Doto ussi
Ortea, 1982

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DENDRONOTINA
Family: Dotidae

DISTRIBUTION

Indo-West Pacific

PHOTO

Upper: Nudi Retreat, Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia. April 15, 2002. Photo: Mary Jane Adams
Lower: Cabilao island, Philippines, length 10 - 18 mm, Depth 6 m., 28 Feb. 2003. Photo: Erwin Koehler.

The identity of this species still needs to be confirmed. Neville Coleman reports it to feed on the hydroid Aglaophenia cupressina which could well ebe the hydroid in both the accompanying photos.

References:
• Ortéa J., 1982 - Una nueva especie de Doto (Mollusca, Dendronotacea) de las islas Comores. Cahiers de Biologie marine, Roscoff, 23: 1-7. (Résultats de la campagne océanographique "Benthédi"- 1977).

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2003 (June 29) Doto ussi Ortea, 1982. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/dotoussi

Related messages


Doto from Ambon, Indonesia

September 9, 2008
From: Indra Swari Wonowidjojo


Dear Bill,

I found this on my dive trip in Ambon, Indonesia. The water is amazing, even the rocks are healthy. Also they have many interesting nudis. I found this nudi while doing my safety stop. However I'm unable to identify it. Its really small, only about 1 cm.

Locality: Tanjung Kilang, 5 m, Ambon, Indonesia, Ambon, 17 October 2007, Rocky, a bit of current. Length: 1 cm. Photographer: Indra Swari Wonowidjojo.

Please help me with the identification and other information you have regarding this nudi.

Thank you,
Indra

little_ninja98@hotmail.com

Wonowidjojo, I.S., 2008 (Sep 9) Doto from Ambon, Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21009

Dear Indra,

This is a species of Doto - and from its shape, and the shape of the large hydroid in the background, I suspect this is a yellow form of Doto ussi. However we know very little about this species so my identification should be considered a 'guide' rather than a definitive identfication.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Sep 9). Comment on Doto from Ambon, Indonesia by Indra Swari Wonowidjojo. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21009

Doto ussi? from East Timor

August 26, 2008
From: Brian Francisco

Hi Bill.
We're not really sure what this is, but suspect it (or they) may belong to the Dotidae family. Sorry for the poor photo; we were in a bit of a current but my wife (the greatest spotter in the universe) insisted that I take a few shots.

Locality: Bubble Beach, 6 meters, East Timor, Banda Sea, 23 March 2008, coral reef. Length: 1 cm. Photographer: Brian Francisco.

Hope you can help.

Thanks.
Brian Francisco
UnderWater East Timor

francisco.brian@gmail.com

Francisco, B., 2008 (Aug 26) Doto ussi? from East Timor. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21480

Dear Brian,

You can certainly congratulate your wife for 'good spotting'. Yes this is a species of Doto, most probably the one I am identifying as Doto ussi. Interestingly it has been reported to live on the stinging hydroid Aglaophenia cupressina, which has a very thick central trunk. It is possible the cylindrical object your animal(s) are sitting on is such a thick trunk. It's not possible to be sure if there is more than one animal present.

I wondered if this photo was of the same animal as in your earlier message [#21679] as it was also found on a thick-stalked hydroid. I somehow doubt it but it may be worth keeping in mind if you come across similar animals again.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Aug 26). Comment on Doto ussi? from East Timor by Brian Francisco. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21480

Doto ussi from Sulawesi

July 1, 2003
From: Mary Jane Adams


Hi Bill,
These little slugs look to me like Neville Coleman's picture of Doto ussi in 1001 Nudibranchs. There were several more on the stalk of this hydroid colony at 6 meters on a coral reef slope. They were all about 10mm long.

Divesite: Nudi Retreat, Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia. April 15, 2002

Best regards,
Mary Jane

divepng@yahoo.com

Adams, M J., 2003 (Jul 1) Doto ussi from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6863

Thanks Mary Jane,
At the moment I can't confirm its identity because I haven't seen the original description. I have recently found a reference but an inter-library loan request I have filed seems to be lost. Your animal certainly looks like Neville's photos. He reports it feeding on Aglaophenia cupressina which could well be the hydroid in your photos.

• Ortéa J. (1982) Una nueva especie de Doto (Mollusca, Dendronotacea) de las islas Comores. Cahiers de Biologie marine, Roscoff, 23: 1-7. [Résultats de la campagne océanographique "Benthédi"- 1977].

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Jul 1). Comment on Doto ussi from Sulawesi by Mary Jane Adams. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6863

Doto ussi from the Philippines

July 1, 2003
From: Erwin Köhler

Dear Bill,
attached are 2 shots of what I think to be Doto ussi from the Philippines, Cabilao island, divesite "Lighthouse". Notice the egg mass in the upper right corner of the upper photo.

length 10 - 18 mm
Depth 6 m
28 Feb. 2003

Cheers
Erwin

Erwin@Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com

Köhler, E., 2003 (Jul 1) Doto ussi from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10342

Thanks Erwin,
As I have said in Mary Jane's message, I can't confirm the identity at present as I am still waiting for a copy of the original description.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Jul 1). Comment on Doto ussi from the Philippines by Erwin Köhler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10342