and from the Canary Islands.
• Ortea, J., Moro, L., Espinosa, J. & J.J. Bacallado (1999). Doto pita Marcus, 1955 (Nudibranchia: Dendronotoidea), un nuevo Opistobranquio anfiatlantico. Revista de la Academia Canaria de Ciencias, XI(3-4): 75-81.
Best wishes,
Colin
bahamianseashells@att.net
Redfern, C., 2002 (Jul 3) Doto pita from the Bahamas. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7400Thanks Colin,
When I first saw your photo in your book it didn't seem to fit Marcus' description that well but on reflection, and on rereading the later descriptions, including Edmunds & Just (1985) from Barbados, I think you are probably right. It is unfortunate that many Marcus descriptions, although often detailed anatomically, give little information on the external animal. I think it is unlikely that the Japanese animal is the same species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
