Armina maculata
Rafinesque, 1814

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: ARMININA
Family: Arminidae

DISTRIBUTION

Mediterranean, and nearby Atlantic coast (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Angola).

PHOTO

Bay of Algeciras, Strait of Gibraltar, southern Spain at 25 metres. Associated with Veretillum cynomorium. La Seca Reef, Sandy bottom, 30 mm long. Photo: Alma Sánchez.

Grows to approx 130mm long. Body yellow orange with opaque white rounded and conical tubercles. It burrows in the sand during the day, emerging at night to feed on the pennatulacean 'Sea Pen' Veretillum cynomorium.

Reference:
• Rafinesque, C.S. (1814). Précis des dé couvertes somiologiques ou zoologiques et botaniques. Palermo, p. 30

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (April 29) Armina maculata Rafinesque, 1814. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/armimacu

Related messages


Re: Armina maculata from Southern Spain

May 2, 2001
From: Juan Lucas Cervera

Dear Bill,
Concerning your questions about Armina maculata. Yes Veretillum cynomorium is a pennatulacean (Sea Pen) on which it feeds at night, spending the day buried in the sand.
Lucas.

lucas.cervera@uca.es

Cervera, J.L., 2001 (May 2) Re: Armina maculata from Southern Spain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4270

Thanks Lucas,
Bill Rudman

Armina maculata from Southern Spain

April 30, 2001
From: Alma Sánchez

Dear Dr. Rudman,
Here is a photo of Armina maculata Rafinesque, 1814. This specimen was collected in July, 2000 at the Bay of Algeciras (Strait of Gibraltar, southern Spain) at 25 metres in depth associated with Veretillum cynomorium.
Place: La Seca Reef, zone : Z3 (Sandy bottom), Size: 30 mm in length.

Best wishes,
Alma Sánchez.

almasanchez83@hotmail.com

Sánchez, A., 2001 (Apr 30) Armina maculata from Southern Spain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4234

Dear Alma,
Thanks for the photo of Armina maculata. I don't know anything about this species. Is it like species of Armina that I am more familar with that burrow in the sand during the day and emerge at night to feed on their pennatulacean prey? I guess Veretillum cynomorium is a pennatulacean 'sea pen' that it feeds on?
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Apr 30). Comment on Armina maculata from Southern Spain by Alma Sánchez. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4234