Cuthona ocellata
(Schmekel, 1966)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Tergipedidae
DISTRIBUTION
Mediterranean
PHOTO
Baie de Peyrefitte, French/Spanish Mediterranean border, depth 6m, 06 June 1999. Each nudi was about 1.5 cm long. Photos: Patrick Hertaux.
Grows to about 13mm long. The body is a dull yellow and there is a median white line running from the head to the tail. Often there is also a broken white line down each side. The oral tentacles and smooth rhinophores are transparent with small patches of opaque white pigment covering just the tip, in some cases, or much of the tentacles and rhinophores in others. The dugestive gland duct in the cerata ranges from brown to a dull yellow. The ceratal wall is translucent clear with a band of opaque white spots just below the tip which is red.
Reference:
• Schmekel, L. (1966). Zwei neue Arten der Familie Cuthonidae aus dem Golf von Neapel: Trichesia granosa n. sp. und Trinchesia ocellata n. sp. (Gastr. Opisthobranchia). Pubbl. Staz. Zool. Napoli 35: 13-28.
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (April 29) Cuthona ocellata (Schmekel, 1966). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/cuthocel
Related messages
Pair of Cuthona ocellata
May 1, 2001
From: Patrick Heurtaux
Dear Dr Rudmann
Here is a pair of Cuthona ocellata, probably feeding on hydroids, with eggs in the background.
Each nudi was about 1.5 cm long
I found them at the Baie de Peyrefitte (French/Spanish Mediterranean border), depth 6m, on 06 June 1999
Best wishes,
Patrick
pheurtau@club-internet.fr
Thanks Patrick,
Bill Rudman
