Melibe leonina
(Gould, 1852)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DENDRONOTINA
Family: Tethydidae

DISTRIBUTION

West coast of North America from Alaska to Baja California.

PHOTO

Northern Channel Islands, San Miguel Island, California. Lower left showing egg mass. Photos: Bruce C. Wight.

Species of the genus Melibe have a large expandable oral hood which is fringed with sensory tentacles and used to catch small crustacea. The large flattened leaf-like cerata are easily detached if the animal is disturbed, and animals are often found with some or all the cerata missing or in a state of regrowth. M. leonina grows to about 90mm long and seasonally found in large numbers on kelp and sometimes 'swimming' in coastal waters.

"Melibe leonina has a a sweet fruity aroma which you can smell throughout the room when a number of them are in a tank. It tends to 'get to you' like a bad perfume. They are gregarious animals and probably use it to keep together." See Sandra Millen's message.

See separate pages for references, and information on other species M. engeli and M. viridis.

Reference:
• Gould, A.A. (1852). United States Exploring Expedition during the years 1838-1842. Mollusca and Shells, 12: I-XV, 1-510

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2000 (September 2) Melibe leonina (Gould, 1852). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/melileon

Related messages

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    From: Rick Harbo, December 10, 2009
  2. Re: Melibe leonina - locomotion
    From: J. Hildering & G. Miller, November 24, 2007
  3. Re: Melibe leonina - egg laying
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  4. Melibe leonina fragrance
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  7. Re: Melibe leonina clustered
    From: Nicole LaForge, February 21, 2006
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  14. Re: Melibe leonina loses cerata [1]
    From: Ingo Burghardt, October 6, 2005
  15. Melibe leonina loses cerata [1]
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  16. Melibe leonina loses cerata [2]
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  17. Melibe leonina from Puget Sound, Washington
    From: Jan Kocian, September 19, 2005
  18. Transparent sea creature from Alaska
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  19. Life expectancy of Melibe leonina
    From: Steve Johnston, June 7, 2005
  20. Melibe leonina larvae
    From: Jen Massey, March 8, 2004
  21. Melibe leonina from British Columbia
    From: Bruce Wight, October 24, 2003
  22. Re: Melibe leonina from British Columbia
    From: Alicia Hermosillo, September 29, 2003
  23. Melibe leonina from British Columbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, September 25, 2003
  24. Re: Mystery from Puget Sound, Washington
    From: Melissa, May 14, 2003
  25. Mystery from Puget Sound, Washington
    From: Melissa, May 7, 2003
  26. Melibe project
    From: Kenny Cottrell, May 11, 2001
  27. Melibe leonina back at Del Monte
    From: Clinton Bauder, March 7, 2001
  28. Re: Melibe leonina from Alaska
    From: William Cullen, January 17, 2001
  29. Re: Melibe from Alaska
    From: William Cullen, January 12, 2001
  30. My name is Melibe!
    From: Melibe Tardaewether, December 20, 2000
  31. Re: Melibe from Alaska
    From: Mike Merkley , September 7, 2000
  32. Another mystery from Alaska
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