Aeolidiella sanguinea
(Norman, 1877)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Aeolidiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known from a few records: West coast of Ireland, Atlantic coast of France. Also reported on Forum from sthn Portugal.

PHOTO

Murles Point, Co. Donegal, Ireland - May 1976 - shore. Photos: Bernard Picton.

The body and cerata are usually tinged with red, hence the name [sanguinea = bloody]. The cerata are relatively short and all of similar size. One feature distinguishing it from other species of european Aeolidiella are the white-tipped rhinophores. The oral tentacles and cerata are often, but not always white-tipped as well. This species has rarely been reported, and is known mainly from the west coast of Ireland, and a few sites on the Atlantic coast of France. Picton & Morrow (1994) report that it feeds on sagartiid anemones, especially Sagartia elegans, and Tardy (1969) reports it feeding on a variety of anemones, including sagartiids and Diadumene sp. It is reported to grow to 46 mm in length (Thompson & Brown, 1984).

See Bernard Picton's message differentiating A. alderi, A. sanguinea and A. glauca. Feeds on sea aneomes.

  • Picton, B. E., & Morrow, C. (1994) A field guide to the nudibranchs of the British Isles, 143 pp. Immel Publishing.
  • Tardy,  J. P. (1969) Étude systématique et biologique sur trois espèces d'Aeolidielles des côtes européennes (Gasteropodes Nudibranches). Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique, Monaco, 68(1389): 1-40, pls. 1-15.
  • Thompson, T.E. & Brown, G.H. (1984) Biology of Opisthobranch Molluscs, Vol 2. Ray Society: London.
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2006 (August 1) Aeolidiella sanguinea (Norman, 1877). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/aeolsang

Related messages


Aeolidiella sanguinea from southern Portugal

August 2, 2006
From: Carlos Afonso

Hi Bill,

Last year I took some pictures of Aeolidiella sanguinea and I think they would be nice to include in the Forum.

Locality: Vilamoura, 14-16 meters, Algarve, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean, August 2005, Attached under rock in crevices. Photographer: Carlos M. L. Afonso (Lab. photo).

Enjoy and best regards,

Carlos M. L. Afonso (Project RENSUB)
FCMA/CCMAR
Universidade do Algarve
Campus de Gambelas
8005-139 Faro,
Algarve, Portugal

cmlafonso@ualg.pt

Afonso, C. M. L. , 2006 (Aug 2) Aeolidiella sanguinea from southern Portugal. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17256

Dear Carlos,
Thanks very much for the photos. They are indeed a welcome addition to the Forum

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Aug 2). Comment on Aeolidiella sanguinea from southern Portugal by Carlos Afonso. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17256