Diaulula boreopacifica explained

Diaulula boreopacifica is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Discodorididae.

Distribution

This dorid nudibranch occurs in the northern Pacific, from Northern California to Alaska, Japan and Russia. It has been confused with Diaulula sandiegensis which has a more southerly range from California south to Baja California, Mexico.^[1]

Description

This nudibranch has a background colour which can be white or any shade of yellow to a yellowish brown with characteristic markings consisting of many brown spots of varying sizes. These spots are surrounded by a paler ring and extend into the outer part of the mantle.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Lindsay, T., Kelly, J., Chichvarkhin, A., Craig, S., Kajihara, H., Mackie, J & Valdés, A. (2016). Changing spots: pseudocryptic speciation in the North Pacific dorid nudibranch Diaulula sandiegensis (Cooper, 1862) (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia). Journal of Molluscan Studies doi:10.1093/mollus/eyw026
2. Kocian, J., 2006 (Apr 21) Diaulula sandiegensis from Puget Sound. [= D. odonoghuei] [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. It grows to about 70 mm (3") in length.

   Life habits

   This species feeds on the sponge Haliclona. It is most common in the intertidal region.

   References