First record of feeding by Acanthodoris hudsoni

April 15, 2010
From: J. Goddard, J. Hildering & G. Miller

Concerning message #21137:

Hi Bill,

After looking at additional, higher resolution images of the prey organism of Acanthodoris hudsoni pictured in message #21137, we have determined it to be the ctenostome bryozoan Alcyonidium, not a compound ascidian as Dave previously stated. In the photo with the A. hudsoni egg mass one can clearly see the extended lophophores of the bryozoan, as well as some feeding scars left by the dorid. A feeding scar is also visible in the upper image. The opaque spots in the bryozoan are its ova or developing embryos.

Locality: Bear Cove, 75 feet, British Columbia, Canada, northeast Pacific Ocean, 27 October 2007, rock shelf. Length: 4 cm. Photographer: Jackie Hildering.

This food record, the first known for A. hudsoni, is consistent with the diets of four other species of Acanthodoris from the northeastern Pacific Ocean, all of which are now known to prey on Alcyonidium (summarized by McDonald, 2007). As discussed by Soule et al. (2007), species of Alcyonidium from the northeast Pacific Ocean all require taxonomic revision, so we currently do not know if different species of Acanthodoris are specializing on different species of Alcyonidium or not.

  • McDonald, G. R. 2007. Sacoglossa and Nudibranchia. Pp. 788-807 In: J. T. Carlton (ed.) The Light and Smith manual: intertidal invertebrates from central California to Oregon. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  • Soule, D. F., Soule, J. D., Morris, P. A., and Chaney, H. W. 2007. Bryozoa. Pp. 866-904 In: J. T. Carlton (ed.) The Light and Smith manual: intertidal invertebrates from central California to Oregon. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Best wishes,
Jeff, Jackie, and Glen

goddard@lifesci.ucsb.edu

Goddard, J.H.R., Hildering, J. & Miller, G., 2010 (Apr 15) First record of feeding by Acanthodoris hudsoni. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23488

Dear Jeff, Jackie, and Glen,

I note that in an earlier message [#10690] I suggested it would most probably be found to feed on a bryozoan. Your find is certainly another valuable addition to our knowledge.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (Apr 15). Comment on First record of feeding by Acanthodoris hudsoni by J. Goddard, J. Hildering & G. Miller. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23488

Factsheet

Acanthodoris hudsoni

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