Hancockia californica
MacFarland, 1923

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DENDRONOTINA
Family: Hancockiidae

DISTRIBUTION

California, USA., Baja California, Mexico.

PHOTO

Pt. Loma, 75ft, San Diego, California, USA. Photo: Sean Kearney

Elongate, aeolidiform in shape with 4 to 7 pairs of characteristic cerata. The cerata consist of consist of between 4-16 finger-like processes arranged side by side. In the lower half they are merged together but the upper part of the processes are free giving each ceras the look of a multi-fingered hand. The oral lobes on each side of the head are of similar shape to the cerata. The rhinophores are typically dendronotoidean in shape with the actual rhinophore sitting in a smooth-edged cup-shaped sheath. The colour appears to be somewhat variable. The body basically translucent or nearly transparent with varying amounts of brown and white pigmentation in different animals. Grows to 15mm in length.

Probably feeds on hydroids.

References:
• Behrens, D., (1991) Pacific Coast Nudibranchs.
• MacFarland, F.M. (1923) The morphology of the nudibranch genus Hancockia. Journal of Morphology, 38(1): 65-104, Pls 1-6.
• MacFarland, F. M. (1966) Studies of opisthobranchiate mollusks of the Pacific coast of North America. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, 6: 1-546, pls. 1-72.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2004 (February 19) Hancockia californica MacFarland, 1923. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/hanccali

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