Dendronotus lacteus
(Thompson, 1840)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DENDRONOTINA
Family: Dendronotidae
DISTRIBUTION
North Atlantic - Known from Ireland, Sweden.
PHOTO
The Summer Isles on the west coast of Scotland.
In abundance on the kelp fronds at 7 -10 metres. Approx. 35mm long. September 1998. Photo: Jim Anderson.
See Jim Anderson's message for a summary of Tholleson's study distinguishing this species from Dendronotus frondosus. Tholleson (1998) reports on finding specimens of Dendronotus on the Swedish West Coast that had an opaque white colour with dark purple-blackish blotches; differing from the common Dendronotus in the region which is brownish. Electrophoretic studies suggested that the two colour 'forms' were distinct species, and so he resurrected the name Dendronotus lacteus because it matched his animals in external shape and colour.
References:
• Tholleson, M. (1998) Discrimination of two Dendronotus species by allozyme electrophoresis and the reinstatement of Dendronotus lacteus (Thompson, 1840). Zoologica Scripta, 27(3): 189-195.
• Thompson,W (1840): Contributions towards a knowledge of the Mollusca Nudibranchia and Mollusca Tunicata of Ireland, with descriptions of some apparently new species of Invertebrata. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 5(29): 84-102.
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (November 11) Dendronotus lacteus (Thompson, 1840). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/dendlact
