Diaulula sandiegensis | |
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A pair of Diaulula sandiegensis mating | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Nudibranchia |
Suborder: | Doridina |
Superfamily: | Doridoidea |
Family: | Discodorididae |
Genus: | Diaulula |
Species: | D. sandiegensis |
Binomial name | |
Diaulula sandiegensis | |
Diaulula sandiegensis, commonly known as the San Diego dorid or the ringed dorid, is a species of sea slug or nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the suborder Doridina and the family Discodorididae. [2]
The specific epithet sandiegensis means "of San Diego", referring to the Southern California city.
Though both its common and scientific names refer to San Diego, Diaulula sandiegensis occurs along the coast of the northeastern Pacific, from Alaska to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. [3] This dorid nudibranch inhabits the intertidal zone from depths of 0-35 m (115 ft), in both sandy and rocky habitats. [3]
Diaulula sandiegensis grows from 5 to 10 cm (2-5 in) in length. This nudibranch ranges in color from white to golden-yellow or light brown, and has characteristic markings consisting of sparse, irregularly scattered dark brown rings and spots on the mantle. [4] [5] It is likely that these spots are the beginning stage of the rings. [3] Their mantle has a velvety appearance, created by minute spiculate papillae (caryophillidia); these sensory nodules are typical of dorid nudibranchs. [5]
Like many dorids, this species feeds on sponges; in this case, species of the genera Halichondria, Haliclona, Myxilla , and Petrosia . [3]
Like all nudibranchs, Diaulula sandiegensis is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. While mating, individuals wrestle for dominance, attempting to penetrate and impregnate the other by darting their penises into their body wall. The egg ribbon is narrow, white, and attached in an oval spiral on a rock substrate. Eggs develop and hatch into planktonic veliger larvae. [3] After undergoing metamorphosis, Diaulula sandiegensis will spend its life in the benthic zone, using specially developed pedal ganglia in their foot to assist in movement like many other bottom-dwelling nudibranchs. These ganglia work by producing peptides which elicit an increase in the rate at which the cilia on the underside of the foot beat, resulting in crawling. [6]
Sea lemon is a loosely applied common name for a group of medium-sized to large shell-less colorful sea slugs or nudibranchs, specifically dorid nudibranchs in the taxonomic family Dorididae and other closely related families. These are marine gastropod mollusks.
Cadlina luteomarginata, common name the yellow-edged cadlina, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cadlinidae.
Peltodoris nobilis, commonly called the sea lemon, false sea lemon, or the noble dorid, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Discodorididae.
Ceratosoma tenue is a species of colourful dorid nudibranch, a sea slug, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.
Acanthodoris hudsoni is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Onchidorididae.
Cadlina flavomaculata, common name the yellow-spot cadlina, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cadlinidae.
Discodorididae is a taxonomic family of sea slugs, specifically dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Doridoidea.
Doris montereyensis is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Dorididae.
Aldisa cooperi is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.
Diaulula is a genus of sea slugs, dorid nudibranchs, shell-less marine gastropod molluscs in the family Discodorididae.
Aldisa alabastrina is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.
Chromodoris orientalis is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. Sea slugs are generally very beautifully colored organisms with intense patterns and ranging in sizes. The Chromodoris orientalis specifically is a white sea slug with black spots in no particular pattern with a yellow, orange, or brown in color ring around its whole body and on its gills. There is much discussion on where it is found, what it eats, how it defends itself without a shell, and its reproduction methods. This is all sought after information because there is not much known about these animals.
Goniobranchus vibratus, common name trembling nudibranch, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.
Felimare californiensis, common name the California blue dorid, is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae that eats dysideid sponges.
Diaulula cerebralis is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Discodorididae.
Diaulula immaculata is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Discodorididae.
Diaphorodoris lirulatocauda is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calycidorididae.
Hermissenda opalescens is a species of brightly coloured sea slug or nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Diaulula boreopacifica is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Discodorididae.
Diaulula odonoghuei, the spotted leopard dorid, is a species of dorid nudibranch found in the Pacific Ocean. Identified as a cryptic species in 2016, it is differentiated from its sister species Diaulula sandiegensis by having considerably more spots on their mantle.