Re: Doriopsilla pelseneeri from Spain

July 28, 2003
From: Ricardo Roberto Fernández


Dear Dr. Rudman,
Thanks a lot for identifying the orange nudibranch that was really puzzling me. I enclose another two photographs of white specimens. I had thought these were Aldisa zetlandica, but I wasn't too sure. I have always thought they looked like the orange one and that they could be the same species. What do you think? I think they are the same, what you have identified as Doriopsilla pelseneeri, but in different colour. The white ones, and the orange one(much larger than the first) are quite common here, in Asturias, but I have never seen the yellow ones you say. What could you comment about this? I'm looking forward to read about your opinion!
Thanks again for your help.
Ricardo Roberto Fernández

rirober@telecable.es

Fernández, R. R., 2003 (Jul 28) Re: Doriopsilla pelseneeri from Spain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10551

Dear Ricardo,
Valdes & Ortea (1997) in their review of the Atlantic species of Doriopsilla suggest they change colour from white to yellow or orange as they grow in size. The largest animals found have been red. They usually have a white edge to the gill pocket which I think I can see in one of your photos. I must say I couldn't see the white edge in your orange photo so it would be interesting to check in live animals whether the white line - or a trace of it - is always present. Concerning colour changes. I don't think we know enough about this at present. Its possible that colour in this species is related to pigments they obtain from their food sponge, which might explain why some become yellow and others orange, but we don't know enough about them at present. Related species like Doriopsilla areolata and D. miniata also show similar colour changes.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Jul 28). Comment on Re: Doriopsilla pelseneeri from Spain by Ricardo Roberto Fernández. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10551

Factsheet

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