Doriopsilla albopunctata
Encyclopedia
Doriopsilla albopunctata is a species
of dorid nudibranch
, a colorful sea slug, a shell-less marine
gastropod mollusk in the family Dendrodorididae
.
There are two other species that are quite similar to this species and can be confused with it, and they are: Doriopsilla gemela Gosliner, Schaefer & Millen, 1999 and Baptodoris mimetica Gosliner, 1991.
s on the head end are yellow or orange-yellow in color, and the gills (the rosette at the back) are white or pale yellow.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of dorid nudibranch
Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...
, a colorful sea slug, a shell-less marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusk in the family Dendrodorididae
Dendrodorididae
Dendrodorididae is a taxonomic family of sea slugs, dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs in the Superfamily Phyllidioidea.- Genera :...
.
There are two other species that are quite similar to this species and can be confused with it, and they are: Doriopsilla gemela Gosliner, Schaefer & Millen, 1999 and Baptodoris mimetica Gosliner, 1991.
Description
This nudibranch can grow as large as 60 mm ( inches). It can be yellow or orange or brown, but always with very small opaque white dots. The rhinophoreRhinophore
A rhinophore is one of a pair of club-shaped structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy of a group of sea slugs, marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks in the order Nudibranchia, the nudibranchs, specifically the dorid nudibranchs.- Etymology :The name relates to the...
s on the head end are yellow or orange-yellow in color, and the gills (the rosette at the back) are white or pale yellow.
Further reading
- Behrens D. W. (1980) Pacific Coast Nudibranchs: a guide to the opisthobranchs of the northeastern Pacific, Sea Challenger Books, Washington
External links
- Sea Slug Forum species fact sheet: http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall.cfm?base=dorialbo
- Slug Site: http://slugsite.us/bow/nudwk223.htm