Dendrodoris limbata from French Atlantic

February 28, 2001
From: Angel Valdés

Dear Bill,
I have recently received from Gery Parent this photo taken by Pierre Cottin in the Port of Saint-Quay Portrieux (Northern France). This animal in the photo is a specimen of Dendrodoris limbata and this constitutes the second record of this species from the Atlantic coast of France. So the record by Alex Vanhaelen on the Forum is not an isolated case anymore. Apparently Pierre Cottin has been finding this species in the area since 1991.

The Atlantic coast of France has been intensively studied during many years (since the work of Cuvier in 1804), and this species has only been found recently. I find very hard to believe that this species was there and nobody collected it. I suspect the geographic range of D. limbata has changed during the last years, and this species is moving further north probably as a consequence of rising of water temperature. But other explanations for these records such as human introduction can not be discarded.

It would be very interesting to see if this species is collected in the Atlantic coast of Spain and southern England.

All the best,
Angel

avaldes@CalAcademy.org

Valdes, A., 2001 (Feb 28) Dendrodoris limbata from French Atlantic. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3883

Thanks Angel,
Ands thanks to Gery and Pierre for passing the information on. A very interesting find
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Feb 28). Comment on Dendrodoris limbata from French Atlantic by Angel Valdés . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3883

Related messages

  1. Dendrodoris limbata from Thau, French Mediterranean
    From: Dominique Horst, November 27, 2007
  2. Dendrodoris limbata from the Atlantic coast of France
    From: François Le Méhauté, February 2, 2007
  3. Dendrodoris limbata from Mediterranean France
    From: Patrick Noel, June 28, 2005
  4. Dendrodoris grandiflora or D. limbata?
    From: Adam Petrusek, October 13, 2003
  5. Dendrodoris limbata from Tunisia
    From: Anis, May 7, 2003
  6. Juvenile Dendrodoris limbata from Tunisia
    From: Anis, May 7, 2003
  7. Dendrodoris limbata from Turkey
    From: Baki Yokes, October 6, 2002
  8. Dendrodoris limbata from the Mediterranean
    From: Marina Poddubetskaia, August 1, 2002
  9. Dendrodoris limbata - colour variation
    From: Constantine Mifsud, March 1, 2001
  10. Re: Dendrodoris limbata from Brittany
    From: Alex VANHAELEN, December 22, 2000
  11. Unknown dorid from France
    From: Alex Vanhaelen, December 21, 2000
  12. Re: Dendrodoris limbata from Brittany
    From: Angel Valdes, December 21, 2000
  13. Dendrodoris limbata from Croatia
    From: Erwin Koehler, February 24, 2000

Show factsheet and all related messages