Aldisa albatrossae explained

Aldisa albatrossae is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.^[1]

Distribution

Described from Seragaki, Okinawa, Japan, this demersal nudibranch has a wide distribution in the tropical Pacific region. It has been found at depths between 3 and 72 m, in diverse places: Okinawa, the Philippines and North Sulawesi.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Aldisa albatrossae Elwood, Valdés & Gosliner, 2000. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-02-04
2. Ono, Atsushi (2004): "Opisthobranchs of Ryukyu Islands" 304 pp.; Rutles, Inc. [In Japanese].
3. Rudman, W.B., 2002 (March 11) Aldisa erwinkoehleri Perrone, 2001. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
4. Nakano, Rie (2004): "Opisthobranchs of Japan Islands" 304 pp.; Rutles, Inc. [In Japanese].^[2] It is believed to mimic species of Phyllidiella and shares this characteristic with some other species of Aldisa such as Aldisa williamsi, Aldisa erwinkoehleri and unrelated dorid nudibranchs such as Paradoris liturata.^[3]

   References

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5. Rudman, W.B., 2003 (August 28) Aldisa albatrossae Elwood, Valdés, & Gosliner, 2000. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

   Description

   Aldisa albatrossae is a rather small nudibranch, with a length between 11 and 22 mm. The bluish gray dorsum is covered with many white, round tubercles. Typically there is a black line which starts in front of the rhinophores, and continues in a rectangular shape to the gills at the back. This black line then encompasses the gills. There are also yellow-orange markings on the corners of the rectangle. The lamellate rhinophores have a translucent, dirty-white color. The bipinnate gills only have a few branches, and have the same dirty white color.^[2]