Striped Nudibranch from California
October 29, 2002
From: Natasha Hopkins
Hello, my name is Natasha and I have fairly thoroughly explored the site and am having trouble finding the species, Pleurophyllidia californica, where they live, what they eat and what eats them. I'm in the state of Washington by the Puget Sound. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Natasha Hopkins
nummaone4sho@excite.com
Hopkins, N., 2002 (Oct 29) Striped Nudibranch from California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8297Dear Natasha,
Unfortunately this nudibranch, which is now called Armina californica, isn't on the Forum as yet. Perhaps some kind person will send us a photo so the next person who looks for it won't be disappointed. In Dave Behrens' book Pacific Coast Nudibranchs he says that it is found from the Gulf of Alaska south to Panama, and grows to a length of 70mm.
Like most species of Armina, it lives in sand or muddy regions and feeds on sea pens, in particular Ptilosarcus gurneyi and Renilla koellikeri. It spends the day burrowing only coming to the surface to feed at night. I have read an interesting article on the spectacular light show it causes when it is feeding, as the sea pen Renilla koellikeri produces luminescent flashes every time it is bitten. I will try and find a reference for you.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Related messages
-
Re: Armina californica - feeding
From: Betty Bastai, June 2, 2010 -
Armina californica and the sea pansy Renilla
From: Kevin Lee, March 17, 2010 -
Sea pens
From: Jan Kocian, March 9, 2010 -
Armina californica eggs
From: Jan Kocian, November 6, 2007 -
Armina californica - feeding
From: Jan Kocian, September 26, 2007 -
Armina californica feeding, eye spots
From: Mike Neubig, May 29, 2006 -
Re: Sea Pens and Armina
From: Jan Kocian, October 7, 2005 -
Armina californica Last Supper?
From: Jan Kocian, October 5, 2005 -
Juvenile Armina californica feeding
From: Paul Sim, June 14, 2005 -
Armina californica from Vancouver Island
From: David Roberts, July 9, 2004 -
Armina californica from Monterey, CA
From: Clinton Bauder, February 17, 2004 -
Re: Striped Nudibranch from California
From: Scott Johnson, November 1, 2002