Calmella cavolini
(Verany, 1846)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Flabellinidae
DISTRIBUTION
Mediterranean
PHOTO
Cala Joncols, Spain, [Costa Brava, Mediterranean].
Length 7mm, Depth 6m. 05 May 1998. Photo: Erwin Koehler.
Small aeolid, (max length 12mm), with angular anterior foot corners, and smooth elongate rhinophores and oral tentacles. The cerata are arranged in groups, each with a common stalk. The first 3 ceratal clusters on each side are arranged opposite each other while the posterior 3 alternate. The body is opaque white, and the ceratal wall is transparent. The digestive gland duct is bright red and the apical cnidosac is white. The jaw plates are a purplish red and show through on each side of the head as a reddish spot. It is reported to feed on the hydroid Eudendrium.
References:
• Schmekel, L. & Portmann, A., (1982) Opisthobranchia des Mittelmeeres. Nudibranchia und Saccoglossa.
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (December 1) Calmella cavolini (Verany, 1846). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/calmcavo
Related messages
Calmella cavolini from Mediterannean France
May 31, 2006
From: Dominique Horst
I have some difficulties in identifying this nudibranch. BUt on lookinh through your site I think it is Calmella cavolini Verany, 1846. I guess you will confirm this in your answer... Many thanks and congratulation for this site which is admirable.
Locality: Cap d'Antibes, 5m, Antibes, Mediterranea, 8 May 2006, vertical rock. Length: 7-8 mm. Photographer: Dominique Horst.
Many thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
Dominique
dominique.horst@wanadoo.fr
Dear Dominique,
Thanks very much for these nice photos. From the colour and general shape of the animal I am pretty sure it is Calmella cavolini. The purple marks on each side of the head are very characteristic and are the internal jaw plates, which are purple in this species, showing through the almost transparent body wall. Another distinctive feature, which you can't see that clearly in these photos, is that each group of cerata has a common stalk or lobe on which all the cerata are attached.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Calmella cavolini from French Mediterranean
October 20, 2003
From: M. Poddubetskaia
Dear Bill,
Here is a record of Calmella cavolini from France.
Date: October 05, 2003
Location: La Ciotat, France, Mediterranean coast
Site: Le bec de l'aigle
Depth: 6m
Size: 8-9mm
Photos: Marina Poddubetskaia - Nembro website
Best wishes,
Marina.
nembro@nembro.info
Poddubetskaia, M., 2003 (Oct 20) Calmella cavolini from French Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11175
Thanks Marina,
I have included a close-up, alongside, of part of the animal to show the purple jaw plates showing through the skin of the head, and to show how the orange digestive gland in the cerata tends to darken to a reddish colour near the tip of each ceras.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Calmella cavolini fromTurkey
August 18, 2003
From: Ferda Buyukbaykal
Dear Bill,
Could you identify this photo? Is it Calmella cavolini?.
Date: August 08, 2003
Location: Canakkale, Saroz
Site: Tuneller
Depth: 3-5 mt
Size: 15-20 mm
Photos: Ferda Buyukbaykal
Best regards
Ferda
ferdabbaykal@isnet.net.tr
Buyukbaykal, F., 2003 (Aug 18) Calmella cavolini fromTurkey. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10767Dear Ferda,
Two good external features of this species are the way the cerata in each group have a common stalk, and that the purple jawplates can be seen through the body wall. Both these can be seen in your photo. I am not sure if this species has been reported from Turkey before. I can only find references from the western end of the Mediterranean
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Calmella cavolini from Spain
December 3, 2002
From: Erwin Köhler
Dear Bill,
Here is Calmella cavolini from Cala Joncols, Spain, divesite "La Caverna" [Costa Brava, Mediterranean].
Data.
Size 7mm
Depth 6m
Date 05 May 1998
Cheers,
Erwin
erwin@medslugs.de
Köhler, E., 2002 (Dec 3) Calmella cavolini from Spain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8538Thanks Erwin,
This is another new addition to the Forum. I'm afraid it doesn't solve the mystery of the damaged aeolid you sent earlier.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Aeolid from the Mediterranean
October 24, 2002
From: Erwin Koehler
Dear Bill,
Here is another mystery from the Mediterranean, looks like an aeolid without cerata. It is from Blanes, Spain, depth 16m, size 1-1,5cm, July 15, 2000. The photo was made by Josep Mª Dacosta, [daco@iponet.es]
Erwin
Erwin@medslugs.de
Koehler, E., 2002 (Oct 24) Aeolid from the Mediterranean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4073Dear Erwin,
I think this is an aeolid which has had a brush with death, and is in the process of regrowing its cerata. This hasn't left much with which to identify the species, apart from the red patch on the side of the head. One possibility is Calmella cavolini but I think we need advice from a local expert
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
