Polycera atra(?) from California

September 20, 2002
From: Daniel Geiger

Dear Bill,
Just shot a Polycera which I think is Polycera atrata on Anacapa Island, Cathedral Cove, off Los Angeles, California, in about 12m depth. The animal is a bit darker than what is illustrated in Behrens. The coloration otherwise corresponds quite well and the size (around 22 mm) is just about the maximum size for the species. Is this P. atrata? I found two specimens, one of which is shown in the photo.

Otherwise, there were lots of Flabellina iodinea, and Cone snails were roaming wide along with some Mitra idae and Trivia californiana.

[Shot with Pentax LX in Hugyfot housing, 100 mmM at 1:1, f/32, Subtronic S2. I cropped the image.]
Best wishes,
Daniel

dgeiger@nhm.org

Geiger, D., 2002 (Sep 20) Polycera atra(?) from California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7954

Thanks Daniel,
I can't imagine this darker version is more than a colour variant of P. atra but I am sure one of your Californian colleagues will let us now.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Factsheet

Polycera atra

Related messages

  1. Re: Polycera atra from California
    From: Wesley M.Farmer, July 1, 2008
  2. Polycera atra from California
    From: Clinton Bauder, November 5, 2007
  3. Polycera atra - feeding juveniles
    From: Bruce Wight, August 3, 2007
  4. Polycera atra - mating juveniles
    From: Michael Jimenez, June 11, 2005
  5. Polycera atra from California
    From: Chris Grossman, July 12, 2004
  6. Re: Polycera atra(?) from California
    From: Dave Behrens, September 20, 2002
  7. Photos of Polycera atra
    From: Bruce Wight, July 7, 2000
  8. Polycera atra? juvenile
    From: Bruce Wight, July 5, 2000

Show factsheet and all related messages