Armina tigrina
Rafinesque, 1814

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: ARMININA
Family: Arminidae

DISTRIBUTION

Mediterranean - France, Spain, Italy.

PHOTO

Locality: Upper photo: Cros de Cagnes beach, 27 metres, France, Mediterranean Sea, 3 April 2007, Sand and sediment. Length: 80 mm. 
Lower photo: Cros de Cagnes beach, France, Mediterranean Sea, depth 7 metres, length 70 mm , 7 june 2007, sand and sediment. Photographer: Stephane Elliott.

Typical shape for the genus with an elongate flattened body with many longitudinal ridges on the mantle. There is a notch in the anterior midline of the mantle edge which forms a pouch for the two rhinophores which sit very close together in the dorsal midline. The rhinophores clubs consist of a series of vertical lamellae.

On the underside of the mantle skirt on each side is a series of secondary gills, similar to those in phyllidiids, running down each side to the posterior end of the body. There is also a band of lateral lamellae on the underside of the mantle at the anterior end. Both the genital openings and the anus are on the right side of the body at the anterior end, the genital openings being in front of the anus.

The mantle has a greyish black backgrouns colour and the ridges are white. The mantle is also edged in white anf the rhinophores are white. The oral veil and sides of the foot are translucent pink and the foot is alos edged with white. Little has been published on the biology of this species which grows to about 110 mm in length. 

  • Pruvot-Fol, A. (1954)  Mollusques Opisthobranches. Faune de France, Paris 58: 1-460, Pl.1.
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2007 (June 30) Armina tigrina Rafinesque, 1814. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/armitigr

Related messages


Armina tigrina with bites

October 2, 2009
From: Dominique Horst


Concerning message #21845:

Hi Bill,

Another bite from a predator. This time it is Armina tigrina which is involved.

Locality: Cagnes, 7 m, France, Mediterranean sea, 12/6/2009. Length: 20 mm. Photographer: Dominique Horst.


Kind regards,
Dominique

dominique.horst@wanadoo.fr

Horst, D., 2009 (Oct 2) Armina tigrina with bites. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22559

Thanks Dom,

I have looked very carefully but can't see any sign in your photos of what Armina was biting - other than the hermit crab running away in the middle photo. Arminausually feed on sea pens [Pennatulacea] [see message #14913]. Was there any evidence that they were near by? Usually they only emerge at night.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2009 (Oct 2). Comment on Armina tigrina with bites by Dominique Horst. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22559

Armina tigrina from the French Mediterranean

September 8, 2008
From: Dominique Horst


Hi Bill,

Armina tigrina for the first time ... I found it at the same site as Zeineb did in his previous message [#20059]. It is not very spectacular, but this animal is very sculptural.

Locality: Cagnes, 6m, France, Mediterranean sea, 27 August 2008, muddy. Length: 40 mm. Photographer: Dominique Horst.

Kind regards,
Dom.

dominique.horst@wanadoo.fr

Horst, D., 2008 (Sep 8) Armina tigrina from the French Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21845

Dear Dom,

Thes animals are really built for burrowing through the sand, so there is not much point in them being brightly coloured. On the other hand species of the related genus Dermatobranchus, which live on, and feed on alcyonacean soft corals, can be quite spectacularly coloured.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Sep 8). Comment on Armina tigrina from the French Mediterranean by Dominique Horst. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21845

Armina tigrina from the French Mediterranean

July 9, 2007
From: Zeineb Alhaidari


Concerning message #20057:

Dear Bill,
I could not resist sending images of Armina tigrina, which is not so commonly seen. They were taken by Stephane Elliott during night dives.

Locality: Upper 2 photos: Cros de Cagnes beach, 27 metres, France, Mediterranean Sea, 3 April 2007, Sand and sediment. Length: 80 mm. 
Lower photo: Cros de Cagnes beach , France , Mediterranean Sea, depth 7 metres , specimen length 70 mm , date : 7 june 2007 , sand and sediment. Photographer: Stephane Elliott.

Thanks for your time, kindness and expertise. Your forum is great!
Zeineb

z.alhaidari@wanadoo.fr

Alhaidari , Z., 2007 (Jul 9) Armina tigrina from the French Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20059

Dear Zeineb,
Thanks very much. I am glad you like the Forum.  It is always good to get a new species for the Forum, especially ones like Armina tigrina which has been so rarely photographed..

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jul 9). Comment on Armina tigrina from the French Mediterranean by Zeineb Alhaidari. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20059